Pathfinder Newsletter

Below are current articles in our Pathfinder Newsletter as well as previous editions. Enjoy!

If you would like to join our Mailing List to receive emailed copies of our newsletter, sign-up here:

Member Feature: An Epic Adventure, An Epic Event

Dan Durston entertained a sellout crowd at Trolley 5 Brewpub in Calgary on the last day of winter, a fitting date as we start to get excited about hiking and camping this summer! Durston and his wife, T, hiked both directions of the Great Divide Trail, affectionately known as a…

Spring/Summer 2019: President’s Report

Well it has been a busy winter for us at the GDTA, and I am sure everyone is happy that we made it through February. We hope you had a chance to take in one of our great outreach events. Our Outreach Committee certainty has been hard at work, the…

GDT Route Updates for 2019

Effective immediately, the GDTA is announcing one change to the main route of the GDT as well as an update on the detour around the trail closures in Waterton Lakes National Park. Waterton Detour – UPDATED July 5, 2019 (Section A) – Most trails in Waterton Lakes National Park have re-opened this…

Pathfinder Newsletter – Winter 2019

With less than four months until summer, it’s time to start making plans! This edition of the GDTA Pathfinder Newsletter has some important information for hiking and volunteering on the trail this year. Or if you are still undecided and are looking for inspiration, check out the articles written by David Higgins;…

Volunteer Opportunity – Marketing Position

The Great Divide Trail Association is an active organization with significant growth in 2018 and we are looking for an individual to take on the responsibilities of marketing and outreach. Some of our key accomplishments in 2018 include: Membership grew by about +30%. Significant work going into the planning, designing, constructing and…

In Memoriam – Bruce Parkin

By David Higgins Oddly, for someone who’s been closely involved with the Great Divide Trail for 45 of his 65 years, section-hiking the entire GDT – let alone thru-hiking it, where you knock the whole thing off in one go – is a notion that has never come into my…

Message from GDTA President – Trail Crew Positions

By Dave Hockey In this issue of our newsletter I would like to chat about all the people it takes to put on a safe and successful trail building or maintenance trip. The GDTA prides itself on the quality of our trail building & maintenance trips but few people know…

The Vanishing Trail – Part 2: Mission Accomplished!

By David Higgins In “The Vanishing Trail – Part 1” in last fall’s edition of the Pathfinder, I shared some background on the historic route traversing the Blaeberry River valley in British Columbia and the Howse River valley in Alberta. Known today as the David Thompson Heritage Trail, the backcountry…

Section D Facelift

By Brad Vaillancourt and Dan Durston Every family has its black sheep and the GDT is no different. Section D – Field to the Crossing – has an infamous and long-standing reputation of being the worst section of the GDT, demanding blood, sweat and tears from thru-hikers while providing very little…

Pathfinder Newsletter – Summer/Autumn 2018

Summer of 2018 was very busy for the GDTA, with more trail building and maintenance trips than ever before! Despite another bad wildfire season, the GDT was as busy as ever with record numbers of thru-hikers on the trail. Read more about our recent events and activities in this edition…