By Jenny Feick, PhD All pictures were taken by Jenny Feick unless otherwise credited. Relatively few intrepid souls traverse the vicinity of the Great Divide during the winter months. Most thru-hikers spend from November to March planning and preparing for their trekking expeditions. Humans, if they travel on the Great…
This was the most ambitious year in the field for the Trail Building and Maintenance Committee crews to date, with over 6,000 field work hours put in by 153 volunteers. The season started with parallel trips into the Blaeberry: one, a basecamp trip to Collie Creek to complete the revival…
December 1, 2023 Winter conditions are here. Snow is falling and accumulating on the GDT so expect wet, icy and slippery trail conditions. Boots, hiking poles, snow cleats or snowshoes are recommended. Temperatures are below freezing, so be prepared for winter conditions and short days when travelling into the backcountry this winter. Remember that…
October 1, 2023 Fall colours are here and so is the snow! Expect trails at higher elevation to be snow covered with wet, slippery and muddy trail conditions. Nighttime and early morning temperatures are below freezing, so be prepared for cold temperatures, morning frost and shorter days when travelling into the…
September 28, 2023 Cooler temperatures, shorter days and morning frost are signs that summer in the mountains is winding down. Cool, wet weather this week will include some snowfall at higher elevations so expect wet and muddy sections following periods of rain or snow. TRAIL CLOSURES AND NOTICES: ACCESS: National…
August 27, 2023 Wildfire smoke is impacting air quality on much of the GDT. Recent cool weather resulted in snowfall at high elevations but a return to warmer weather this week will likely melt it all. TRAIL CLOSURES AND NOTICES: ACCESS: National and Provincial Park Trail Conditions: Banff National ParkJasper…
July 28, 2023 Wildflowers are blooming! Expect warmer temperatures this weekend and next week, along with possible afternoon thunderstorms. Most trails are clear and bare, but expect muddy conditions after periods of rain. TRAIL CLOSURES AND NOTICES: ACCESS: National and Provincial Park Trail Conditions: Banff National ParkJasper National Park – NEW Submit…
This edition of the Pathfinder Newsletter includes important announcements, and information to help plan your 2023 summer on the GDT – hiking and/or volunteering, a report on the recent Film Fundraiser, an adventure story on the GDT, a second installment of our nascent Food Column, special interest topics, and a…
In the early spring of this year, the Outreach Committee presented four GDT trip preparation, planning, and helpful advice webinars: These webinars were well attended. For those not able to attend, videos and slideshows of these webinars are posted on the GDTA’s YouTube channel. Links to these videos and slideshows are…
by Jenny L. Feick, PhD, Editor of Tales from the Great Divide, Vignettes on the Origins & Early History of Canada’s Great Divide Trail and the Great Divide Trail Association The questions that I get asked most often when GDTA volunteers find out I was one of the “original six” are…
