We chose to Notch, which in retrospect was a bad decision. Mileage: 18 km (1.1 km from Lodge, 16.9 km from junction to Signal Campsite) This day in 2018 we left the cabin at Kakwa Lake PP and started our walk out of the park. This year we were sitting in a cabin at Shovel … Continue reading GDT Day 50 – to Notch or not to Notch
Mileage: 10.7km (plus a few hundred metres to/from the Maligne Lake cafe) Today was a short day and I really, really appreciated Toothless sleeping in. We all needed it. The tent was still wet on the outside from last night's rain. We shut the doors last night to keep warm and ensure we stayed dry … Continue reading GDT Day 48 – out of the rain and into the chilli cheese fries
Mileage: 25.5 km We woke today to more rain. Dreading it, we fell into our new rain / snow / hail morning routine and got moving quickly. We resigned ourselves to the fact that the diapers we hung out last night would be wet. And we figured the Ursack would be soaked and heavy as well. … Continue reading GDT Day 46 – Don’t like the weather? Wait 2 minutes.
Oh, you mean it's not Christmas? It's not even December? Could have fooled me... Mileage: 14.6 km After having a wet day yesterday we were expecting precipitation last night. That's what the forecast said and it made sense. We were also expecting a cold camp; its right next to a creek and down a gully. … Continue reading GDT Day 44 – I’m dreaming of a white Christmas..
Mileage: 17.8 km Well, not too many cairns, just a lot. The air was warm this morning when we woke. I was surprised; with us being right above Owen Creek I expected it to be cold. Before we got out of the tent I could tell it was smokey. The sunlight was diffused and the … Continue reading GDT Day 42 – too many cairns on the tra-ail (too many cairns)
We had to bail at Cairne Creek Rec Site after I injured my ankle. So I am reflecting on the part we did finish. We plan on tagging the rest of Section D when we finish the GDT. The Ameswki valley is brushy as hell and not a lot of fun until you ford the … Continue reading Section D Reflection – Part 1
Mileage: ~10 km Day 37 Today I woke up and my ankle was swollen and bruised and I could not move my foot. I also couldn't sleep for hours last night. Every time I put my foot down, or moved it a little bit, the pain was unbearable. I slept terrible. My ankle injury seems … Continue reading GDT Day 37, 38, 39, 40 – Injury… So what’s next?
Mileage: 14.8 km (Amiswki Ridge Alt, accounting for dropping onto the road early, Road on official GDT and the Collie Creek Alt) Today we started on the Amiswki Ridge alternate at our campsite a few hundred meters past the Amiswki Lodge. I woke up this morning thinking about the stars I could see last night … Continue reading GDT Day 36 – getting off the road
Mileage: 21.4 km (ish) I was surprised this morning when Natasha sprung out of bed at 5:20 am to get Toothless up when he was fussing. I thought "she must be gearing up for an early start!". Turns out she thought it was closer to 7:00am ... but I'll take the early start I guess! … Continue reading GDT Day 34 – the seven trials of the GDT
I'm not a fan of Banff on the GDT south of Whistling Pass. Whistling Pass and Ball Pass are fun. I really like Height of the Rockies and think that the South Kanakasis Pass Alt should be the official route. This even blows a bunch of the following Banff trails away. Assiniboine is lovely but … Continue reading GDT Section C Reflection
Backpacks & Bike Racks 