Hey Hodgeman of BC, question about the G DT

“Hey Hodgeman, you probably might know more about this than anyone else here. I've been dreaming of hiking the Great Divide Trail along the crest of the Canadian Rockies. I hope to do this amazing thru-hike in the summer of 2006. Have you done it, or have you done portions of it? There's a book on it that I'm ordering, but I was curious if anyone has any firsthand experience on this trail, which isn't really an official trail yet, but more of a 'route'. The country it goes through is some of the most incredible on this planet. So I see in photos. I want to experience it.”

“If Hodge can't help you, you could always ask Krazy Kevin....”

“Okay, Krazy Kevin, whoever you are... have you ever hiked the GDT?”

“Kewl pic!

It's not my part of the world unfortunately, VERY unfortunately, but I remember following the hike, if it is the same guy who wrote the book (I don't think it's been done by a lot of people). It was about a crazy Brit (is there any other kind?) who did it from the US to the Yukon border.

If I remember it well, there isn't one trail and, like the AT, you have to use a variety of routes, trails, roads, whatever.”

“journal of a recent GDT thru hike : http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/faculty/cwillett/gdt/index.html”

“That's quite a journal. Thanks for posting that HOI. I'll have to take more time and read it start to finish.

Buck - I doubt it would come as a surprise that the GDT is on my wish list, but I don't really get the opportunity for that kind of an extened break from real life. Yes I have done sections.

I would be interested in what book you have ordered, and I'll dig up a link to a couple that I would consider indespensable.

As you look through the journal that HOI posted, I have covered a couple of times the Marvel Lake to Sunshine Village traverse of Mt Assiniboine PP in BC on his 'Leg 3', most recently in September this year. I notice that from there he drops down into Kootenay NP and goes into Helmet Falls for access through to Yoho NP. I would go in further south and come up the entire Rockwall Trail, however the south access was closed this year due to the Vermillion fire of 2003. It is an outstanding trail and not as busy as most in the big parks. Also, the access past the Goodsirs into Yoho is often restricted due to migratory routes.

Carrying on northward through the Lake O'Hara area to the town of Field, I have covered much of the area on the north side of Yoho, but if you were to follow the premiere routes into the Yoho or Little Yoho Valleys, you would dead end into the massive Wapta or Waputik Icefields. There is a common hut-to-hut route, if you are carrying glacier gear and preferably not alone.

Jogging eastward into Jasper Alberta, he heads into the Brazeau area then north to the Skyline Trail, which are two areas on the east side of the #93 that have been on my short list for a few years. And since you're in the area, you could take in the Tonquin Valley and then head up to either the North Boundary Trail or the Moose River route in the back door of Mt Robson PP, BC, which is a 'must see'

Feel free to email me directly as your plan and route develope. There are a lot of options, which might take you off the GDT a bit, but get you into the areas that it would be a shame to miss.

If you were in the area during August and September, which you would be unless this is going to be a snowshoe trip, I'd sure try to join you for a section or two.
last edited: 12/01/04 4:36:19 PM”

“Right arm! Thanks for the link, Ice Hog, and hey, Hodgester, much appreciatedo the informationo. It will probably be 2006 before I can do this, so I'll keep ya posted. I checked our your photos and they are spectacular! The book I was referring to is Hiking Canada's Great Divide Trail by Dustin Lynx. I would actually like to take the craziest, wildest route possible through the Canadian Rockies even if the trail goes otherwise. It's nice to know a valuable resource like yourself is around these parts. Thanks for your response!”

“I highly recommend hiking with Hodge. He brings lots and lots of food and shares it. You probably wouldn't even have to bring any for yourself....”

“Cool... Hodgeman supplies the food, I supply ample bevies of 22-year old chicks to spoon feed us. I share too. I hope he likes a good horde in the backcountry.”

“This is sounding more interesting all the time !
;-)

The two books that I use most for the Rocky Mountain Parks are...
Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies - by Graeme Poole
Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies - by Kathy & Craig Copeland
Another, which might cover a bit wider area is The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide - by Brian Patton & Bart Robinson.

There is also a nice series of 3 or 4 books by Don Beers, which cover the major parks and are a bit more souvenir like. They have a bit more of the history & photos as well as front country & trail info”