by Brian Patton | Dec 26, 2020 | Banff National Park, Books, History |
The original Guide to Hiking Trails in the vicinity of Storm Mountain Lodge was published in 1978. The text and design was created by then lodge co-owner Jim Thorsell. After the lodge changed ownership, the book was out of print for three decades. Many things changed... by Brian Patton | Nov 22, 2020 | Backpacking, Great Divide Trail, History |
Jim Thorsell began charting a route for the Great Divide Trail while completing a trail use survey for Banff and Yoho Parks in 1967. After tweaking the original route, he published the Provisional Trail Guide and Map for the Proposed Great Divide Trail in 1970. The... by Brian Patton | Nov 4, 2020 | Banff National Park, History |
Stoney Squaw, Tunnel Mountain, Mount Eisenhower, Chinaman’s Peak. Some of the most popular short-hike destinations in the Bow Valley that experienced name changes over the past 40 years or may do so soon. Stoney Squaw renamed I can’t remember the... by Brian Patton | Oct 9, 2020 | History, Kootenay National Park |
As Kootenay National Park celebrates its centennial year, it seems an appropriate time to republish Ron Ede’s account of a long-ago summer working on the park’s trails. I first read “Cutting trail in Kootenay Park—1940” in the “The... by Brian Patton | Sep 30, 2020 | Backpacking, Banff National Park, Trip reports |
We’ve all had times when the best laid and ambitious plans have to be abandoned. That was the case this August when avid backpacker and faithful blog contributor Gavin Fitch set off from Ya Ha Tinda Ranch with three friends. Despite the problems...