by Brian Patton | Dec 7, 2023 | Backpacking, Home page News |
Backpackers often carry a lot of sophisticated and expensive technology these days. But they are notoriously frugal when it comes to their food, often subsisting on a variety of grocery store concoctions when they head to the backcountry. So, what better way to... by Brian Patton | Oct 18, 2023 | Backpacking, Kootenay National Park, Trip reports, Yoho National Park |
Kootenay Park’s Ottertail Pass trail is a route frequently ignored by backpackers bound for the Rockwall. Because the pass is wooded and of little scenic interest, we barely mentioned the trail in early editions of our trail guide. Back in January, we received a... by Brian Patton | Jun 1, 2023 | Backpacking, Banff National Park |
As the coauthor of a venerable trail guide to the Canadian Rockies, people are always asking me: “What is your favourite trail?” My usual bemused response is: “The last time I hiked when the weather was good and the trail uncrowded.”But... by Brian Patton | May 8, 2023 | Backpacking, Canadian Rockies Trail Guide, History, Maps |
Maps in guidebooks are limited at best. Throughout the history of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide, the book’s maps provided a very general impression of trail locations, points of interest, and destinations. So, right from the first edition of our trail guide, we... by Andrew Hempstead | Dec 4, 2022 | Backpacking, History |
Stuart Howe, a local hiking enthusiast, recently sat down with Canadian Rockies Trail Guide author Brian Patton to talk about the history of the book, its importance to the local hiking community, and the impact it’s had on Canadian Rockies hiking in general. To... by Brian Patton | Sep 15, 2022 | Backpacking, Banff National Park, Trip reports |
Gavin Fitch, daughter Ellie, and companions Marco and Greg backpacked into what we consider one of the most spectacular areas of Banff National Park—the Dolomite Valley. The trip is a great way to sample the North Molar-Pipestone-Dolomite Circuit without arranging...