by Brian Patton | Nov 3, 2018 | Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park, Kananaskis Country, Kootenay National Park, Mt Assiniboine Provincial Park, Mt Robson Provincial Park, Yoho National Park
It has been 18 years since Dustin Lynx released the first edition of Hiking Canada’s Great Divide Trail. This summer he published a totally revised third edition of the guidebook, which remains the best source for intrepid backpackers who want to tackle this...
by Brian Patton | Jul 23, 2016 | Banff National Park, book, Canadian Rockies, canadian rockies trail guide, Jasper National Park, Kananaskis Country, Kootenay National Park, Lake O'Hara, review, Yoho National Park
Gem Trek has just released a batch of revised titles. And as usual, these colourful recreational maps provide the latest and best information for several popular hiking areas in the Mountain Parks. Kootenay National Park-5th edition. This 1:100,000 scale map is...
by Brian Patton | Jul 23, 2015 | Kananaskis Country, Wildlife
A grizzly bear moved into the Chester Lake cirque in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park on Sunday (July 19), resulting in the indefinite closure of that trail. It was a prime example of what happens when too many people wander into a grizzly’s dining room, and we...
by Brian Patton | Jul 2, 2015 | Canadian Rockies, Kananaskis Country
Among five revised Gem Trek maps released last month is a new, much-expanded 1:50,000 sheet for Bragg Creek & Sheep Valley—a core area for outdoor recreation in Kananaskis Country. Gem Trek has long provided the best recreational maps for Kananaskis Country, and...
by Brian Patton | Jun 2, 2015 | Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies, hiking, Jasper National Park, Kananaskis Country, Kootenay National Park, National Parks, Yoho National Park
June has always been the start of our hiking season in the Mountain Parks—the time when trails start opening up above the valley bottoms. But this year is well advanced as we enter the month. Thanks to dry, warm conditions and low snowpack in the southern sections of...
by Brian Patton | Aug 4, 2014 | Banff National Park, hiking, Jasper National Park, Kananaskis Country, Kootenay National Park, National Parks, Waterton Lakes National Park, Wildflowers
Back in the early days, people had a choice for cooling off during the heat of summer—go to a movie theatre (the first air-conditioned venues) or travel to the mountains. Air conditioning may be universal today, but the alpine trails of the Canadian Rockies are...
