by Brian Patton | Aug 30, 2016 | Kootenay National Park, National Parks
The recent citation issued to a civilian trailminder in Kootenay Park has brought national attention to a question I’ve been asking for quite sometime. Why is it that provincial parks, lands & forest agencies, and municipalities can work with volunteer...
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 | Jun 14, 2015 | Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies, hiking, Jasper National Park, Kootenay National Park, National Parks, Yoho National Park
In 2012, National Geographic produced four maps covering Banff South, Banff North, Jasper South and Jasper North. These 1:100,000-scale, double-sided maps are printed on waterproof, tear-resistant material and with 30m-contour intervals and relief shading. In addition...
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 | Oct 22, 2014 | 2013 Floods, hiking, Kootenay National Park
Kootenay National Park’s Paint Pots and Stanley Glacier trails are fully operational again thanks to the installation of two bridges. Spring washouts in recent years have been hard on bridges throughout the Mountain Parks. One of the most popular of these was...
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...
