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Cutting trail in Kootenay Park—1940

Cutting trail in Kootenay Park—1940

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 Valley Echo Special Supplement" in...

Limping from Ya Ha Tinda to Panther River

Limping from Ya Ha Tinda to Panther River

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 they encountered,...

Castleguard Meadows: The Gilroy Report

Castleguard Meadows: The Gilroy Report

We've had quite a bit of interest in the Castleguard Meadows over the past few years. Several contributors have provided descriptions of this overgrown, difficult 35-km route. In May, Christian Gilroy sent another account of a 5-day in-and-out trip that he completed...

Hiking Kootenay Park 50 years ago

Hiking Kootenay Park 50 years ago

Kootenay National Park is celebrating its centennial with a "Kootenay Then and Now: Recreate the Photo" contest. Since we began our fieldwork on the Mountain Parks' first comprehensive trail guide 50 years ago, I thought it would be appropriate to reminisce by...

Reopening the back door to Mt Assiniboine

Reopening the back door to Mt Assiniboine

Cut off by a collapsed suspension bridge in 2016 and devastation from the 2017 Verdant Creek Wildfire, the Simpson River-Surprise Creek-Ferro Pass route into Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park has been restored thanks to a new bridge and trail clearing up the charred...

Mountain elevations and trail distances

Mountain elevations and trail distances

Dr. Gerard Lachapelle from the University of Calgary refines elevations of peaks in the Canadian Rockies, elevating some and downgrading others. Two of the biggest problems in creating the first trail guide to the Mountain Parks was the accurate measurement of trail...

Virtual backpacking in the age of coronavirus

Virtual backpacking in the age of coronavirus

  We're still wondering whether there will be much backcountry travel in the Mountain Parks during this coronavirus summer. But you can still make dozens of virtual treks in the Canadian Rockies on the YouTube channel while you're waiting. These lengthy video...

COVID-19 update for the Mountain Parks

COVID-19 update for the Mountain Parks

  Hiking and backcountry access in the Canadian Rockies during COVID-19 Updated July 28, 2020 Parks Canada began lifting COVID-19 restrictions and closures in the National Parks on Monday, June 1. Most trails and day use areas are now open throughout the Mountain...

Mountain films for the great indoors

Mountain films for the great indoors

Click on Epic Films for the Great Indoors to access the Banff Centre’s page featuring films from the cancelled world tour and 2018 available for free viewing at home during the coronavirus crisis. You can watch these selections on your digital tablet or computer, or...