Canadian Rockies Hiking Blog
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Hiking around Storm Mountain Lodge
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...
The Great Divide Trail—1970
The Provisional Trail Guide and Map for the Great Divide Trail was published in 1970. It contains a description for the original route, which remains useful to backpackers today.
Last Tango on Stoney Squaw
Some of the most popular short-hike destinations in the Bow Valley have experienced name changes over the past 40 years or may do so soon.
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
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...
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 in Kootenay National 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 Mount 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...
Canadian Rockies mountain elevations and trail distances
Two of the biggest problems in creating the first trail guide to the Canadian Rockies was the accurate measurement of trail distances and elevations. Distance was the most important element for the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide. We solved the problem by creating trail...