2022 Trail Supporter Campaign Thank You

by Alex Northey, Ensuring Financial Capacity Committee Chair, GDTA I would like to start off by saying thank you to every person and company that donated to the 2022 Trail Supporter Campaign. Every donation from $20 to $2,000 all add up in the end to fund the trail we all…

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High Route Extension on the Great Divide

by Dan Durston North America’s continental divide contains stunning peaks and wild protected spaces which give rise to some of the world’s most renowned hiking trails. Most notably, the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) runs 3100 miles up the spine of the Rocky Mountains from Mexico to Canada. North of the Canadian border,…

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What is the Great Divide Trail Signature Trip?

by Wayne Marshall The Signature Trip is many things. It is Historical The concept began in 2003 while two hikers (Dan Wallace and Wayne Marshall) were walking the Great Divide Trail (GDT) when it just disappeared.  The pair had spent many of the previous summers hiking The Trail and decided…

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GDT Route Updates for 2023

Section A: No updates. Section B: Additional trail construction continues as we fine-tune the High Rock Trail resulting in a few minor route changes. The new Window Mountain Lake Bypass was completed last summer, creating an equestrian friendly route or shortcut for hikers wishing to skip the lake (which you…

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Winter 2022/23 Trail and Road Conditions

November 16, 2022 Winter conditions are here. Snow is falling and accumulating on the GDT so expect wet, icy and slippery trail conditions. Boots, hiking poles, snow cleats or snowshoes are recommended. Temperatures are below freezing, so be prepared for winter conditions and short days when travelling into the backcountry this winter. Remember that…

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Pathfinder Newsletter – Autumn 2022

This edition of the Pathfinder Newsletter includes a few key announcements, and articles showcasing adventures on the GDT, accomplishments this year, volunteer recognition, trail crew fun, event reports, and special interest topics. Enjoy!   2022 GDTA Annual Report: It’s amazing what we’ve achieved this year! 2022 GDTA Volunteer Recognition Awards: A…

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Draft Update on the GDTA Trail Users Code

By Jenny Feick, PhD The original Great Divide Trail Association (from the mid-1970s to late 1980s) developed a trail user’s code that first appeared in 1975 and 1976 in the two editions of their policy paper. On pages 9-10 of the Great Divide Trail: Banff to Waterton, Its Concept and Future,…

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Conifer Cornucopia

By Jenny L. Feick, PhD All pictures taken by the author unless otherwise noted. Anyone hiking on Canada’s Great Divide Trail in the summer of 2022 could not help but notice the prolific cone crop on the spruce and fir trees along the GDT. In fact, anyone hiking in the…

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2022 GDTA Trail Building and Maintenance Trips

by Tasha Shakotko and Kate Hamilton The trail building and maintenance committee, chaired by Dave Hockey, had a very busy and productive summer. Several trail crews answered the needs, both planned and unplanned, of Sections B, D, E, F and G. All told, it amounted to: Trail crews kicked off…

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