Pre-hike trip to Banff and Canmore

MAY 22nd - CANMORE, ALBERTA

I arrived in Canmore today after a long day of driving in slow holiday-Monday traffic, but the weather was good so the drive was enjoyable. I stopped for lunch on Rogers Pass (where there is still a foot of snow) but the main chain of the Rockies is already relatively snow-free... more like late June than May so that bodes well for trail conditions on our hike.

I met with Dustin Lynx, author of the definitive Great Divide Trail Guidebook, at his home in Canmore. Dustin and his wife Julia made me feel right at home. After dinner with Dustin, Julia and their son and daughter, Dustin took me for a hike to one of his favourite spots near Canmore and we chatted about the GDT, hiking, climbing, travel and just life in general. He is a great guy and it was very easy to chat and get along. He was able to provide an incredible amount of advice on planning for my trek.

Julia is passionate about the conservation aspect of the GDT and she works with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) establishing a continuous protected wildlife corridor along the Rocky Mountains. She encouraged me to spend some time in my film discussing the subject of conservation and I think that whether I plan to or not the subject will inevitably come up, especially in areas where the scar of industry impedes our progress (like in the south). I plan to explore the subject more and speak with Y2Y before my hike begins.

I didn't get much video footage of Dustin.. it didn't feel right. It actually felt invasive to put the camera in his face and ask him to talk. Obviously, as a filmmaker, this is something I have to learn to overcome. But our chats were personal and much of what he and Julia spoke about was emotional and it felt like I would be betraying their openness and trust to record what they shared with me. But I found my visit with them very inspiring and the process of doing interviews and putting a documentary film together is much less daunting.

MAY 23rd - BANFF, ALBERTA

I met with Jim Thorsell this morning and had another inspirational conversation. In 1969 Jim prepared the Mountain Park Trail Study for Planning and Considerations of the Great Divide Trail and then in 1970, he wrote the original "Trail Guide and Map for the Proposed Great Divide Trail." Jim defined a long distance trail such as the GDT as "a major objective which is challenging and monumental in its rewards, providing an alternative challenge to alpinism." He proposed that "the Great Divide Trail has a rationale in preserving a continuous stretch of wilderness through the mountain parks and in fostering cooperative planning among them."

Jim had many stories and insight into the lengthy history of the GDT and how things came to be the way they are with respect to the trail and lack of government interest. He still thinks that there is a chance for the trail to be officially recognized but realistically new feasibility studies would have to take place since those done at the time when he originally proposed the trail are now outdated. He hopes that my film might re-energize interest in the GDT.

In the afternoon, I delved into the archives of the Whyte Museum in Banff and discovered some amazing information and articles on the GDT from the late 60s and early 70s, reinforcing Jim's point that most (if not all) of the studies completed on the GDT are seriously outdated.

I will be meeting the Great Divide Trail Association and Alberta Wilderness Association folks tomorrow in Calgary...