Great Divide Trail: Owen Creek to Nigel Pass (8/11/2010)

This trip comprises only a brief portion of the Great Divide Trail which passes through the White Goat Wilderness Area. We will also briefly pass through both Banff & Jasper national parks. We will experience several high alpine mountain passes (some unnamed), Pinto Lake, scenic alpine country, remote alpine lakes which sees only a handful of hikers each season. This trip will take us into remote backcountry. This trip will involve routefinding challenges, numerous river/creek fords, trail deadfall, food storage issues, open cross-country hiking at times with no trail, and random camping etc. Our total trip distance will be ~70km and lots and lots of elevation gains! There may be a pre-event meeting in order to finalize trip logistics such as food & tents, carpooling arrangements etc. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me. Email is preferred.

As far as specific day-to-day details go, I won't provide much here but I will present our intended itinerary. For detailed route information, please consult Dustin Lynx’s “Hiking Canada’s Great Divide Trail”, pages 173-179. I am not going to be rushed on this trip, especially if we are experiencing good weather. I do enjoy stopping to enjoy the scenary and take pictures. If you are a backpacker who tries to get to the next campsite as quick as possible, then please do not sign up. Also, don't sign up if you cannot follow the principle of "No-Trace" camping!! As we are random camping, this concept will be followed out of courtesy and respect to the land and so future hikers may enjoy this pristine area. As this area is seldom hiked, there is a strong chance of a bear encounter, we will be hiking as a group at all times!

Our Itinerary beginning Wednesday evening:
-We will assemble at our carpool location (TBD), and head out to Jasper. We will be staying at the Jasper youth hostel for Wednesday night. It is your responsibility to contact the hostel and make your own reservation. You may phone the Jasper hostel at 1-866-762-4122 to make your reservation for Wednesday, 11 August. Please plan your supper either by a) eat before departure b) brown bag supper c) bring money for supper in Edson or d) bring your supper to cook at the hostel. Any is fine.

-Thursday, 12 August,
expect an early departure of no later than 8am!! Please plan your wakeup and breakfast accordingly. Plan to eat your breakfast at the hostel as I really don't want to drive back to Jasper townsite. We will drive south on hwy #93 for about 90 minutes to our trailhead just east of Sask Crossing on hwy #11, Owen Creek. We will leave a vehicle at our exit trailhead at the Nigel Pass trailhead on #93. We will gear up and hike up Owen Creek over a high unnamed pass then down slightly to reach Upper Michele Lake. While the terrain is soggy and uneven around this lake, we will look for a suitable campsite on a bench overlooking the lake. We will be random camping here. This day will be about 13km and over 1000m of elevation gain. The route up Owen Creek will be difficult due to an unmaintained trail, possible creek fords, and deadfall. Expect all day to reach upper Michele Lake. Should we have time & energy, we may explore Lower Michele Lake as well. NB: the guidebook describes that travel to Pinto Lake is "strenuous hiking over 3 high alpine passes with cross-country travel in the alpine".

-Friday, 13 August,
we hike over two unnamed passes before descending down into Pinto Lake. Our second pass is over 2500m and the highest pass on the Great Divide Trail. We will camp at Pinto Lake. We will hike about 13km.

-Saturday, 14 August,
we will make our way towards Cataract Creek and hike all the way to treeline and beyond to about a junction with Cline Pass. We will find a suitable spot to random camp. Our distance today will be subject to where we random camp but expect over 20km! NB: the guidebook describes the route from Pinto Lake to Nigel Pass as "strenuous hiking up poorly maintained trail and over one high pass with some routefinding challenges".

-Sunday, 15 August,
we will do a day hike today. We will hike up Cline Pass, then even higher to a high col, then a descent to the Valley of the Lakes. This day is purely exploratory but our main objectives will be Cline Pass and the Valley of the Lakes. I am purely estimating but figure maybe 10km today. Of note, the Valley of the Lakes comprises some 40 alpine lakes & tarns!!

-Monday, 16 August,
we will hike over Cataract Pass then down slightly to a lake at times referred to as Cataract Lake. We will then find ourselves at the upper confluence of the South Brazeau River. The route here is vague but we essentially follow the river west to meet up with the Nigel Pass trail for which we'll follow back to the hwy, #93. This will be about 13km. We will be stopping in Jasper for showers and a soak in the Jasper pool. We will be stopping at A&W for fast food before returning home to Edmonton. Expect a late evening arrival.

Tents, Stoves & Fuel, and other Gear:
I will be carrying my own tent, stove, fuel, and gear. If you have a tent and stove and willing to share with one other person, please advise in the notes when signing up. If you require sharing of a tent or stove, then indicate such in the notes and I will do my best to put you in contact with somebody. This trip will not have the luxury of bear poles or bear proof lockers. The best item to bring would be a bear proof cannister. Failing that, bring some rope to tie your food in a tree at Pinto Lake and then do your best to stow food at our random campsites as there won't be trees tall enough to rope your food. I usually try and find a large boulder or bankment and build my own food locker out of rocks and this has yet to fail me, knock on wood.

Note regarding trip costs:
while this trip does not require any advance payment to me, there are a few associated costs to be aware of. You will need money or a valid Parks Pass in order to get to the trailhead, (figure about $10). You will need to pay for your hostel stay, ($30 plus GST). Please bring enough cash to cover the carpooling gas costs. The swimming pool in Jasper is about $6.25. And lastly our celebatory trip dinner at A&W.