Adapted from email to family and friends…

From 4-7 September we made the most of an amazing high weather system, and scooted from Field in British Columbia to Mistaya Canyon in Alberta. About 100km and 2,500m elevation overall (flat for the Rockies!) Again, we had the trail to ourselves the entire time, only seeing two people on ATVs below us on a logging road.

This section (Section D) had its own adventurous moments. We descended through the burned terrain, seeing firsthand why the area had been closed from late July. We also clambered over, through and around an old unmaintained trail in Banff National Park, crossing Howse Pass, which has been on our list for years.

Huge thanks to Liz, our previous neighbour in Canmore, who dropped us in Field, and to our local friend Chantal who picked us up from Mistaya Canyon on a hot day melting with tourists.

As for wildlife, over the course of these walks we saw a black bear skid to a halt 30m from us (we were both surprised around the corner!), a massive bull elk with huge antlers that vanished into the forest, and a porcupine so casually waddling in front of us that it seemed like a dog on a walk. We also saw a cross fox (no it wasn’t angry, that’s the name of the colouring) and heard a red-tailed hawk shriek (not at all relaxing at 11pm at night).

The two trips meant we covered all sections on the GDT outside Jasper National Park. This is something we’re both proud of. The backcountry of Jasper remains closed due to the fires, and we will patiently await the reopening next year or beyond. The trail isn’t going anywhere, and we have about 340km (or 12 days) left of the GDT to cover.

As for our next adventure, we plan to continue a career break, and we have some hair-brained ideas but it’s early days. I also have a ton of GDT footage to wade through and teach myself Final Cut Pro. We hope this email hasn’t sounded too much like a Christmas email from a relative you hear from once a year haha!

Stay curious, pat a tree, marvel at your shower…