GDT

Blazing

The Great Divide Trail between Fording River Pass and North Fork Pass is officially marked with orange paint blazes. Why? The GDT through this area uses many different "pathways" - from game trails to pack trails to cutlines, even logging roads.  Sometimes no path of any sort is visible, often the case with meadows and ridgetops. Marking the correct route with a standardized blaze that's visible in any kind of weather is essential if travelers want to spend their valuable time following the trail and not searching for it, or worse, becoming hopelessly lost. 

The paint blazes are roughly 50mm wide by 150mm high (2" x 6") and are placed about 2m (6') off the ground, generally on mature trees. Blazes are positioned to be seen in the direction of travel. A single blaze means the Trail continues in the current direction, or on the current path. The frequency of the blazing depends on how obvious the path is. Larger blazes are sometimes applied to trees at the far side of a clearing.

A double blaze (one above the other), indicates the Trail changes direction at that point. In some instances the upper blaze is offset from the lower one to indicate which direction the trail turns. Another single blaze is usually visible from the double blaze, confirming the new direction.

As you can see from the picture above, trees fall down. In some areas, blazes have been vandalized. In others, the blazes haven't been renewed in many years and may be indistinct or obscured by new tree growth. The fact the Trail is blazed doesn't change the need for map and route-finding skills and common sense.

In areas such as open ridgetops, blazing isn't practical. Typically small rock cairns are built to help the hiker stick to the correct line. The cairn tops are often painted orange. Flagging tape is also used, but mostly as an interim solution when paint blazes are no longer visible, and only until reblazing can be done. Flagging allows the hiker to see at some distance where the Trail is to be picked up at the end of a clearing. But flagging can lose its colour over time or simply degrade and blow away.

Trails that provide access to the GDT, or access from the GDT to points of interest such as campsites, may also be marked using blue blazes. The same system applies: one blaze - the trail continues; two blazes - the trail changes direction.

Portions of the GDT within national or provincial parks are usually marked using the conventions of that park. These days, that usually means there are signposts but no blazes, and that system works well since aren't any competing routes to lead the hiker astray.

Other sections of the GDT may or may not be marked in any way at all.

Descriptions

The descriptions on this website use a few conventions. 'Right' and 'left' apply in the direction of travel. References to compass points (east, west, etc) are meant for general orientation, not literal direction. Also, please look at the maps - especially the ones posted here - very carefully. North is not always at the top.

The capitalized word "Trail" refers to the main GDT route. Lower-case 'trail' refers to any other connecting or adjoining trail. A 'trail' is any official or unofficial path created by people (deliberately or through common usage) that is easily distinguished and relatively easy to follow. A trail may be - among others - a footpath, a road, or a cutline, and it may or may not be shared with horses, bikes, motorbikes and ATVs. Generally, the GDT is meant only for hikers and horseriders. Mountain bikes are often ridden along the GDT, but no extra effort was put into the design or construction of the Trail to make the trip easy for them. Motor vehicle restrictions vary according to area. For instance, all summer motorized vehicle use is forbidden by Provincial law in Kananaskis Country and the Beehive Natural Area.

A 'game trail' is a path created by animals, which may or may not be of use to people. A 'route' means there is no discernible trail, but it's still possible to get from one point to another safely. If you're uncomfortable without a map or without trail directions, or if you don't know how to read a topo map, then you probably lack the skills to tackle a route.