GDT

Distance: 12km from bridge on Lost Creek to the bridge over the Oldman River. Elevation gain: 410m. Elevation lost: 60m. Trail is marked with orange paint blazes and cairns. Two blazes indicate a change in direction.

Cross the bridge going south, then pick your way around a washed-out section of road. Ignore the road going left. Follow what is still a logging access road and hike up into old cutblocks. After 500m look for a double blaze at a junction, marking a road heading west (right). Follow this swampy road through old cutblocks, which are only now starting to show signs of regrowth. A narrow stand of uncut trees on the left, marked by double blazes high up on a trunk, is where the GDT turns south again on the original Trail.

Pick your way through the deadfall that plagues this short section of trail. Look back to admire the Cataract Plateau. The Trail climbs steadily between new and old cutblocks, eventually heading into subalpine forest. The Trail becomes increasingly steep as it climbs toward the ridgetop. A final push up a very steep section (rock step) reaches a cairn and a view, marking the north end of the ridge known as the Captain's Walk (map 3).

Cataract Plateau from the north end of the Captain's Walk

The next kilometer or so provides impressive views of the Cataract Plateau to the north, the cliffs surrounding the headwaters of Lost Creek, and easterly views of Pasque Mountain, Plateau Mountain and the prairies beyond. The low hills at the south end of this ridge mark the watershed between the Highwood and the Oldman rivers, which is also the southern boundary of Kananaskis Country.

The Trail continues along the ridgetop, turning west just before the first hill (tallest, with viewpoint on top) to cross saddle and contour left and down around the south side of the second hill. A small spring is passed on the west side of the middle hill. From a shale slope, a final view through a notch toward Lost Cree.  Then the Trail turns southwest past a seasonal pond to skirt the outlier of Mt O'Rourke. Views of Beehive Mountain and the cliffs of the High Rock Range lie to the south. At a small meadowy cirque, bisected by a stream, the Trail dog-legs to the left, then begins a steep descent. Through old larch forest and the remnants of rock slides, the Trail parallels the base of very sheer cliffs that make up the Divide.

Looking north from near campsite to Mt O'Rourke. Dawn.

After a kilometre or so, the Trail begins to climb an outlier. A short way up is a hunters' camp with a sweet water spring - the best place to camp on this segment. The Trail continues to climb up into the trees, then levels out and begins a leisurely descent into the head valley. Mount Gass looms above the trees. At bottom, cross a small stream and follow cairns across the meadow. This section was reblazed in June 2009. Pass through a stand of trees and emerge at the bottom of a scree slope. A pinion wheel, a mining cart and other debris lie at its foot. The entrance to the Galena Mine is at the top of this slope, but this is not the usual way to the mine.

Cross the meadow to the left and climb the slope. The next short section of scree has caused many people problems. The slope can hold snow well into July.

North-to-South: The trail has been realigned from the very high line that ran almost above the scree. It now runs slightly downhill to the left, then directly across the two runs of scree to a gap in the trees. New blazing should make the line clear.

South-to-North: Hikers previously tended to traverse diagonally downward, ending up in the meadow below. The Trail has been remarked to help prevent this. At the edge of the forest, look straight across toward Mt Gass and slightly uphill. The blazes in the far trees should be visible, as well as the track cut into the dirt swale between the two slopes of scree. Traverse straight across the first scree, then on the second slope, angle upwards toward cairns.

Once past this minor crux, the Trail climbs through a delightful wooded vale up to the old mining road at a grassy switchback. A good trail to the right is the normal hiking route to the mine. The Trail takes the descending road on the left. (S-N: Don't confuse the trail to the mine on the left with the GDT, which leaves the grassy area directly in line with the road.)

After a short distance, the GDT turns left off the road and onto forest trail. The descent into the headwater valley of the Oldman continues, with views of Mt Lyall and Beehive Mountain. The Trail rejoins the road lower down. Go left at the first junction. At the next junction (spur road comes in from behind left) go straight. The road enters a meadow (camping area) then passes Memory Lake and arrives at a four-way junction. Go straight. (Road to left leads to the Oldman Recreation Area access road.)

Ignoring ATV trails, follow the orange blazes over a small ridge. A minor trail, leading left at a double blaze, goes to a viewpoint into the Oldman Gorge. The GDT descends to a new (2009) two-log bridge across the headwater creek.