Great Divide Nature Interpretation

02/09/2024

I usually limit Great Divide's page to posts about nature and my guiding services, but It's Terry Fox season!

Two weeks today, I'll do my 17th edition of the Terry Fox Run, which raises money for top notch cancer research in Canada.

I started doing the run in 2007, the year that Great Divide's co-founder Nadine Fletcher had cancer, and I've been doing it ever since!

I love fundraising for this cause. Cancer affects so many people -- of all ages -- and often robs us of our loved ones.

On September 15, I'll lace up my runners, put on my orange tights and my orange cape, and run 10 km.

This year, I'm hoping to raise $7500. If you'd like to make a donation, I'd be grateful. You can do so at my Terry Fox fundraising page:

https://run.terryfox.ca/page/joel-hagen

I've attached a few pics from last year. A big thanks to Lisa and Josee for helping out and taking photos.

Thanks, everyone!!

-Joel

14/08/2024

It's , and this summer has been great for loons showing up and showing off right close to shore.

This is from a couple of weeks ago at Ptarmigan Lake, on the way into Skoki. It's rare to see a trio of adult loons all together, but I will assume they were inspired by other power trios in Canada (Rush, Triumph, Anvil). Rock on, loons!

08/08/2024

Beginning tomorrow (August 9, 2024), public access on the Icefields Parkway (93N) will be extended from Saskatchewan Crossing to the vicinity of the Icefield Centre and the Columbia Icefield.

All hiking trails in Jasper are still closed (including Wilcox Pass), as is Banff's Nigel Pass, near the Banff / Jasper boundary.

All camping remains closed in Jasper as well, including the two camprounds (Icefields and Wilcox) that are accessible from the part of the road that will re-open tomorrow.

We're now two weeks out from the fire that devastated the town of Jasper, so spare a thought and consider an act of kindness for the people of Jasper tonight.

07/08/2024

The magic of Lake O'Hara strikes again.

Today, after absolutely soaking rains this morning, the reflections and the clouds were joy inducing. There was even a group swim in the main lake on the way home.

06/08/2024

Wonderful day at Lake O'Hara yesterday, ending with the biggest hailstorm I've ever experienced in the Rockies. Luckily, my guests and I were already safely in the bus, but when we got out at the bottom of the O'Hara access road, we found hailstones the size of cherries!

02/08/2024

Due to a cancellation, I'm available for a new guided hiking reservation on August 5.

Options include Lake O'Hara, or some of the higher trails in the park, where the wildflowers are in their prime.

01/08/2024

One week out from the fire in Jasper, and by now everyone knows about the terrible loss of homes and businesses.

Yesterday, I made a donation of a full day's guiding wages to the Red Cross wildfire relief fund, which will directly benefit Jasper residents. Right now, the federal and provincial governments are each matching the donations made, so $1 becomes $3.

Let's help out our friends and neighbours in Jasper, everyone!

The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta will match every dollar donated by Canadians to the Canadian Red Cross 2024 Alberta Fires Appeal. This means that every $1 donated will become $3 to support those affected by the wildfires. Eligible donations already received will be matched.

24/07/2024

It's

Pikas never fail to charm, and a few weeks ago, a couple of them entertained us at Lake Annette, in Paradise Valley. The way they inhale leaves and grasses can't help but put a smile on your face! 😄

21/07/2024

I've been lucky to have some of my long time guests out on the trail this summer, including Bridget and Graham from the UK. I first got to guide them almost twenty years ago. This week, I introduced them to Lake O'Hara, and we had a couple of days together on the trails there.

We saw a suntanning marmot, a spotted sandpiper on the nest, some exploding bog laurel flowers, a ground squirrel lost in concentration, and lots of great scenery.

Thanks Graham and Bridget!

14/07/2024

With the extremely warm and dry weather, Parks Canada has announced a fire ban, effective today, July 13th.

Just a heads up for everyone to be really careful out there, as we are in Extreme Fire Danger, and it looks like we will remain that way for some time.

Fire bans help prevent human-caused forest fires. Find out what you can and can't do during a fire ban in Banff National Park.

03/07/2024

Every once in a while it's good to toot your own horn.

You can see what folks write about Great Divide on my Tripadvisor page:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g154912-d1738994-Reviews-Great_Divide_Nature_Interpretation-Lake_Louise_Banff_National_Park_Alberta.html

01/07/2024

Happy Canada Day!

01/07/2024

Happy days on the trail this past week with some long time guests from Vancouver. Thanks Cliff, Karen, Lisa and Tom.

There were smiles all around, even on the rainy day.

21/06/2024

Asphalt Resurfacing on the Promenade at the Lake Louise Lakeshore starts Monday, June 24, 2024

What’s happening?

Starting Monday, June 24 asphalt pavement resurfacing work will begin on the promenade along the Lake Louise lakeshore.

What you need to know:

Asphalt paving will take place during daylight hours and is expected to last 4 days. Weather and other impacts may influence scheduling. Parks Canada will continue to provide updates as new information arises and impacts change.

This work will be split into multiple phases to allow for visitors to access sections of the lakeshore promenade while other sections are undergoing work and will be closed. For more information about impacted areas, as well as hiking trail access and detours, please see the attached map.

Parks Canada and the Fairmount Chateau Lake Louise will work together to limit disruptions to visitors. Please respect all signage, barricades, and flagging personnel.

Improvements to the paved promenade are critical to ensure the lakeshore remains accessible and safe by removing tripping hazards and uneven surfaces. Through its infrastructure and services, Parks Canada strives to make national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas accessible to as many Canadians as possible.

For more information about the construction and how to visit the Lake Louise area this summer, please visit:

http://parks.canada.ca/LLdrive.

20/06/2024

I've had a Lake O'Hara cancellation, and now have room for two guests to come on a private guided hike to Lake O'Hara, on July 3rd.

This reservation is for the 8:30 a.m. bus, with a return at 4:30 p.m. (or 2:30 if you need to get back earlier).

For reservations, please call 403-522-2735 or visit the reservation page of my website: https://www.greatdivide.ca/booking/

20/06/2024

It's , and this is a story that I've been reluctant to write about.

On June 6, our grizzly bear population took a serious hit. In the overnight hours, two young-of-the-year cubs were struck and killed on the TransCanada Highway, followed that afternoon by another vehicle collision that killed their mom along the same stretch of road.

Adding to the tragedy was the fact that the bear momma was "Nakoda," an incredibly rare white phase grizzly bear. To lose such a beautiful creature, who was about to raise her first set of cubs, is a tragedy that has been deeply felt. Many have written about how gutted they were by Nakoda's death, and I feel the same way.

I'm not the type to go out looking for bears, but on numerous bike rides west over the Banff / Yoho boundary in the last four years, I got lucky enough to see Nakoda on quite a few occasions, and would watch through binoculars or take a few pictures with my little zoom camera. It was such a joy to see an animal so unique and beautiful.

I never posted my photos, as I wanted this bear to get a chance for some privacy, but I worried about her right from the start. Early on, in 2021, I'd spy Nakoda on the railway tracks with her sister, feeding on grain. Her sibling was struck and killed on the highway in June, 2022.

Starting in 2022, Nakoda learned to climb the highway exclusion fence to get at nutritious vegetation right beside the highway. Last year, Parks Canada electrified a section of fence to keep her from climbing it, and Parks Canada staff started to spend more time monitoring Nakoda's presence in an effort to keep her away from the road.

This spring, Nakoda came out of hibernation with two new cubs. She was drawn to the roadside, and found a way to get through the fence.

I wasn't planning to post my photos, but with the death of Nakoda and her young family, and then the death of another grizzly bear due to a vehicle collision in Yoho Park on June 9, it felt important to keep this issue in the forefront.

In the 2010 Banff Park Management Plan, there was a target that "Annual known, human-caused mortality of independent female grizzly bears does not exceed one per year or 1.2% of the Banff National Park Grizzly bear estimated minimum population, whichever is less, based on a four-year running average." This target is not found in the 2022 Banff Park Management Plan, as the human-caused deaths of female grizzly bears has consistently exceeded this target. It's a failure of the park's mandate, and is unacceptable.

Wildlife photographer and conservationist E Marriott has drafted an open letter to Parks Canada executives and the Minister of the Environment, urging the parks service to come together for a planning summit which will create concrete actions to prevent human-caused bear mortality in the future. I recommend that you sign it:

https://win.newmode.net/exposedwildlifeconservancy/nakodasletter

31/05/2024

It's hiking time! My summer season officially starts today, and I look forward to being out on the trail with guests this summer.

I'm already pretty close to being fully booked this season, but I still have 2 or 3 available dates in each month of the summer if you're looking for a knowledgeable and entertaining guide.

I've also had two cancellations for hikes to Lake O'Hara, one on July 3 and one on August 26, so check them and other open dates on my availability calendar.

Hope to see you out there, and as Dr Seuss wrote in his final book, "Oh, the places you'll go":

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

28/05/2024

On yesterday's guided hike, we got lucky with sightings of a pine martin, a couple of mountain goats, and a few golden-mantled ground squirrels. The martin was gone so fast that my camera wasn't even out, but here's the far way goat looking regal, and one of the photogenic squirrels.

12/05/2024

It’s .

On Friday night, more than half the continent was treated to one of the best northern lights displays of this young millennium. I’m currently a naturalist on the road, and was lucky enough to be in Tofino with my girlfriend on Friday. We headed out from Chesterman’s Beach to Frank Island, and spent an hour and a half watching the show.

For an aurora this far south, it was unusually bright and colourful, with reds, pinks and greens in the mix, and enough brightness to obscure most of the stars.

08/05/2024

It’s .

I’m a naturalist on the road right now, on Hornby Island in British Columbia. Yesterday, my friends and I spotted this Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly In Helliwell Provincial Park. It was a happy moment, as this butterfly had completely disappeared from southern Vancouver island and the Gulf Islands by 2000.

But now they’re back! Since 2020, caterpillars of this species (raised at the Vancouver Zoo) have been released in Helliwell Park each spring, and we got lucky to see one of the adults, on a native blue camas. Such beauty in such a small package.

18/04/2024

It’s wednesday, and one of the surest signs of spring is seeing Canada geese, or, as they are sometimes called, “Cobra chicken.” If you’re wondering about the nickname, they are big birds, and can be pretty tough at times. I remember a nesting goose coming at me when I was about six years old. It was terrifying.

This pair was guarding a bridge at the Inglewood bird sanctuary in Calgary on the weekend. We snuck by, and there was no attack. Phew!

17/04/2024

Calling all fans of Lake O'Hara

In just over two months, the Lake O'Hara shuttle bus will start rolling up the 11 km access road to an area renowned for both its dramatic scenery and its lovely trail network. Here's a baker's dozen of what awaits...

I've got several dates available in August and September for guided hikes at O'Hara. On some dates, there is space for four people, and on others, there is room for five guests.

Bus times into the main lake leave at 8:30 a.m. in most cases, but some dates may have availability only on the later "sleep in" bus, which departs at 10:30.

Open dates are visible on my booking calendar:

https://www.greatdivide.ca/booking/

I hope to see you on the trail!

06/04/2024

The change of seasons is upon us. On Wednesday, I went for my first bike ride of the spring.

If you're thinking about trading in your skis, skates and snowshoes for hiking boots, get ready! Hiking season is just around the corner. Here's a few photos of guests out hiking from the last few summers to give you a taste of what it looks like on the trail.

Great Divide's summer season begins at the end of May. I can lead you to some beautiful places in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. There are lots of trail choices, from easy walks to harder hikes, or you can try something different, like a bird watching tour or a day trip into Lake O'Hara.

My online availability calendar is up to date, so take a look if you're hankering to get out into nature: https://www.greatdivide.ca/booking/

06/04/2024

It’s , and today I’ve got one eye behind me, and one looking ahead, as winter begins its long wind-down, and summer beckons. So... one photo from each season to celebrate the beauty of this place.

Late winter snow is very sculptural. I took the first shot on one of my last snowshoe tours of the season earlier this week. It felt like we were in a cathedral of snow marshmallows ❄️

Shot number two features one of my favourite places, Lake O’Hara. Hiking season begins there at the end of June, and the high prospects of O’Hara (this one is the All Soul’s Prospect) are truly astounding.

01/04/2024

It’s .

My snowshoeing season wrapped up this weekend, but what a fantastic way to end. Blue skies, almost 25 cm of new snow, and a wilderness destination that was a joy to experience. Thanks Lyla and Alec for such a great outing.

19/03/2024

Spring starts today. I'll be watching for migrating birds, pussywillows, the first daffodils by the Post Hotel & Spa, and the ever lengthening dusks.

And the last couple of nights there's been a plump waxing moon (it's full this coming weekend), as if even the heavens are happy to see spring arriving.

19/03/2024

Yoho and Kootenay closure for 2024...

Parks Canada made this announcement today: "To reduce the further spread of whirling disease, all waterbodies in Kootenay and Yoho national parks are closed to watercraft use and angling for the 2024 season. This is necessary to protect vulnerable fish populations and sensitive ecosystems from aquatic invasive species."

Banff National Park is not affected by this closure (yet), but this is a powerful reminder to drain, clean and dry your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard after you've been out on the water.

Expect to see a more formal notification in the next few days.