11 Days in Jasper Nat'l Park: The North Boundary Trail

[@ricklarry4212]

Totally awesome, thank you. Three KZbinrs sharing the same journey, three separate views of the same experience. Enjoyed all three, all three provided different perspectives on the same journey. Being an amateur musician myself, I liked you music selections.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you very much Rick! It is interesting to watch different perspectives of the same trip.

[@mojorisen1295]

If ya notice the signs posted along the trails in Canada, they are not vandalized! North of the border we burn everything! What a beautiful country and respect for what they have! Thanks Bryan n Joey n Stew! I’ve been hiking for years now, but I’m to ugly to post my mug on the front page, so I will leave it to you Obe Ones! Ha!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Den! Now that you mentioned it I didn't see any vandalized signs in Canada.

[@chadroberts44]

Great video Bryan! Wow, that’s some awesome country! Good to see Joey along, I think all of KZbin was thinking Joey died because he hasn’t surfaced for awhile. 😃

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Chad! Joey is alive and well and still recording videos, but is having some issues with his laptop. Hopefully he will get some videos posted this winter.

[@Mark_Jacobson81]

Same. My gut feel was that Joey is just out there on the trail getting footage and doing his thing but it was a bit concerning not seeing any updates for a few months.

[@lb10445]

I love the steeper angle of the sun in those northern climates. It lends a different character to the surroundings, a bit of a mystical feel to me. Thank you for the fine video.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you DR Hayden. Hadn't thought about the steeper angle of the light, but now that you mention it, I think you may be right.

[@HowestheHike]

Oh man - was excited to see this pop up Bryan! Great video and so many great memories!! Will be watching this more than once!!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Stuart! Glad you enjoyed the video. Sorry it took me so long to edit and upload. It was a great backpacking trip.

[@HowestheHike]

Bryan DeLay it sure was. What are we doing next :)

[@Martyupnorth]

I did this trail in July 2015, and the water was much higher everywhere. Wolverine camp was under water and the Carcajou crossing was up to my waist.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for watching and commenting Marty! I bet in July the water levels were much higher than early September.

[@coniferousforests8030]

you know what I was expecting to see anything in this video but not Joey ! Here he is. Finally. He is becoming a rare creature. Hopefully he will update his channel soon)))

[@BryanDeLay]

Joey has been having some problems with his laptop and hopefully he'll get that taken care of soon and upload some videos in the next few weeks.

[@coniferousforests8030]

@@BryanDeLay I appreciate the update. Thank you sir.

[@JenniferLupine]

Great trip! You covered a whole lot of miles and territory! What a beautiful area- so much variety and tranquility. I love the contrast in the colors from the rivers and lakes to the trees and snow capped mountains- thanks for sharing!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Jennifer! It was a very beautiful trail with lots of diversity.

[@gingerbread6614]

We really enjoyed this video. It was beautiful. Thank you.

[@BryanDeLay]

Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@mountainwanderer]

Loved this one! Really made me wish I was out there with you guys! Looked incredible. You should let Joey wear some shoes when he hikes though... 🥴

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Mountain Wanderer! Joey's here at my house and we just finished a 6 day trip in the Smoky's with a rough bushwhack on the last two days. I let him wear shoes when he was scrambling in the rhododendron looking for his camera:). Sadly though he didn't find his camera. Joey said to tell you hello.

[@mountainwanderer]

@@BryanDeLay He lost his camera? That guy is rough on gear...

[@BryanDeLay]

Yes he lost his camera! On the fifth day we attempted to do a manway, which is an old trail that is no longer maintained. We ended up spending the night in a very small flat area surrounded by rhododendrons. Then yesterday, the last day, we had to continue fighting our way through rhodo's for about two hours and his camera was pulled out of his pack's side pocket. He used the camera about 10 minutes before realizing it was missing, but we could not find it. If you've never hiked in the Southern Appalachians it maybe difficult to understand just how thick the growth can be. He thought it was the toughest bushwhack he'd ever done.

[@northernbeadle]

I'm working towards this trek in the next few years so I'm always excited to see a new video pop up, and especially one that is extremely recent... and then to see Stuart in there was exciting and reminded me that I never got around to watching his video... love his stuff! Anyways, going to watch now but thanks for capturing this and inspiring (and informing) future hikers!

[@BryanDeLay]

You're welcome Northern Beadle! Glad you enjoyed the video and hope you get to do this route.

[@prestondwhite]

thank you. you covered some ground there. no video of you eating and such. you put together a real treat.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Preston! About 100 miles including the walk from the trailhead to where the car was parked, but fortunately only the last day was long. Maybe sometime in the future I'll video a meal.

[@CatherineGregoryAdventures]

Beautifully shot Bryan! Looks like a fantastic trip.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Catherine!

[@markcooke4379]

What a great hike y’all had, and 11 days of it. Always appreciate your excellent videos and my first look via a video of Jasper. Thanks for taking the time for sharing. Greetings from Kentucky!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Mark! Kentucky, not far away at all.

[@vantage1499]

Love this trip Bryan, and its also a lot of fun seeing each of your video perspectives on this one! (5 star camping)

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you campfir_eh! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@HM-gk3rq]

Welcome to Canada! You got a great view of Mt. Robson! It’s often behind clouds. Too bad you were too rushed for the quick side trail off to Emperor Falls. It’s pretty amazing up close! Enjoyed your video!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you HM! I had a great time in Canada and everyone I met was very friendly. Mr. Robson was behind the clouds at first, but the clouds cleared out the closer we got.

[@rtucker51]

Man, what an epic trip.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for watching BlueLineTrout! Yes it was and epic trip.

[@cribbsprojects]

Awesome video, Bryan. Great to see Joey along there... was beginning to think he'd been eaten by some sort of hungry critter... until his wolverine video showed up... ha ha..

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you cribbsprojects! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

Great video Bryan, love that conversation about the bears!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Jarl! Glad you enjoyed the video. That was a very informative conversation, although it was not as humorous as the Oatmeal conversation.

[@NorwegianXplorer]

@@BryanDeLay Hahaha, yeah, that was a good one lol

[@WyrdBlogger01]

Just a grand looking hike. Amazing video.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Wyrd Blogger! Glad you liked the video.

[@david17500]

Awesome vid capturing what looks like an amazing adventure! Found your channel through joeys which is one of my fav channels! Glad to see he's still alive & well

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks David! Glad you enjoyed the video! It was a fun trip with Joey and Stuart and he is doing well.

[@DrJohn493]

This one reminds me of the French fur traders and voyageurs (minus the canoes, but looks like you could have used one on a couple of occasions!). Did Joey loose his shoes? He must have some tough feet to barefoot hike some of those trails. Looking forward to your version of the soggy Smokies with Coach earlier this month.

[@BryanDeLay]

A canoe would have been helpful, but we really needed a few more bridges:). No Joey had his shoes, but has been hiking bare foot some this past summer trying to toughen his feet. He did cut his foot on a rock so they're not quite tough enough yet.

[@DrJohn493]

@@BryanDeLay I know somebody with some recent back country bridge building experience on his resume ;-)

[@BryanDeLay]

You might tell him there is a trail in Jasper NP that needs a few bridges. He may have to get a contractor's license in Canada first though:).

[@getubelogin]

Love those bugs!

[@BryanDeLay]

I bet they are really bad in July!

[@jeffreyvasquez3911]

Wow, great hike.

[@BryanDeLay]

It was a great backpacking trip Jeffrey.

[@CarlMonin]

Enjoyed the video, Bryan. You captured it well. Awesome scenery and sounds. Any guess as to the weight of your 11 day food supply? Total pack weight?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Carl! My base weight was 14.4 lbs, consumables were 24 lbs and 2 lbs of video equipment for a total of 40.4 lbs.

[@ChrisfromFL]

As usual, another fantastic video, thanks for your persective. It was interesting to compare Stuart's report to yours. Wondering how you planned your food for this trip, eleven days is monster carry. Did you have to leave out part of your gear to make room for the extra food? Thanks again for your video!!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Chris! Over the years I've done many multi-day trips, but this trip broke my personal record by 1 day. So planning and preparing for the trip was not too difficult. I plan my food based on the number of meals I need, which is 4 meals a day, including an snack when I arrive at camp. For bulk food items I know how much I need for each meal and measure the amount needed for the entire trip. For other consumables I know the amount needed for each day and apply the same process. The only change to my normal base weight was omitting my Kindle and taking a cut-off ridge rest I had instead of my normal closed cell foam pad to save a few ounces. Regarding space in my pack, I did have to put the tarp in the outside mesh pocket for a few days to make everything fit.

[@Russell.Jolly.2023]

Looks like good hiking buddies.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks for watching Russell! We had a great time.

[@petermartin9335]

Really enjoyed that trip through the mountains, rivers and lakes of Jasper Park. Was there many years ago, and it brought memories back to me. Keep up the good work and I'll be tuning in regularly for more mountaineering adventures.

[@Lerockramblerbirder]

Beautiful video ! Thanks!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Larry! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@OntarioHikingTrails]

Great video I can hardly wait to visit Alberta

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Ontario Hiking Trails.

[@FOLLOWINGWALKERSWORLD]

Spectacular video Bryan. I need to get out & do an epic trip like that. Not use to seeing you do that long of a trip. 11 days of food is a tough carry. Great job!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Tom! Glad you enjoyed the video. My base weight was 14.4 lbs, consumables were 24 lbs and 2 lbs of video equipment for a total of 40.4 lbs.

[@FOLLOWINGWALKERSWORLD]

Bryan DeLay 44 lbs but you guys daily miles were perfect to get to camp and rest. Love to hike with Joey.

[@BryanDeLay]

You've added 3.6 pounds; only 40.4 pounds. I'll mention it to him, but his schedule is crazy at times with back to back to back backpacking trips.

[@waterfallmadman]

I love the color of the water there. I have not back packed up there but I have been to Jasper before. So beautiful. Did you not go up close to Emperor Falls? That is a big one on my list to see you Someday

[@BryanDeLay]

No we did not try to get up close to Emperor Falls. We had a 16 mile day back to the trail head then a three hour drive back to the beginning trail head so we were a little pressed for time on the last day.

[@PHILREEDSHIKES]

Good Job! I need to thank you for 'suggesting' my groups trip this past August (green river/porcupine pass loop in Bridger), and now after seeing this, we've launched planning for next summer for the north boundary trail! So...thank you! One issue/question we already have is...how did you get out of there if Mr. Howe hiked out early, assuming he took the car? If we have a large enough group and take 2 cars, no problem, but after calling the park, there seems to be 'dearth' of shuttles if we wind up with only 1 car...oh well, we have months to figure that out. Again, good job! And thanks!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks philreedshikes webalburn! My car was at the beginning trail head and Joey's car and Stuart's car was at the ending trail head. Stuart left maybe 30 minutes before us and hiked out with very few breaks. Joey and I took a lot of time at Berg Lake and we just never caught up with Stuart. It's a beautiful hike!

[@joesweeney7216]

Awesome video Brian! Wow what an amazing landscape! Reminds me of my backpacking trip to Alberta and BC in l974. Any good trout fishing in those rivers or lakes?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Joe! Glad you enjoyed the video. I would imagine that the trout fishing is great, but none of us were fishing on this trip.

[@davidanderson6947]

Beautiful country. Really enjoyable post-video Bryan, THANKS! I noticed you used the DCF Trailstar on this trip. How are you finding it re: pitching ease & flexibility vs the SilNylon version?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks David! Yes that's a DCF Trail Star, which I got last April. The only difference regarding pitching the tarp is DCF does not stretch, whereas silnylon does stretch some. So the silnylon Trail Star can be pitched with steeper walls than the DCF and the stretch in the silnylon will allow the edges to be pulled taunt. The DCF version has to be pitched a little flatter, but even then the edges are never real taunt, but I've never found that to affect the function. With a flatter pitch the DCF would probably not do very well in a heavy snow storm.

[@bee_finally_306]

I'm busy planning a solo trek for Aug 2020. The Helicopters and people around Mt Robson have convinced me to plan a loop back to Rock Lake. @25:13 is where I'm hoping to reach Snake Indian pass from the Caribou Valley. The topo map makes it look doable. Fingers crossed. Was firewood available at the campsites or did you scavenge? Great video!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Zeppelin! A helicopter actually landed just before we arrived at Mt. Robson. There was not firewood at the campsites, but it was easy to gather.

[@brianmiller5269]

Well its raining here in Baton Rouge so I figured I would check out youtube...nice video Professor. I think it is your best with the great composition and good mix of landscape and camp scenes. I bet it could have been 3 times longer though---11 days, wow. Is Joey toughening his feet for Naked and Afraid? I had to do a double take when I saw him hiking with a heavy pack barefooted! I see the heavy pack didn't slow you down a bit--doesn't surprise me though having hiked with you before (or should I say having hiked BEHIND you, far behind). One thing you said did perk my ears--when you mentioned a frasier fir forest. Unless I am mistaken, the frasier fir only grows on the mountaintops of the southern Appalachians of VA, TN and NC. Are you getting paid for all this hard work? Brian

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Brian! The first 8 miles of the last day we were busy taking videos and became pressed for time toward the end of the day, so Joey put the hammer down and we did the last 8 miles in just over 2 hours (he was wearing shoes on the last day). I had to really turn it on to keep up with him. You are right about the Fraser Firs and I realized that later, but decided to see it someone would correct me. I should have known it you be you. They may have been Douglas Firs, but the needles were flat and friendly like Fraser Firs. Yea, I'm getting a few pennies from YT:).

[@esmeadows]

Bryan, how was the crossing of Blue Creek? Parks Canada doesn't open campsites beyond Blue Creek 'til Aug 15 because of the dangerous ford required.

[@BryanDeLay]

That's what I understand. The water was only about knee deep and not to swift when we crossed. But creek was cold and broad.

[@theunpreparedhikers5572]

Hey great video, was thinking of doing this one day. How do you resupply for food?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks! There was no where to resupply on this end-to-end hike. We carried everything we needed for 11 days.

[@allenstocks6074]

Hey Bryan! Thanks as always for the amazing video! Just a couple questions if you don't mind.... You were out there for 11 days, what did you have to eat for that many days? I may have missed it somewhere in the video... and second... Just wondering what kind of camera and mic are you using? Great quality! Makes a big difference in your videos compared to others vloggers.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Allen! The same food I always eat, just more of it:). For breakfast I eat the same food everyday: granola dry, trail mix and a protein bar. For lunch I take tortillas and make a wrap out of peanut butter & dried pineapple, packaged salmon & mustard, salami and mustard or maybe beef jerky and a cliff bar. When I get to camp I eat a snack of peanuts, dried bananas, pumpkins seeds and Craisins and a protein bar. For dinner I eat freeze dried food. I know very boring, but it's all about getting enough calories. Since October 2018 I've been using a GoPro Hero 7 Black and no extra mic, but I color grade each clip and do a lot of editing.

[@allenstocks6074]

@@BryanDeLay awesome! Thanks Bryan. I really appreciate your response. I'll keep watching and learning and maybe one day I'll have my stuff together and can get out there too! Thanks again!

[@boulder89984]

Great trip Brian! What was you food weight and total pack weight?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks boulder89984! My base weight was 14.4 lbs, consumables were 24 lbs and 2 lbs of video equipment for a total of 40.4 lbs.

[@garyinfante3904]

Haven't seen you smoke a cigar lately. Are you still smoking them - what kind are your favorites - how often. Still enjoying the videos - thanks

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Gary! Still smoking cigars. My favorite is probably La Gloria Cubana Wavell.

[@DrJohn493]

@@BryanDeLay Partial to Partagas Series D # 6s myself, or an occasional H. Upmann or Ramon Allones.

[@DixonHikes]

Hell of a trek, Bryan! Are you using one of the newer GoPro’s? The stabilization & audio is fantastic....

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Chris. I've been using a Hero 7 Black since last October. The audio is really good and the stabilization is a game changer. I've seen several reviews on the new Hero 8 and hyper smooth stabilization is available in all resolutions and frames per second. On the Hero 7 hyper smooth stabilization is not available above 60 FPS. I use 120 FPS a lot and would use it more with hyper smooth stabilization, so I'm seriously considering the 8.

[@DixonHikes]

I need to look into the 8. I have the Hero 5 Black & it is useless, on both accounts.

[@BryanDeLay]

Yea, you need to check out the Hero 8 Black.

[@DrJohn493]

@@BryanDeLay I had been thinking about a second H7B or the new H8B but I see where DJI has now introduced a mini drone at a price point that competes well with the GoPros. Shoots good looking video it seems and it weighs only 249 grams and is small enough to be easily packable. I might go this route instead.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks John, I'll check out the DJI.

[@OneEyeHikes]

Great trek man! Did y’all do the entire trip without a resupply? August?

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Tim! No resupply, carried all consumables we needed. Started 8/26/19 and finished on 9/5/19.

[@HM-gk3rq]

Bryan DeLay I was on Berg Lake Trail Aug 25-28. Met some people finishing up north boundary trail. Beautiful area!!

[@backpackingcapebreton]

Any idea why Joey deleted his channel, Bryan? I miss that guy!

[@BryanDeLay]

Not sure why he deleted his channel, but he created a Patreon channel here: www.patreon.com/user?u=29913168.

[@BlackBuzzzard]

That's a lot of food to haul - 11 days?

[@BryanDeLay]

Yep, 24 lbs of food and other consumables. Thanks for watching the video.

[@arizjones]

Anyone know what happened to Joey Coconato's youtube channel?

[@BryanDeLay]

Apparently Joey has deleted his KZbin channel and has created a Patreon channel at: www.patreon.com/user?u=29913168. You can join for free, but I understand you have to pay to watch a video.

[@arizjones]

@@BryanDeLay Yea I figured it out. Thanks. Love your videos

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks!