BEST Overland Trail in Alberta?

Until now, I've really only hit up Northern Alberta trails; trails like TransAlta, Lost Knife and of course Ruby Falls. And all those trails are absolutely amazing; but Alberta is so vast so I had a plan for a few southern trips this summer. The record setting wildfire season changed many of my plans; but my trip to Crowsnest Pass was not affected!
I had a small crew join me for an adventure down Atlas Road which included detours to Window Mountain Lake, the Racehorse Pass Trail (in it's entirety) and finally the Great Divide Trail (via Soap Creek Trail).
Checkout our adventure!
Special thanks to Ty Tessmann & Running Joe Off-Road for just a bit of extra footage! Also huge shoutout to everyone who came. I can't wait to do this run again. What's everyone doing June of '24?
Editors Notes:
- Don't bother commenting on trail status; we know that Racehorse Pass Trail is closed on the BC side.
- The mine blasting was stock footage as well as Google Earth...I did not fly my drone over an active mine :P
- As of the release of this film, no citations have been handed out to anyone in the group.
Full details on my build:
justemptyevery...
My social Media:
Twitter: / mteverypocket
Facebook: / mteverypocket
Instagram: / thedrach5150
My Other KZbin: / 5150mediaproductions
Credits:
Camera Guy: Cory Drachenberg
Edited By: Cory Drachenberg on Adobe Premiere CC2023
Soundtrack:
"Dishonored" by Chris Phaze
"Out of Flux" by PUNKD
"The Great Expanse" by Charlie Ryan
"One Right Decission" by Rock 'n' Stock
"The Racer" by Tristan Barton
"DuDa" by Ian Post
"Mojave Sunset" by 1M1 Music
"The Sacred Voice" by Itai Argaman
"The Fire Gate" by Alex Grohl
Additional Footage:
Ty Tessmann
Running Joe Off-Road
The Government of Alberta
CBC News
Equipment Used:
SONY A7Siii with NINJA V ProRes Recorder
GoPro Hero 8
GoPro Hero 9
DJI Mavic 2 PRO
SHURE SM7B
RedGiant Looks
SkyGrades LUTS
Be sure to like & subscribe to my channels! Lots more content is on the way!!
#Just EmptyEveryPocket #Jeep #Rubicon #2012JK #5150Productions #RCDepot #CrowsnestPass #LivingstonePLUZ #TravelAlberta

[@2_Bike_is_Life]

Hard to believe you are a one-man show. Great footage and storytelling.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Heh; you should checkout my doc series on professional RC Car racing. It’s called “Come Drive With Us”.

[@kirshberndt8412]

Stumbled across this video and had to click on it being from Cranbrook, BC and now living in Calgary, AB. Have to say I was very pleasantly surprised and impressed with the filming quality, production, editing and storytelling! I particularly like the way you added in the road names - like a higher budget Hollywood movie. I think you’re giving Shaun from The Story Til Now some competition 👍

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Thank you so much for the kind words! This was a super fun trip and I enjoyed putting this little film together. Even though I use basically the exact same gear, I don’t think I could ever do what Shaun does. The time he spends on his trips to collect content isn’t something I could ever do; or would even want to do. I’m perfectly content doing the best productions I can and keeping it fun 😎 Thanks for watching and commenting; very much appreciate it 😀

[@That_Guy_Outside]

Yep - I’m super impressed and was thinking the exact same thing. Well done.

[@That_Guy_Outside]

Really great video = the photography, storytelling, and a fun adventure with your daughter. A great memory!

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Thanks! Appreciate the comment 😊 It was a fun adventure; many more to come.

[@jaykanngiesser3454]

Thanks for the vid! Buddy in his lifted Taco and I in my lifted Colorado did that trail last year. Awesome trip, rooftop tent equipped and camping on both sides. I agree a very cool area.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

I can’t wait to do it again!

[@eddierussell9369]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Thanks for watching! It was a super fun trip and I can't wait to do it again...next time with a trek down the North Fork Pass Trail :)

[@RJ_Groot]

Nice production as always, Cory.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Thanks Groot!

[@getbusymakestuff]

Outstanding production.

[@SynergyGamingTV]

So awesome to see my Province in videos! Great content!

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Checkout our trip to Marble & Limestone Mountains; even more epic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWGnamqlrKx5b9Usi=o2cKkun1DtqKlL89

[@greystone4333]

Great videography and narration. Fun had by all. Great trail. Overall very well done.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Thanks for watching

[@bobelliott2748]

Big engines+big tires+big fat bellies=a fun time for everyone without much thinking required.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Hey not all of the drivers had bellies; some of us are in a shape other than round buahahahahha!

[@jerrybuck9236]

Great video! Nice camera work! This looks like fun...makes me wanna take the ole Tundra out 😝

[@RSMPRC]

This is so sick! Amazing voice over too!

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Awwwe thanks for the feedback. Glad you liked it!

[@klugger01]

That was a fantastic adventure, thanks for sharing that. I have the same wife problem as you and Dubenstein!! Here I thought I was the only one :) Took my wife up the lost knife trail about 25 years ago and she started hitting me with her purse, but my 22 tear old twin boys just love it. Happy I tripped over you channel this afternoon.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Hehe tanks! It was a super fun trip. I did actually get her onto a trail…eventually she forgave me… kzbin.info/www/bejne/joualoGumKaqrKs

[@seanmacdonald9808]

my gladiator rubicon well be up for the task soon! hopefully i see you folks out on the trails! great camera work this was very informative

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

It’s a nice area; Alberta has some amazing trails. That being said, most of our trails are very tight. Think about self healing PPF to protect your paint.

[@ericthestone]

What an amazing episode! can't wait for more!

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

I just shot one 10000000x better! Coming soon!!

[@user-hy1cm3si8v]

Thanks for the video. We’ve ridden side by sides out of McGillvray and Atlas but have never made it up to the Racehorse Pass Trail.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

There were a lot of SxS up on Racehorse; both AB and BC sides. It’s a great trail definitely check it out next time you’re there. It really is geared more towards SxS action; it was a bit on the narrow side for us Jeep folk. We got a few pinstripes :P

[@wojohowitz5432]

it always boggles my mind when so many off roaders come upon a tree felled across the trail. They promptly work to cut the obstacle the exact same width of the trail?????? Why not maybe cut it a few feet more, into the bush.????

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Dang ATVers hahah

[@stevecote8088]

nice ryde !!! 🤘🤘

[@barrytunzelmann6010]

You should have taken the left fork way back prior to hitting Teck property. That brings you out on the north south valley road that parallels the main hiway to the mine and would take you down to Elkford where you just drive pavement back to Crowsnest. 3 years ago we did the loop North Fork down the valley road then back up Racehorse. As you say NF is closed because of the mine expansion but so is Racehorse.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

I believe that's the route we ended up taking out; we exited at Sparwood. It was a very beautiful route that we took; albeit an accidental one. I'm not an extreme environmentalist by any streatch of the immagination, but it's such a shame that mining activity is the reason that North Fork was closed. I did that trail about 10 years ago and absolutely loved it! Government entities said it was closed due to "water crossings"...but I don't recall any on that trail. This is reason makes the most sense to me; and it kinda sucks. I think that "wheels in water" is the governments go-to excuse for closing trails.

[@TreeLovinAdventures]

There are crossings at some fish bearing streams according to what I have heard through work. We had just found that trail earlier the year that it got shut down too.

[@123brendan100]

Lol first video i find looking for new trails in my area brings me to my child hood camp sites 😂

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Nice place to camp for sure! If you’re looking for new places, checkout the limestone area: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWGnamqlrKx5b9U

[@123brendan100]

@@JustEmptyEveryPocket sweet thank you!

[@GauravTripathi-ls2nl]

Top-notch content! Subscribed

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Thanks for the feedback; I'm happy you enjoy it! I'm just finishing up my film on the Moab trip. Should be dropping on the 21st :)

[@oldironfarm]

Fantastic video. We were there around the same time as you. Beautiful area, definitely want to go back.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Yeah it sure is nice down there. This year we’ll be checking out the crevice fire tower south of there.

[@VoyagerOverland]

Awesome video! Glad I came across your channel. Subscribed.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@archieibias3794]

Nice one guys

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. Don’t forget to checkout my newest film about our run up Marble Mountain: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWGnamqlrKx5b9U

[@mountainadventures7346]

I was just up by upper priest lake yesterday with my K5. About 100 miles south west of crowsnest pass. We live in beautiful country!👍

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

It sure is! I’m taking a group to Crevice fire tower this weekend.

[@mountainadventures7346]

@@JustEmptyEveryPocket We will have a booth at the overlanding expo outside of Leavenworth Washington this weekend! Be safe! Awesome video!👍

[@GryptpypeThynne]

Looks beautiful! I had heard that racehorse pass was closed where it crosses to BC this year - no longer?

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

We didn’t find out until after the fact that the BC side is closed. There was so much traffic on it; both full-size as well as ATVs. There was also no signage anywhere.

[@nemesis851_]

“ZOMBIE” fires 🔥 still burning through the winter

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Yeah that's insane! I fear this is going to be a summer just as bad as '23...

[@ThePuresmithroader]

Really good video

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@RXN58]

That's pretty sweet. How much extra fuel did you have to take?

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

I brought 20L but didn’t need any; my 2-door with the 3.6L is very efficient on the trails.

[@RXN58]

@JustEmptyEveryPocket good to know. Thank you. I'll be adding this trail to my bucket list trails.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

@@RXN58 if you have a bit of lift and 35s…do the north fork pass; it looks AWESOME! Not stock friendly so we had to call it a day a bit early.

[@RXN58]

@JustEmptyEveryPocket small lift on 33s. That blue Sahara that was with you and Steve on tye March 31st Ghost falls trip

[@RXN58]

Once I'm healed up enough to get out again, think I'll give Kakwa Falls a go. Probably early September

[@seandozois]

There are still bodies under those boulders

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

It’s a pretty amazing thing to see; and eerie at the same time…just knowing there’s a whole town under there.

[@Jason-dr6se]

36 people were arrested for arson regarding those fires so don't be mistaken were they originated from.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

I don’t believe we attributed the causes to anything at all in the video. I hope they throw the book at those 36 people; starting first like that intentionally to boost an agenda is sick.

[@lowrider454]

Hi I’m just wondering about the blue tacoma how did his cooper rugged trek tires do in the different obstacles?

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

I’m not sure; MTs hooked up the best on that trail and I believe the Rugged Trek are an AT.

[@lowrider454]

It should be a hybrid between m/t and a/t

[@DallasMihalicz]

@@lowrider454 The Cooper Rugged Trek's have been awesome so far and yes, they are a cross over between an AT and a MT given that they are 4 lugs across like a MT but with AT compound giving them 3PMSF being the competitor to the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T but at a much lower price. This trip was also the first time I had been out on a trail with them and being kind of newer to the overland scene I think they did what they needed in terms of performance I as the driver could have picked better line through obstacles. I have since been out to Ruby falls in the Summer, Ghost falls a couple of times and out to Margret Lake w/ Lost knife pass and have not had many major issues with them. Sorry for the late response to this I just had this video come across my feed again while I was looking for something to watch.

[@TheMrbear186]

​@@DallasMihaliczhow is the ruby falls trail in your truck? I have a 2020 TRD offroad thats getting 33s next week and Ruby is oretty much #1 on my list

[@darcybanasiak7293]

Check out Lucas coatings out of the Crossfield area. He uses endura (industrial mining) paint. Better than powder coating.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

I went with self healing PPF. So far it’s pretty dialed. We’ll see how it holds up.

[@darcybanasiak7293]

@JustEmptyEveryPocket awesome video by the way. Looks like a trail I'd like to take my 95 f250 down

[@jordangross4524]

I’m looking to do this area summer 2024, any route guidance would be appreciated. Thanks

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Download the Livingstone PLUZ map. Also there were a lot of locations shown on maps in this video.

[@cynaralapierre6241]

Me too, I want to do this trail this coming summer.

[@johnsen1595]

Do you think a VW Touareg will make it there? The only mod I did is 33 inch tire

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Nope.

[@barrytunzelmann6010]

If you had a lift as well I would actually say yes. Everything relies on the nut! - the nut holding the steering wheel. Just don't gun it on loose rock. Son and I did North Fork and back Racehorse one weekend and never even needed to spot.

[@kyledrohan3198]

I thought racehorse pass was closed on the bc side

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

This was explained in the video.

[@vmoney9106]

I thought only teenaged kids wear Che shirts, guess I was wrong

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

A what?

[@CanadianMason85]

6:18 unironically wearing a communist murderer as a full grown adult lol

[@deanmcilwrick6360]

Well that’s disappointing, Ive been there twice and hoped there was something better…….

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

Without the Northfork Pass (thanks to Teck Mining), the area is a collection of really easy trails. Some of the decents on the BC side of Racehorse were nice and steep which you don't really get a sense of in the video; but it's still an easy trail. That being said, it's one of the more picturesque trails you'll find in this province.

[@barrytunzelmann6010]

30:08 No seatbelts. Not a good thing if you roll or go over the edge.

[@JustEmptyEveryPocket]

@@barrytunzelmann6010 that part of the trail is a 1 out of 10 difficult. My Kia Rio could rock that trail plus…If I roll it there I don’t deserve to live in the first place 😝

[@monette44]