GREAT DIVIDE TRAIL: alone and thriving on Section C

[@RootlessWanderer]

550 Km SOLO! Wow! Serious props! I can't wait to do more solo trips! Loved watching the two of you at the end! Stay Safe and Happy Hiking!

[@RootlessWanderer]

@@KrystaNorwick I think you are amazing! I look forward to your future adventures!

[@ABRouleauville]

Where you had the licorice is one of my favourite spots in the the mountains, summer & fall seasons. If you're passing back through that area this winter in the van, you can ski up there too (no more flowers though).

[@KrystaNorwick]

Oh great information!! Such a beautiful location!! We thought about returning to attempt the GDT in the winter time... perhaps another season in the future! Thanks for sharing!

[@chrisharmon5453]

I really am intrigued by this as I gave a favorite series that is based around this area. (Earth Children by Jean Auel)

[@monicabrown8875]

Fabulous! Thanks for sharing your adventures Krysta!

[@jessicamacneil-mah6481]

So good!!!! Loved being transported to camp so I didn’t have to do the switchbacks, lol.

[@jtellinghuisen75]

Fun! I'm psyching myself up for a hike and your adventure is helping.

[@jtellinghuisen75]

@@KrystaNorwick not quite sure yet. Been practicing minimalist packing/food in local areas (Iowa) and browsing Alltrails.com to find my first trek..weekend or 3 day. Mayne Estes Park, CO. But that's pretty cliche. Nothing too extreme weather wise while I get my barrimgs about me.

[@aquamarine9568]

Congratulations. What a beautiful journey and experience.

[@remainingwild]

0:38 that is the tairn I saw on my very first backcountry hike! This is bringing back so many memories thank you for sharing this!

[@remainingwild]

This is making me so emotional. The hike to Forks campground is the first backcountry hike that I ever did and seeing your video of it is bringing back so many amazing memories!

[@remainingwild]

1:50 I was born in Canada and have literally spent my life here and I STILL sleep with a winter jacket even during summer hikes so I feel your pain! The temperatures can drop to near freezing even during summer lol!

[@RootlessWanderer]

It was -45 Celsius (windchill) here the other day...lol

[@remainingwild]

@@RootlessWanderer yeah that’s cold! Lol

[@RootlessWanderer]

@@remainingwild Good ol' Saskatchewan!

[@levans9955]

I have that sleeping bag! I got it because it was the best warmth to weight bag I could find BUT I had similar problem. Below 4oC I was just way too cold!

[@remainingwild]

5:08 oh this brings back so many memories! My friend Jesse and I hiked to Mount Assiniboine in 2019 and on the way out we hiked along Marvel Lake. That is a BIG lake! It felt like it was never going to end haha. Also, Wonder Pass is STUNNING and it has tons of Larch trees which look beautiful in the Fall so it's a great Fall hike too! Hoping to do Mount Assiniboine in 2021 during Fall again.

[@carolhindley7942]

Krysta, it so wonderful that we can share so intimately your thoughts and those magnificent views as you hike along. We put these vids up on our big screen and are hanging on to your every word and reaction to each current situation and surrounding. What a gift it is to us all to ‘be there’ with you. Thank you. 💕👏🏻

[@brittneymerayhorta]

Seeing you grow so much and mentally become stronger on this trail is so incredibly inspiring! I like to think I'm tough but I'm afraid to even backpack alone near black bears. I can't even imagine in grizzly territory! You are really giving me the courage to go for a solo trip though. I've always wanted to, just been a scaredy cat.

[@KrystaNorwick]

How did this summers hiking go for you?

[@remainingwild]

9:58 seeing all those wildflowers made my heart stop!

[@aquamarine9568]

What happens if you cannot make then kilometres you planned on a particular day and cannot reach the campsite. Can you sleep wild in an emergency?

[@RootlessWanderer]

19:53 OMG! My heart was racing! Lol! But.... 20:34 is what it's all about! Those Peaks!

[@RootlessWanderer]

@@KrystaNorwick I did, yes, it is a part of the gdt. I thru-hiked the gdt in my early 20's.

[@philippebourdeau2281]

Great vids! May I ask: what date/month did you start the trail?

[@philippebourdeau2281]

@@KrystaNorwick Lovely! Sorry to barrage you but may I ask: did you carry bugspray with you, and did you hang your food at camp, or was it okay to keep your food in tent?

[@philippebourdeau2281]

@@KrystaNorwick How is the weather on the trail in late Sept.? Any chance of storms that early? Is it too cold for comfort? Considering a mid-august start date so in research phase now.

[@philippebourdeau2281]

@@KrystaNorwick Thanks for this. I will buy the guide book, cheers for the tip.

[@philippebourdeau2281]

@@KrystaNorwick I keep bugging you, soon you will have to charge me. :) Another quick q, I prefer having a flexible hiking schedule but I am reading that campsites should be reserved ahead of time for much of the trail. Did you guys reserve campsites ahead of time or did you just get there and wing it (leaving some flexibility for daily distance, etc..)? Is it even possible to 'wing it" or would you recommend reserving?

[@philippebourdeau2281]

@@KrystaNorwick So helpful, thanks very much. Have you guys posted as copy of your sample itinerary anywhere? I'll be looking at many itineraries as reference points before crafting my own. Great videos BTW, admire you guys.

[@kurtisf3366]

What kind of sleeping pad were you using? I have found that having a good pad with a reasonable r value is far more important than the temperature rating of the bag here in the Alberta Rockies.

[@kurtisf3366]

@@KrystaNorwick Those are supposed to be pretty good sleeping pads so I guess my theory is out the window. My wife and I both use Exped SynMat HL pads. We switched to them from heavier 10 year old Thermarest mats last year and have been happy with them so far. We used them up to about -5C with no issues last year. My favourite part about the pad is actually the schnozzle pump bag that comes with them. It is used to inflate the pad so you don't have to breathe your humid breath into the pad to potentially mold, but they also act as the lightest dry bag you've ever found and are huge. We pack our sleeping pads and all our clothing in them and they keep everything bone dry. They kept everything dry through some crazy wet days when we did Section C of the GDT in 2019. They're a bit on the expensive end of the spectrum though, we found ours in the clearance bin at Campers Village. If you're keen on keeping the sleeping bag, maybe look for a silk liner. They are really light, compress to about the size of a softball, and add 4 or 5 degrees to any sleeping bag. I always carry one for my shoulder season backpacking trips.

[@kurtisf3366]

@@KrystaNorwick With the liner I tend to get into it first then get into the sleeping bag. If you roll a lot it can get a bit tangled but I haven’t had a ton of issue with it. A side benefit of the liner is they are easier to wash than the sleeping bag and keep your sleeping bag cleaner.

[@jordonchenard1232]

Whats the date you started this hike?

[@jordonchenard1232]

@@KrystaNorwick thank you :)

[@remainingwild]

22:30 I've noticed you've had a few vegan meals so far I'm really interested in making vegan meals myself! What do you do to prepare vegan meals for the trail?