Five amazing un-popular hikes

[@whalleywalks6510]

The alberta Rockies are so much more than 3 trails. Marty is right. Don’t get frustrated with the math of booking a spot on one of those. Wait till a nice autumn and any of those hikes can be picked up. I know cause I did Rockwall and skyline in October and it was gorgeous. These are all great prime summer hiking trips. Thanks for putting this together Marty

[@Martyupnorth]

That's a great point Whalley. Do the popular trails in the off season. I agree that late fall can be one of the most rewarding times ti hike. The crowds and the bugs are gone, it seldom rains, the rivers are easy to ford and the colours are spectacular.

[@wanderingpanda6556]

Agreed! The Brazeau was excellent at the end of summer, no probs getting all the sites needed.

[@northernbeadle]

For sure! I did Brazeau Loop late September.. even though most campgrounds were fully booked there were two nights where I and a few guys were the only ones there. Cooler nights but man the views were amazing, and the fall orange and reds were spectacular!! Off season can be very rewarding!!

[@JD3D67]

Thank you Marty, I was the 94th thumbs up, but then I noticed that I was the 1,386th viewer -bummer. What's up people?!!!!! I am 72 years old and live in Michigan. I doubt that I'll make it to these places - but I would love to and appreciate Marty taking the time to document these great experiences. I still backpack, but keep it to 4-5 miles a day. I also have a tie to Calgary as one of my dear daughters-in-law is from Calgary.

[@Martyupnorth]

Always nice to hear from our American cousins. I follow quite a few KZbinrs from your neck of the woods. You folks have some great wilderness. Nothing wrong with 4-5 mile hikes. Cheers from Alberta.

[@Suacoche]

You’re so right at the end about keeping these areas wild. 👏🏻

[@northernbeadle]

Marty, well done! Seriously, this is what you're known for... while many other KZbinr's are reviewing all the popular stuff, you are making things popular and showing how much more is out there than just the "default" hikes that everyone is pitching. That's what I appreciate about your efforts and hikes and what incredible stuff you have brought to the community!! Looking forward to trying these as I've already done all the main ones and these alternates look fantastic!! CHEERS!

[@susangerrior3628]

Thanks! Very kind of you to give up some of your favourite spots!

[@Mountaintownlife]

Great video! Very informative. I am new to Alberta and I am overwhelmed with the amount of backcountry options, which is not a bad thing. I reside in Grande Cache and have been exploring around this area for the last 9 months. I am grateful for your suggestions as I am not big on crowds and enjoy going to less traveled places. It is great having the Wilmore Wilderness at my back door as well👍

[@Martyupnorth]

Willmore is an amazing area. I like to stage from Rock Lake and head into the Blue Creek area.

[@eamonsrockymountainadventu2296]

Never quite feels like the bush proper when you see a picnic table out there lol. I find it fascinating that people get so invested in those popular trails the np when there’s so many pluz’ and wpp’ out there that are so beautiful and wild. Glad there are others out there that appreciate those areas as much as I do.

[@ervinslens]

Nice suggestions man and nicely elaborated everything.

[@worldcup88]

Thank you for the great suggestion Marty! I'll add them to my list. I'm excited to do more hiking this year!!

[@filmic1]

Maybe I mentioned elsewhere. A trapper's son (Sundre/Olds) took me on a lovely two nighter west and North of Mountain Aire Lodge. It was gorgeous. Amazing water filled grotto formations/pools. Ran into fresh grizzly tracks, a sow with her cubs he said. This fellow knew what was up, it was exciting, but safe. His dad dropped us off and picked us up. Long time ago.

[@paulhiebert382]

spectacular suggestions Marty ! you keep adding to my bucket list :) FIVE places just added. thanks to you I guess I will be hiking into my late 70s at least. :)

[@jayt4803]

Great suggestions Marty. I’m glad to say I’ve knocked off 4 of your 5 already. I no longer stress over the booking deadlines. So much to explore without worrying about booking the popular spots!! Thanks for inspiring me to get off the beaten path. Cheers!!

[@AndrewWisler]

I completely agree with your aesthetic - I’m from the Eastern US, so I’m familiar with different locations, but the reason I backpack is to immerse myself in the wilderness, and the fewer people (and heaven forbid, picnic tables!) the better. Believe it or not, there are places in the East where you can hike in the woods for a week and almost not see another soul. I might need to venture out to some of your suggestions someday.

[@elairefrenette5806]

Thanks for this Marty! I finally got Skyline lined up this year after doing Rockwall and Berg Lake the last couple summers. With those three under my belt, I look forward to exploring some lesser known trails.

[@johnramsayadventure6808]

This is a great video Marty!! Thank you for this.

[@froatsj]

Marty I did the Lake of Falls hike in 2018 because of your videos previous from it! I have some absolutely beautiful pictures from the morning sun on the LoF wall at the campground! Travelled 10 hours from Moose Jaw, SK and would do it again in a heart beat! Thank you for you info on these backcountry hikes!

[@stephenbouchard8075]

Thanks Marty. Great video as always

[@alpineearth]

Thanks Marty! Been writting these down as you do your videos. Great review!

[@alextenney6199]

Thanks marty! I didnt even try to reserve the day everything opened because I intended to challenge myself to go to more remote, lesser-known areas this year!

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

Ooohhh the options as I expand my bush camping to backpacking!

[@WBHadventure]

Great video once again Marty, I just look forward to planning my trip in October to Nepal, and hiking Annapurna base camp.

[@johnbow72]

Thanks for your videos Marty , your neighbors south of the border are with you guys 100 percent . Stay strong and safe , you will be on the right side of history .

[@Martyupnorth]

Thank you, I will

[@adventurousbec]

Great picks! I'd add to check if you do need a permit for crown areas, what with that new Crown Camping pass. To be on the safe side :)

[@vanillagorilla4220]

Great video. Thanks for the suggestions. I’m looking forward to exploring the Siffleur/White Goat area and eventually north east from there. Would you consider doing an early season backpacking video? I find it challenging to plan good early season trips because of the variable snowpack. Minnewanka is pretty reliable from May onward but I’m so done with that area. I dont like ticks and I don’t like to reserve camp sites. I did a fun little overnight loop last May going from Lusk, up the 68, over Lusk Ridge (not much for trails), down hunchback and back along Lusk Pass. Not much snow at all.

[@KevinB-mg5mn]

Marty, Your unscripted details of these lessor utilized destinations is a great demonstration of your experience. You are a an excellent resource, especially including the caltopo links. The idea of 'free' destinations without the crowds is very appealing to many in these times; in our attempts to seek freedoms. Any thoughts of highlighting closer K-country over-nighters- or are they on the personal LNT list? Mecri encore.

[@jameshunt1221]

spectacular video

[@wanderingpanda6556]

Great advice! Even though you know that people have been to some of these areas previously, there always comes a time during the hike (for me at least) that you feel like you’re the first one to be there. It’s a combination of the isolation, lack of human evidence, distance, and proper wilderness. That feeling just can’t be replicated at the “FrontoBackcountry” places. It’s an addiction after that!

[@cestnotremonde]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing!

[@Martyupnorth]

Thanks for watching!

[@Suacoche]

Couldn’t agree more Marty, my goodness… so many nice areas to visit in Alberta and BC.

[@Martyupnorth]

One or two of your clips made it into this video. Cheers.

[@Suacoche]

@@Martyupnorth That trip was so epic. I still think about it all the times. Hope to do more like that.

[@paulcuppett2862]

Wish you were equally familiar with the US Rockies! We need an “alternates” video down here!

[@Martyupnorth]

I've been wanting to hike in the USA for 2 years. As soon as the border re-opens, that's the first thing I'm doing. I have long-standing invitations to hike in California, Colorado, Utaj and Texas.

[@swigwithtwig5780]

These are great suggestions except for the one with all the snakes on it.

[@AlbinoBlackCows]

Hey Marty, hope you can reply. Just wanted to ask: Doesn't Highway 40 close until June 15? How'd you manage to do these hikes?

[@Martyupnorth]

Do them after the gates are opened, or ride a bike to the trailhead if you really want to go early. WARNING: the hike on my list that is in Kananaskis requires a ford of the Highwood river, which would be extremely difficult and dangerous in the early season.

[@AlbinoBlackCows]

@@Martyupnorth thanks!

[@EricTremblayAdventures]

Noteworthy mentions from my experiences of amazing backpacking ideas... Celestine Lake to Rock Lake - Geraldine Lake to Brussels Camp - Whitehorse Creek to Miette Hotsprings

[@Martyupnorth]

When I think of Geraldine Lakes to Brussel Camp, I do it via the Mount Belanger/Fryatt pass traverse. Whitehorse to Miette is cool. Celestine to Rock LAke is a bike trail in my book.

[@CDAFishboy]

What a mess trying to type from a phone and having auto correct screw it up. So editing Marty, how is it going? I missed this video. So I’ll make a few comments. Why do people go back to the same places. Well Mt Assiniboine was a place I went to 3 times. August and twice in late September for the fall colors. Once I took my girlfriend. Each time I used a different route. Except for Magog Lake, I had each campsite to myself. I went to Floe Lake three times, either as a final destination or part of a bigger trip. Again. Once to take somebody who had never experienced anything like these Mts. But unlike now, I never saw anybody on the trail. How things change in 14 years. If I don’t get favorable conditions for photography, I sometimes return. But I enjoy the solitude and these kind of places that are above the ordinary deserve putting up with the crowds ONCE. I’ll avoid weekends and go in May or late Sept -early October. I think infrequent backpackers just need to see these spectacular places with the available time they have. The first trip to the Wind River Range my wife and I went to Titcombe Basin. One of two popular and crowded destinations. Since then I have gone elsewhere to avoid seeing anybody around my campsites. Longer trips, more navigation and terrain challenges, but solitude abounds. I take 5-6 trips per year and have a lot of vacation time. So I can afford to avoid starting trips on a Friday or Saturday, as well as holidays ( most of the time). Not everybody has that luxury, so I can see why they would go to the most popular places. Seeing KZbin videos is really driving people to new places and making them crowded. People cannot look at a map and figure out how nice a place would be. A video showing some alternatives is something you don’t see. I know of a few places I cannot figure out why it is so popular, when the adjacent untraveled trail is just as nice. People are like sheep, just following the flock. I never saw a trail in Alberta, BC, that was not fantastic, so it is a good thing to let people know some alternatives. Things have changed and getting an advance permit is now needed. That sucks, because I look at how many trips have been can canceled because of fires, smoke, bear activity. Lately I want to look at the weather report and the fires and smoke and decide where I am going. So I cannot go to some National parks. So it is cool to see some alternatives up north. The one thing I would miss is the bear poles.

[@eprohoda]

bonjournice to meet you~ super channel- 🥸

[@p1ippers]

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@Martyupnorth]

We have to get hikers and backpackers to spread out. Don't worry, I'm not revealing all my favorite spots.

[@randytanyahermann2268]

I was kinda worries about the same thing. But I feel confident that the instagrammers won’t want to work that hard and stay in remote and rustic surrounds. Cheers from Tanya 🙂

[@Martyupnorth]

@@randytanyahermann2268 I estimate that 50% of backpackers don't venture more than 2 nights in the backcountry. Another 10-15% go 3-4 days. Very few will venture anywhere that requires 4-5 nights in the backcountry. It's also my observation that people are uncomfortable totally roughing it. People won't hike in areas without bear lockers, tent pads, reservations, pic nic tables, marked trails and bridges. I've been promoting remote trails for decades. Every year people watch videos like my Southesk hike with Evan and say "I'm adding that to my list" but I know they won't doo it. I'm not worried at all, I still have secret spots.

[@debnn4854]

Thankyou Marty.

[@AntwonDaBusiness]

The worst part of winter is over? It’s the beginning of February hahaha wtf

[@drusillahodges4707]

Love it!!!! Do not miss out = Promo>SM !