Solo Hiking in the Canadian Rockies Wilderness for 6 Days

► GEAR (affiliate links)

► ABOUT THIS HIKE
In early June 2024, I hiked Section C of the Great Divide Trail in the Canadian Rockies, starting at Upper Kananaskis Lake in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta. I passed over North Kananaskis Pass, crossing from Alberta into British Columbia, and entered the Height of the Rockies Provincial Park. On day two, I crossed Palliser Pass into Banff National Park and spent the night at Marvel Lake. On the third day, I hiked over Wonder Pass into Assiniboine Provincial Park, passing by Assiniboine Lodge, and spent two nights in a remote cabin. On day five, I climbed over Citadel Pass via Sunshine Meadows to Egypt Lake. On the sixth day, I completed the hike by exiting to Highway 1.
This trek turned out to be one of my favorite hikes. The remoteness and untouched wilderness were unlike anything I'd experienced before.

This is an ambient film without dialog.

► TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Day 1 - Kananaskis Provincial Park
6:47 Day 2 - Banff National Park
13:48 Marvel Lake
14:52 Day 3 - Assiniboine Provincial Park - Mount Assiniboine
20:26 Staying in a remote cabin
30:48 Day 5 - Caught in a Snowstorm
36:49 Day 6 - Waking up in fresh snow
40:41 Outro with Photos

#solohiking #camping #canada #thruhiking #greatdividetrail #banff

[bfein-jknp]

I have traveled the world and hiked and camped for years in the 70s, 80s and 90s as well as early 2000. Purchased a Volkswagen Van in late 70s and traveled to every national park in the US, Mexico, Canada. I am retired now but hooked on all the YouTube Silent Hiking vids. I must say, your videos are the best, done beautifully with exquisite detail to your imagery and music. It's like watching a movie, not a video. You are very brave at many of your hikes in remote areas, weather conditions, etc. I know it's a lot of work filming while your doing this. I am also a professional photographer so I know what goes into this type of work and editing you do. Your films and spirit has lifted me back into camping, hiking and traveling again. Been purchasing new gear and not going to attempt YouTube videos, just hike, camp over night and get back into filming my adventures for myself. You are a big inspiration and if you ever get to Southern Utah around Zion, I would love to meet you. Thanks for everything you do and please be safe out there. You are awesome

[giampaolozanetello]

This is not just a film. It is poetry in motion. Deserves a nomination to the academy award for best cinematography.

[DelosFive]

Keep in mind that he has to set the camera up to film

Then go back and walk the same bit again toward the camera, or away and go back and fetch the camera.

That in itself deserves a like. ❤

[adampetriw]

Thank you for doing such an unbelievable job showcasing the beauty of our beloved Rocky Mountains! I believe you are genuinely the best silent hiking videographer in the world at the moment. The quality of your videos is simply unparalleled. I could dedicate the rest of my life to videography and I would never be able to do what you are doing!

This year, late snowfall and a cold spring meant the snowpack persisted well into the early summer months, as you experienced and so beautifully captured in your film. Many trails in Banff and Lake Louise were completely inaccessible until July, especially at higher elevations. I was snowshoeing on most trails in mid June and mountains required ice tools, avalanche awareness, and alpine starts to summit safely. Even at the beginning of July, sections of Lake O’Hara required snowshoes. Parks Canada even canceled and refunded people’s backcountry reservations (which almost never happens) in parts of Banff and Yoho until the beginning of July, as the snow was deep and casual hikers do not understand what is involved and how to negotiate this terrain safely. I believe people had to get rescued from the Assiniboine, Rockwall, and Yoho areas this June.

This year, I attempted to complete the entire GDT, from the USA border in Waterton all the way to Kakawa Lake near Prince George. I was only able to finish Sections A, B, and C, ultimately due to fires. We have had a rough year. At the start of July we experienced major heat waves that persisted for several weeks. Snow rapidly melted; trails went from being inaccessible (deep postholing in snow) to completely clearing within days. The heat did not subside and by the end of July, it felt like everything was on fire. GDT hikers had to get airlifted out of Section D, as there was a fire spreading rapidly behind Yoho. Sections E and F were closed as massive fires engulfed nearly the entire town of Jasper; many people lost their homes. Jasper is still closed and will remain closed for the rest of the season.

To be honest, choosing to do Section C of the GDT in June is… ambitious. I am curious if you chose to hike our Rockies in June deliberately or if it was somewhat an afterthought? Section C tends to be the most popular, as it traverses through several world renown areas (Northover Ridge, Assiniboine, Egypt Lake, Rockwall). I noticed you did not finish in Field, where Section C ends, and wonder if this was due to Parks Canada canceling your reservations on the Rockwall, or if the snow was too deep there to traverse safely? Regardless, what you achieved, in the amount of time you achieved it, in those conditions, is nothing short of incredible! Very few… I mean very few people experience what you have experienced! While much harder to hike through, snow can make things extremely beautiful. Thank you for giving all of us a rare glimpse of that beauty! You were probably alone most of the time, as most people do not venture out there in those conditions.

The GDT can be such an unforgiving trail; from walking on exposed ridge lines with no water during a heat wave in the scorching sun to getting stuck a snow storm on Northover Ridge with ferocious winds at the very end of July that blew apart my tent and didn’t let me sleep. And due to reservations, you must continue, regardless of how exhausted you are, hiking 30-45km with up to 2500m of elevation per day. When attempting the entire trail, you can’t start too early, or finish too late, generally due to snow. It makes it a challenge. In short, the trail is legendary! Difficult, but insanely beautiful.

I would love to see you return. I hear Sections F and G are the heart of the GDT; the essence of what the GDT represents. It’s essentially 350-400km of absolute wilderness north of Jasper. It is very reasonable to hike those two sections and never see a single person. This next year, Berg Lake trail will be open (has been closed for the past 3 years due to landslide/washout). This allows Sections F and G to be split up with a resupply by walking the Berg Lake trail to the Mount Robson visitors center. It’s an idea. I would love to see you tackle that; it’s incredibly remote and wild. If you decide to do this, consider walking the Perseverance High Route alternate.

I know you had a group trip planned in mid June. I considered going for it, but ultimately couldn’t afford it. I’m curious to know how the group managed in the snow, as you did the Paradise Valley traverse. Sentinel Pass and the valley of ten peaks must have been absolutely glorious! I was there at the end of June, when the trail was mostly snow free.

Harmen, you are one of the best film makers in the world… I just want you to know that! We all appreciate the effort you put into these videos and the work you do! Thank you for visiting our beautiful backyard, and showing the rest of the world what a special place this is. Please stay safe on all your future adventures!

[theurbanalgorithm]

I completed my first solo 5-day hike in the remote Canadian wilderness last week. If I hadn’t found your channel, I probably would not have started on this path. You are a great inspiration 🙏❤

[scottroach]

For those of us who've spent a lot of time on backcountry adventures, especially off trail adventures, "If you know, you know". And Harmen definitely knows. You can see it in the way he moves thru terrain, in the way he sets up to cross a stream over deadfall, in the way he descends scree slopes. These are my favorite form of youtube outdoor videos because they arent trying to plug any sponsored equipment. They just transport us viewers into the places we want to be with the sounds you would hear. Thanks Harmen! Keep doing what your doing and document it for us.

[andybiker-hiker]

In the middle to late 1980's I lived and worked as a Ranger in the Canadian Rockies. The Rockies have never lost their grip on me and so i return, every year in september. Your videos are pure joy

[stac]

I really like that you were not relying drone shots much. The views from the ground are much more intimate and relatable.

[nicklang]

Thank you for showing Canada we love our trails and wilderness. Thank you for respecting the land, and air, and water, with these magical views and for the distance and patience you gave those animals. I hope I am recommended this more than once for I will remember these peaceful feelings it brought me.

[irinaportugez]

Dear Harmen Hoek! Your films are a holiday for me, I always look forward to them, I always admire them. The nature shots are amazing, but when you walk through icy water, through snow, I understand that you accept nature as it is, but it doesn’t make you any warmer. That’s why when you relax in a house, I rejoice as if I had completed such a difficult and cold trail, I enjoy every minute when you warm yourself by the fire and cook hot food for yourself. Thank you for everything.

[honestreviews_de]

Watching your videos is like a therapy. When I am stressed from my job I watch your videos and it often shows me what I sometimes forget. Life. Not work and money. My Dream is to do a trip like this with my son one time. I love all your films. Thanks so much for your hard work doing this and sharing with the world. All the best to you

[ThibVergTybobbMusic]

You are such an amazing person. There is no word to describe your work.
2 years ago i was 27, and i went to the Canadian Rockies with my ex-wife. We had the best travel of our life. Since, i have a lot of trouble remembering all of this without suffering, even if it was an incredible journey. I also have a Canadian beer, which has been watching me in a shelf for 2 years now. I just couldnt find the strength to open it. Your film arrives just on point, as always with the others before this one. It helped me realise a lot of things throught the peace it brings to my mind. In two weeks, i'm moving closer to my family in South West of France, and i will start a new job related to my passion in music.
Tonight i found the strength, i opened that beer.
Thanks for all.

[johannaarnheim]

Wunderschöne Naturaufnahmen, hervorragend filmisch zusammengestellt. Respekt.

[l_pops]

Herman, you capture the essence of solitude...Thanx for bringing this feeling to me today

[DakaloMakuhana]

As usual, beautiful piece of work.

“Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.”

[sallysando]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful film and your journey through this magical place. I'm 71 and don't anticipate that I'll be experiencing this place first hand this time around. You have given me a glimpse. Thank you!

[Danni]

Thank you for taking so much effort and time to share your journey. It’s much appreciated.

[SnowFalling]

This seriously brought me to tears! I’ve lived in Alberta and B.C. nearly my entire life and I love the beauty of it all! I’ve never gone very far into the back country so you’re seeing things I’ve never seen and it just makes me want to get out there! You did an fantastic job showing the beauty of our country 😊

[rasimbugra]

It is very sad that we will probably die without ever seeing these places and never experiencing this feeling.
Greetings from Turkey, Stay healthy❤

[illyreos]

Hello ! I just wanted to congratulate for your videos ! You are the person who inspired me to do my first solo trip in the lofoten islands. Now, I am trying to do silent hiking videos with my lumix g80. I haven't published anything yet as I'm still beginning. As an average-experienced hiker and photographer, I can see how hard you work to produce your hiking movies. So I just wanted you to know that your videos are pure art and so inspiring !!!