Is the GDR the right hike for you?
While hiking the GDR has been referred to as an unforgettable experience, those considering hiking it need to understand the hike involves significantly elevated exposure to risks such as illness, injury, exposure, bear attacks, drowning, challenging rescue support, and more. Hikers need to carefully assess their own capabilities and exercise sound personal judgement when choosing whether to hike the GDR. Hikers are strongly encouraged to carefully consider the following.
How well do you know yourself?
The GDR, by all measures, is a much more demanding off-trail hike than the GDT and under certain conditions much more demanding emotionally. Hikers need to be honest with themselves about their ability to face and manage these emotional challenges under potentially difficult circumstances.
How well do you plan to prepare for this hike?
Logistically, hiking the GDR requires a significant amount of planning and preparation. Are you prepared to invest this much effort?
Have you hiked off trail in mountainous terrain for 8-12 hours a day for 7 to 12 days in a row?
Most find hiking off trail in mountainous terrain much slower and much more physically demanding compared to developed trail systems. Hikers should significantly reduce their pace and endurance expectations while on the GDR.
Are you competent using navigation devices such a GPS’s, paper maps, emergency locator devices, and do you include a backup plan in case of devices failures?
A high degree of competence in these areas and a back-up plan in case of electronic equipment failures are essential requirements while on the GDR. Also read the sections on navigation and emergency response in this report.
Do you have experience hiking for consecutive days in rainy conditions where you are wet and the opportunities to get dry may be limited?
The GDR can experience severe thunderstorms during any month of the summer and inclement weather can persist for days in a row.
Do you have experience packing and carrying food for 10 to 14 days?
Once you’ve confidently estimated your days on-trail, food reserves must still take into account the days required to reach the trailhead at Kakwa Lake and extra rations in the event progress is delayed.
Do you have experience negotiating dense forested terrain for hours at a time, sometimes over consecutive days?
There are several extremely densely forested sections along the GDR that are energy and emotionally draining and will slow your pace considerably.
Do you have experience crossing rivers?
There are several river crossings on the GDR and several more on the alternates and entry/exit routes. Several of these could exceed 40 meters in width and 80 cm in depth during higher flows. Most are calf to waist deep under lower flows.
Do you have reliable footwear that is suitable for off-trail mountainous terrain?
Persistently rugged off-trail terrain places much greater demands on one’s feet and footwear. Proven, reliable footwear with adequate traction is considered an essential requirement on the GDR.
Have you hiked the GDT and more specifically sections F and G?
Those that have hiked both the GDT and the GDR stress that the GDR is significantly more demanding than the GDT. It’s been suggested that comfortably completing sections F and G on the GDT should be a pre-requisite for hiking the GDR.
Do you have experience hiking alone in conditions described above?
Some of the challenges described above can be alleviated to some degree by hiking with at least one other compatible partner. It’s suggested that hikers considering hiking the GDR strongly consider doing so in groups.