Authors update popular trail guides, map mountain hikes post-2013 floods

An avid hiking duo has updated their popular hiking guides to map out what's changed in the mountains since floods wiped out trails across the province in 2013.

Gillean and Tony Daffern published the latest versions of Popular Day Hikes: Kananaskis Country and Canadian Rockies in the spring.

"These trails have all been rewritten since the flood," said Gillean, who wrote the guide to Kananaskis trails. "A lot of them have been realigned [and] rebuilt."

It took the Dafferns who hike together, but authored their updated guides individually about two years to re-hike all the trails in the Kananaskis-area with a GPS receiver.

The outdoorsy duo has been hiking and climbing for more than 50 years.

Gillean came up with an idea to write a hiking guide on the way home from a party one night.

A graphic designer by trade, she takes notes and draws maps as she hikes.

In 1979, Gillean started publishing outdoor-related books through Rocky Mountain Books. Her husband quit his job and joined her a few years later.

The Dafferns have since sold the company, but continue to write and publish.

There were few formal trails and even fewer regulations when they first started hiking in Kananaskis.

Upwards of 60 per cent of trails in the area have changed as a result of flooding, the duo told CBC's Homestretch. And while some have been realigned, others are still being upgraded for hiker safety or no longer exist.

Gillean said development has also affected the landscape since she and her husband started hiking in K-Country.

Trails growing in popularity

Tony, who authored the guide on the Rockies, said trails in and around the province's popular tourist destinations haven't changed nearly as much.

"What has changed is the enormous growth in the people who are going out hiking," he said, adding that's no surprise considering trails near Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Lake O'Hara region are some of the best in the country.

Hiking and backpacking are the most popular outdoor activities in Canada, the latest Statistics Canada data show. In 2016, 44 per cent of Canadians reported going hiking or backpacking at least once.

Tony said those who want to hike secluded trails in the national parks are more or less out of luck. Even trails in Jasper are becoming increasingly popular, he said.

However, Gillean said hikers can find "plenty of places to be alone" in K-Country, in the south near the Highwood Pass.

She said Mist Ridge, her favourite hike, is in that area.

"I like getting above tree line," Gillean said. "It's just nice walking along a ridge, where you've got it dropping off on both sides and you've got views all around you."

The Dafferns' tips for new hikers:

• Stick to popular trails.
• Stay on a designated trail.
• Start early in the morning.
• Wear proper footwear.
• Check in with Parks Canada on the status of trails in national parks.