3 Days in the Canadian Rockies hiking Brazeau trail (Jasper National Park)

This summer was my first ever backcountry camping in Canada. And not just in Canada, but in Jasper National Park! Before that, the only hike we did nearby with my husband was Berg Lake Trail in one day, Mt Robson. But backpacks, a tent, and the Rockies – these are serious. Thirteen kilos on your back, wild forests all around and views that first drive you crazy.

We travelled in 2 cars with two friends, both are experienced hikers. We walked 54 km in three days. We spent the night in the woods during a thunderstorm, and the next day we slept in a tent with a grizzly bear chilling somewhere nearby. We waded through icy mountain rivers. We chased gophers down the valley and tracked the footprints on the trail.My feet hummed, my shoulders rubbed, my thoughts flew over the tops and were as free as ever…

I purposely carried a heavy photo camera and shot everything in a row to capture this incredible adventure. A checklist of things that came in handy can also be found later in this article.

READ MORE:

• Jasper National Park: The Complete Guide
• Itinerary “Rocky Mountains from Vancouver by car in eight days.”

Video and story about our hike

Map and Information

• Distance: 54 km, 3 days hike
• The trail was from point to point (there is a circular route, for 5 days and 81 km).
• We drove two cars, one parked at Nigel Creek and the other at Poboktan Creek.
• Elevation: 1346 m, height difference: 1691 m
• Maximum altitude: 2470 m
• Campgrounds booked in advance: Four Point Campground, Jonas Cutoff Camp
• For more information and updates for the trail, visit the official website

What to take on a camping trip

Equipment:

• Trekking poles
• Tent
• Sleeping bags (we had -1, -5°C, the first campsite was a little bit hot to sleep, the second – Jonas Cutoff ( > 2000m) – perfect)
• Mats
• Sunscreen
• Bear spray
• A bell from a bear
• Mosquito coils
• Mosquito spray
• A full-body mosquito suit (you get the idea, take everything you have against mosquitoes!)
• First aid kit (plenty of bandages and wound pads)
• Some bags for wet tent
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Flashlight
• Pass to Jasper National Park

Equipment

• Phone
• Portable charger
• GPS, satellite phone
• GoPro (tie a long rope to the backpack, I almost lost it a couple of times)

Clothing/shoes

• Waterproof hiking boots
• Sandals or lightweight water shoes to cross the creeks
• 1 pants, 1 quick-dry shorts
• Thermal underwear (for sleep) + warm socks
• A fleece or synthetic sweatshirt
• Sun hat / cap
• Socks for every day + a few spare (I periodically scooped with my boot in the creek, used up 8 pairs of socks in 3 days)
• T-shirts, underwear for every day
• Waterproof jacket / raincoat
• Clothing bags
• I took my bathing suit, but there was no place to swim

Food

• Fork/spoon/knife
• Garbage bags
• Plates / cups (1 for each)
• A burner, a pot (1 liter for two was enough for us)
• Water filter (we have a bottle with a filter)
• Water at the beginning of the hike 1.5-2 liters per person
• Washing sponge
• Food. Keep in mind that you don’t want to eat as much during the day (and it’s hard to go afterwards). We picked up 7 bags-dry food for lunch and dinner (each bag for 2 servings) but didn’t eat half of it. Cereal bars and snacks came in handy. We took dry food from two companies: Happy Yak – didn’t like it at all, Backpackers pantry – more-less.
• I don’t function without coffee, so I took an aeropress, coffee and powdered milk. We also brought tea bags and sweets.
• For breakfast we took cereal (350g for two people for two days) and dried berries
• What we ate in 3 days: 4 bags of dry food (2 servings of 300-340cal each), 6 Clif bars (240cal), 2 sausages, 300g cereal, packet of vegetable chips, 4 Kind bars, a package of jerky beef, coffee, tea, nuts, dried berries, cookies
• We had breakfast at the hotel on the first day and dinner at Jasper on the last day.

Hygiene

• Toilet paper
• Fleece towel (1 for each)
• Toothbrush/paste
• Wet wipes
• Dry Shampoo
• Deodorant

5 Reasons to go camping

1. Camping is a challenge. You have no chance of turning back, of giving up in the face of difficulties, of not reaching your goal. No matter how difficult, impassable and scary an obstacle may seem, you simply overcome it. When you’re hiking, you clearly realize that you can do anything.
2. To admire nature. From no other observation deck in the world will you ever see as much beauty as from “inside”.
3. A break from the routine, the screens, the phones, the Internet… To remember what it’s like to appreciate simple life like clean clothes and a toilet with a roof and walls.
4. Many people go camping to observe their lives, to think through an important decision without outside noise.
5. Impressions. Everything is unpredictable and surprising on a hiking. It’s an adventure you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Safe travels and the most incredible views for everyone!