I think you wilderness travellers will enjoy this story.

As a history buff, I have always been in awe of David Thompson. And the rough backpacking trip up to Athabasca Pass (in Jasper National Park, Canadian Rocky Mountains) has been on my bucket list for a long, long time. But in summer, not winter!

"From the archives: In the tracks of David Thompson

It was 200 years ago this month that David Thompson, one of Canada's greatest explorers, made his historic trek over the Continental Divide. To mark the occasion, Parks Canada organized a special expedition to retrace his steps to the Athasbasca Pass in Jasper National Park. The Journal's Ed Struzik was among the hardy souls who braved wind, snow and freezing temperatures for the commemorative event. Here is his story."


http://www.edmontonjournal.com/From+archives+tracks+David+Thompson/5911892/story.html

They shot some video on their trip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uZAG1FL6R8

We got up there this summer for the bicentenary and there are probably a lot fewer mosquitos in the Winter.

Here are some of my photos and our trip report from the summer if you are interested:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23223739@N05/sets/72157627434349146/


http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40651

Thanks for the link Doug.

I have Thompson's narratives on my e-reader and I am slowly reading it when downtime permits. Thompson is one of the most unknown and underrated explorers of his time and without his surveying and map making, those who followed in his footsteps would of not made the progress that they did without his years of work. The book is very fascinating to read and the hardships these early explorers suffered through is beyond anything us mere modern outdoors people could ever conceive of enduring...

In the Ray Mear's series, Northern Wilderness, Mears devoted one episode on Thompson and we found it to be very educational and informative.

Like you, Athabasca Pass is on my list of must do trips one year.

for a great and detailed read on the same sort of subject i would suggest Farley Mowat and his "top of the world trilogy"-Ordeal By Ice,The Polar Passion and my favorite,Tundra.

PackRat, I'm envious. Thanks for the links.