When to go:

Many of the trails I wanted to hike were closed due to snow or spring habitation of bears. I also missed running into snow in Rogers pass by only a few days. I would suggest trying the second half of June or early July.

Suggested Itinerary:

• Explore Vancouver
• Vancouver to Mission
• Mission to Hope
• Hope to Allison Pass
• Allison Pass to Keremeos
• Keremeos to Osoyoos
• Osoyoos to Grand Forks
• Grand Forks to Castlegar
• Castlegar to Nakusp
• Nakusp to Albert Canyon
• Albert Canyon to Golden
• Golden to Field
• Field to Lake Louis
• Lake Louis to Canmore
• Canmore to Calgary
  

This itinerary sets you up for an easier ascent of Allison Pass than I had. It also allows more time to explore in and around Osoyoos, an easier morning ascent of Anarchist Mountain, and an easier ascent of Rogers Pass. Unfortunately, you have to tackle Blueberry-Paulson Summit starting out from Grand Forks, but Christina Lake provides a good lunch stop prior to climbing the pass and there are plenty of places to eat in Castlegar after you have conquered the pass.

Equipment Suggestions:

• Pack as light as humanly possible.
• Provincial parks have hard gravel pads that are almost impossible to put tent pegs in. Most have pit toilets, no showers, and well water not guaranteed drinkable. If you intend to stay at them, bring a self-supporting tent (pegs not required for setup), water filter, stove, pot, and washbasin.
• Bring a waterproof bag and rope to hang your food off the ground away from bears and such.
• Bring a thin touque to wear at night in bed and under your helmet on cold mountain passes.
• Bring warm clothing and windproof clothing for mountain passes. They can be downright cold.
• Two large water bottles minimum.

Little to no services/civilization between these significant points:

• Hope to Allison Pass Summit
• Allison Pass Summit to Princeton
• Osoyoos to Rock Creek
• Christina Lake to Castlegar
• Nakusp to Revelstoke
• Rogers Pass Summit to Golden
• Golden to Field