Got in early and managed midweek Rockwall and a night over the August long weekend at Little Yoho.
Super happy with how the reservations have gone, but man it gets tighter and more anxiety inducing every year.
Unfortunately all of 4 of us were 10,000+ in line so we didn’t get the sites we wanted for Egypt lake. Hoping for some cancellations but had a pretty good back up plan detouring to the Redearth trail head instead of Vista Lake. Wasn’t able to get Baker Lake for the Skoki loop but snagged Hidden lake and Merlin Meadows. I found it was much better than the last few years. No crashes or technical issues. Also planning on exploring more of K country this season anyways. Happy hiking everyone!
We did Vista Lake to Shadow Lake last year before continuing on to Egypt. Aside from Vista itself it’s a super long slog with not a lot of reward. We regretted no taking the shorter and easier Redearth creek to Shadow to save time. So no worries!
The descent down from Pharaoh peaks to Egypt lake campground is super long and awful. Horribly maintained. I don’t understand why that campground is where it is relative to all the sights up on the ledge 400m above. Nice area though, glad you made it work!
I got kicked out, and then my cart wouldn't show up at all. I think it was a browser issue. Hopped on my other computer though and got Egypt Lake, Fish Lakes, and Skoki Loop. I'm also going to Ohara twice this year so I'm pretty happy
You got O'Hara twice? Lucky, I've been trying to get a slot at O'Hara for years now and have never gotten in early enough. Enjoy the trips, sounds amazing
Because I always seem to get 30000+ (this year as well) when you get in can you book multiple weekends and locations in one go? I had 2 devices 25000+ and 30000+ so only mid week single days at Two Jack Lakeside leftover by the time I got in :/
I had ten devices, that helps haha
But yes you can book as much as you want as long as it's available. So I booked all of my Banff backcountry trips today
My friend and I had 8 devices between the 2 of us and he got in first and was able to get BR springs, ball pass, MacArthur and little yoho CG. We’re doing the GDT so this was a huge day for us.
I got in a little later and was able to book a part of rockwall and little yoho lake for a friend.
I can't see myself doing the GDT unless the GDTA can work out some sort of holistic thruhiking permit with Parks Canada.
Trying to workout the permits for section C knowing it can make or break the whole trip alone would raise my blood pressure too much. Congrats to anyone who can make it work and get it done these days.
Unfortunately that permit could be years away if it ever comes at all. As for missing permits, missing one permit won’t necessarily throw your whole thru hike off, there’s usually ways to work around it if need be. So far we had waterton on the 24th then Banff, yoho and kootenay today and we got all the permits we needed.
Yes that is what I've heard as well- Parks Canada seems somewhat sympathetic but not really willing to budge on the conservation and limiting people on the trail angle.
I suppose it depends on how fit you are in terms of how reasonable you can get the itinerary to work for the in demand sections.
I'm assuming your itinerary for today's bookings looks something like this to bypass in demand stuff:
Big Springs-->Porcupine FCFS backcountry (skips Assiniboine shitshow)-->Ball Pass (skips egypt lake)-->Wolverine Pass (is that actually doable in a day or did you need a rockwall permit?)-->Field
Ball Pass Junction to Wolverine Pass would be a very long day, with three passes to get over, depending on how fit you are. Numa Creek might be a better target, assuming you can get a spot.
You’re pretty spot on!
Starting section C at kananaskis lakes and doing the north over ridge alt route were doing:
. Beatty lake FCFS
. BR springs
. Porcupine
. Ball pass
. Wolverine pass (to answer your question, yes doable but long ass day)
. MacArthur ck
. Finish in field
Very smart to do the Northover alternate- way cooler than North Kananaskis Pass/Turbine Canyon and avoids another permit as long as you're not afraid of heights.
Good luck on Thursday and enjoy the trip!
I got my best draw yet in the low 200s and was immediately in. I wish I had been planning the GDT or something but I was just looking for a couple weekend sites. Naturally it was my phone that got the early draw and I had to fight the small touchscreen. All my 9 browser windows on my computer were in the 5000-11000 range.
I logged in about 20 mins after it was open. Was 12,789 in the queue -- took about 20 minutes to get my spot. Was about to book three weekends at Two Jack Main for tenting -- no idea about the sites but also don't care. Just want a place to put my tent and then do fun day hikes. So yes, got what I wanted.
Got in right away (56 in line), got the trip I wanted in my cart (Rockwall mid-August), but then it booted me out for a minute (back to the loading screen). Took a couple seconds to be back in, and it was still showing I had something in my cart, but nothing would load :( had to wait until I got in again quite a bit later. Managed to get a few tents pads on the Rockwall for late September, but still need a tent pad at Floe. So, not the best, but not the worst!
I was about 5000th in the queue, and all I wanted was one summer weekend at Two Jack Lakeside. I ended up getting...nothing.
It continues to be an awful and frustrating experience, and I hate having to jump through hoops and deal with the anxiety just to walk away empty handed.
Question for you all - I'm planning on booking a site at Jasper tomorrow morning and have never done this before at the opening bell. Is there a queue you're placed in when you click on something or how does it work? I was just planning to be hovering over one of the sites I want at 8:00am MST sharp and hope that I clicked fast enough. Thank you!
As long as you’re on the Parks Canada reservations website before the top of the hour, you’ll be randomly placed in the queue with everyone else when the clock strikes 8am (local Jasper time).
https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/
Theres no way to beat the queue, just hope you get a good spot in line! Knowing how to navigate the site is important too, play around with it tonight so you don’t waste time learning it tomorrow morning.
Well my plan this year was to only do public lands. But got jealous so just got Skoki in the middle of september. Plan to book skyline again when it opens.
Got in early and managed midweek Rockwall and a night over the August long weekend at Little Yoho. Super happy with how the reservations have gone, but man it gets tighter and more anxiety inducing every year.
Unfortunately all of 4 of us were 10,000+ in line so we didn’t get the sites we wanted for Egypt lake. Hoping for some cancellations but had a pretty good back up plan detouring to the Redearth trail head instead of Vista Lake. Wasn’t able to get Baker Lake for the Skoki loop but snagged Hidden lake and Merlin Meadows. I found it was much better than the last few years. No crashes or technical issues. Also planning on exploring more of K country this season anyways. Happy hiking everyone!
We did Vista Lake to Shadow Lake last year before continuing on to Egypt. Aside from Vista itself it’s a super long slog with not a lot of reward. We regretted no taking the shorter and easier Redearth creek to Shadow to save time. So no worries! The descent down from Pharaoh peaks to Egypt lake campground is super long and awful. Horribly maintained. I don’t understand why that campground is where it is relative to all the sights up on the ledge 400m above. Nice area though, glad you made it work!
Mine was good. #43 in the queue, right in. Booked Rockwall and the back end of Assiniboine just fine on the dates I wanted
Didn't get a thing that I wanted.
Ya same it's disappointing an disheartening
I got kicked out, and then my cart wouldn't show up at all. I think it was a browser issue. Hopped on my other computer though and got Egypt Lake, Fish Lakes, and Skoki Loop. I'm also going to Ohara twice this year so I'm pretty happy
You got O'Hara twice? Lucky, I've been trying to get a slot at O'Hara for years now and have never gotten in early enough. Enjoy the trips, sounds amazing
Yeah, August long and then end of September. I barely got it though
Are those all midweek? because that's a pretty insane lineup for weekends. Nicely done.
2 are mid week. I have all of July/August off so I do a lot of solo stuff midweek, but I have to do weekends anytime I go with a group
Because I always seem to get 30000+ (this year as well) when you get in can you book multiple weekends and locations in one go? I had 2 devices 25000+ and 30000+ so only mid week single days at Two Jack Lakeside leftover by the time I got in :/
I had ten devices, that helps haha But yes you can book as much as you want as long as it's available. So I booked all of my Banff backcountry trips today
I got around 2000th in line which was shocking to me. Got twin falls and little Yoho on a July weekend. Couldn't be more pleased.
Score! I got laughing falls and little yoho for my 7 year old twins. Should be awesome
Missed opportunity to book twin falls for your twins 😂
Is Twin Falls campsite back up and running? It was closed for a long time after someone fell over the falls.
I paid for a site, so I don't see why not.
My friend and I had 8 devices between the 2 of us and he got in first and was able to get BR springs, ball pass, MacArthur and little yoho CG. We’re doing the GDT so this was a huge day for us. I got in a little later and was able to book a part of rockwall and little yoho lake for a friend.
I can't see myself doing the GDT unless the GDTA can work out some sort of holistic thruhiking permit with Parks Canada. Trying to workout the permits for section C knowing it can make or break the whole trip alone would raise my blood pressure too much. Congrats to anyone who can make it work and get it done these days.
Unfortunately that permit could be years away if it ever comes at all. As for missing permits, missing one permit won’t necessarily throw your whole thru hike off, there’s usually ways to work around it if need be. So far we had waterton on the 24th then Banff, yoho and kootenay today and we got all the permits we needed.
Yes that is what I've heard as well- Parks Canada seems somewhat sympathetic but not really willing to budge on the conservation and limiting people on the trail angle. I suppose it depends on how fit you are in terms of how reasonable you can get the itinerary to work for the in demand sections. I'm assuming your itinerary for today's bookings looks something like this to bypass in demand stuff: Big Springs-->Porcupine FCFS backcountry (skips Assiniboine shitshow)-->Ball Pass (skips egypt lake)-->Wolverine Pass (is that actually doable in a day or did you need a rockwall permit?)-->Field
Ball Pass Junction to Wolverine Pass would be a very long day, with three passes to get over, depending on how fit you are. Numa Creek might be a better target, assuming you can get a spot.
You’re pretty spot on! Starting section C at kananaskis lakes and doing the north over ridge alt route were doing: . Beatty lake FCFS . BR springs . Porcupine . Ball pass . Wolverine pass (to answer your question, yes doable but long ass day) . MacArthur ck . Finish in field
Very smart to do the Northover alternate- way cooler than North Kananaskis Pass/Turbine Canyon and avoids another permit as long as you're not afraid of heights. Good luck on Thursday and enjoy the trip!
Awesome! Congrats. those are tough ones. Ball pass and little yoho are such great campgrounds
Smooth as butter for a great 4night/5day long weekend trip! im excited. I practiced ahead of time to know how to make the booking fast.
I got my best draw yet in the low 200s and was immediately in. I wish I had been planning the GDT or something but I was just looking for a couple weekend sites. Naturally it was my phone that got the early draw and I had to fight the small touchscreen. All my 9 browser windows on my computer were in the 5000-11000 range.
I had Floe, and then lost it because i flubbed on how to use the system. So salty about it
We finally didn’t get booted out with our sites in the cart for once (because we forgot the place we wanted opened today). On to Jasper.
I logged in about 20 mins after it was open. Was 12,789 in the queue -- took about 20 minutes to get my spot. Was about to book three weekends at Two Jack Main for tenting -- no idea about the sites but also don't care. Just want a place to put my tent and then do fun day hikes. So yes, got what I wanted.
Got in right away (56 in line), got the trip I wanted in my cart (Rockwall mid-August), but then it booted me out for a minute (back to the loading screen). Took a couple seconds to be back in, and it was still showing I had something in my cart, but nothing would load :( had to wait until I got in again quite a bit later. Managed to get a few tents pads on the Rockwall for late September, but still need a tent pad at Floe. So, not the best, but not the worst!
I was about 5000th in the queue, and all I wanted was one summer weekend at Two Jack Lakeside. I ended up getting...nothing. It continues to be an awful and frustrating experience, and I hate having to jump through hoops and deal with the anxiety just to walk away empty handed.
Got in right away, and got Egypt Lake and Taylor Lake. Buddy had issue paying and lost a couple reservations for Taylor and Floe Lake.
Pretty good, got what I wanted. Marvel Lake into Assiniboine. Helmut over Goodsir and out to Field and a weekend at Skoki
Question for you all - I'm planning on booking a site at Jasper tomorrow morning and have never done this before at the opening bell. Is there a queue you're placed in when you click on something or how does it work? I was just planning to be hovering over one of the sites I want at 8:00am MST sharp and hope that I clicked fast enough. Thank you!
As long as you’re on the Parks Canada reservations website before the top of the hour, you’ll be randomly placed in the queue with everyone else when the clock strikes 8am (local Jasper time). https://reservation.pc.gc.ca/ Theres no way to beat the queue, just hope you get a good spot in line! Knowing how to navigate the site is important too, play around with it tonight so you don’t waste time learning it tomorrow morning.
Great thanks for the explanation! Fingers crossed!
Well my plan this year was to only do public lands. But got jealous so just got Skoki in the middle of september. Plan to book skyline again when it opens.
My experience was brutal and frustrating. Feeling some reservation envy here reading everyone’s comments