with David McIntyre and Monica Field
July 26, 2025, 10:30 a.m. (return to the trailhead no later than 3:00 p.m.)
Upper Oldman near The Gap (exact location will be emailed to participants a few days before the event)
Difficulty – Moderate (5-7 km., with the possibility of a creek crossing and off-trail hiking)

This hike along the Oldman traverses an area diverse in wildlife. Harlequin ducks breed here. Mountain goats and bighorn sheep are often in sight, and a diverse cast of omnivores and carnivores frequents the Oldman’s shores. Monica and I, on cross-country skis, once followed a trio of wolves down the river for miles on snow-covered ice. And one summer day we ate lunch while watching, across the river, a long-tailed weasel in active pursuit of a bushy-tailed woodrat. Trout can typically be seen from cliffside vantage points, and bull trout are autumn spawners here in the Upper Oldman. We’ve seen the river in years of drought, and during epic floods. What we talk about in July will convey stories from the past, concerns for the future, while we’ll concentrate on the magic of the day.

The hike will cover 5 to 7 km depending on river levels, with the potential to wade the river and—via a loop—traverse the Oldman’s south and north shorelines. Regardless of our route of travel, we’ll hike in a relative loop that ends at our starting point. The overall elevation gains and losses are minimal, but there will be short ascents and descents following the undulating nature of the land and the river’s course through it.

Why join this adventure?

Gorgeous scenery, ecological diversity, a rich Indigenous and archaeological presence, and an opportunity to see and dive deeply into the Oldman’s treasured and threatened headwaters, where commercial logging, off-road abuses, and proposed coal mining are hot topics for discussion.

Required equipment:

Hiking boots, a backpack with additional clothing, “river sandals” are advised for anticipated cross-river wading, and trekking poles are similarly advised for stability in cross-river travel and for ascending and descending steep terrain. Bring bear spray and a trail lunch; we’ll plan to have a leisurely lunch at a scenic spot overlooking the river.

Meet your hiking coordinators:

Monica and David live in the storied headwaters of the Oldman River in the shadow of the Livingstone Range. Monica’s a singer/songwriter and and active educator specializing in diverse cultural resources and natural history disciplines. David, with a MSc from the University of Washington (College of the Environment), has, for decades, led multi-day study tours through the US West and the Canadian Rockies for the Smithsonian Institution.

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