HBC Trail Book Case
We designed an immersive 80-page trail guide for the Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning, blending practical trekking information with rich historical storytelling to bring the 1849 HBC Brigade Trail to life.
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Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning
Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning (HMCOL) is a registered charity dedicated to strengthening people's connection with nature to improve both human health and the health of ecosystems. Through outdoor events for all ages and abilities, they actively build and maintain trails to improve public access to the outdoors.
HMCOL approached us to design the HBC Trail Book, a comprehensive guide covering the 75-kilometre heritage trail from Hope to Tulameen. They needed a publication that would serve a dual purpose: functioning as a practical navigational aid for hikers and equestrians, while also serving as an insightful historical resource that honours the First Nations guides and fur traders who originally established the route.
Our solutions
We developed a design strategy that visually organizes the dense historical and geographical content into an accessible format for trail users. We structured the 80-page book to feature specific "Stories from the Trail" sidebars that utilize custom icons for amenities—such as water, camping, and food caches—alongside detailed elevation profiles to help travellers gauge the terrain.
To capture the rugged spirit of the 1800s, we created a visual aesthetic that blends historical accuracy with creative storytelling. This included using historical photos, creating fictional illustrations based on real likenesses for figures where no reference images existed, and distinguishing "Campfire Stories"—narratives that combine historical fact with imagined details—from the factual trail data.
The payoff
The final result is a compelling guide that functions as an excellent companion to the HBC Trail Map, offering deep insight into the flora, fauna, and geographic features of the region.
By highlighting the collaboration between First Nations and the Hudson's Bay Company, the book successfully educates both outdoor enthusiasts and "armchair historians", ensuring the compelling human history behind this recreational treasure is preserved.
Aquinnah Headwaters.
