Parks Canada will soon be passing the plastic to backcountry trail users in an effort to ensure better trail etiquette this summer.

Working in collaboration with the Association for Mountain Parks Protection and Enjoyment (AMPPE), Parks has produced about 30,000 bags to be distributed throughout the region. When people come in to pick up their wilderness passes, they will be provided with one of the white bags, which is covered in information about how to safely and conscientiously use the backcountry.

The program has little to do with concerns about garbage and trail user behaviour, according to Jasper National Park’s Gloria Keyes-Brady.

“That wasn’t the specific drive behind this,” she said. “It’s part of an effort to put more into the whole visitor experience.”

The $5,000 price tag for the bag program was split between Parks and AMPPE, which is pleased to see Parks supporting a program focused on providing a better visitor experience.

The text-heavy bags will be available only to those who are headed for the backcountry, and Keyes-Brady said there are no plans to provide any new information to frontcountry or day visitors. Parks already has a series of pamphlets and brochures that they offer at the Information Centre and at the park gates.

While Parks officials say that backcountry users are typically the most informed of all Park visitors, they still need reminders of what constitues responsible and safe use. And hey, with so much to read on the bags, they just might come in handy if your hiking party neglects to bring the deck of cards and you have some time to kill.