聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Having Sarah Jackson pass through Canora last week during her quest to see Canada while hiking the Trans Canada Trail is still very new but more trail enthusiasts are expected as 2017 approaches, said Kristen Gabora of Canora, co-ordinator for the Saskatchewan portion of the trail.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Right now, she is likely only the third person to attempt the feat, Gabora said. However, many have passed through Canora while hiking or cycling significant portions of the trail.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The goal is to have the full trail connected in time for 2017 when the trail will celebrate its 25th anniversary and the country will celebrate its 150th anniversary, she said. Great strides have been made in the last couple of years and the pace will accelerate in the coming years.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 When Gabora became the co-ordinator in November of 2013, only 34 per cent of the trail was complete in Saskatchewan. That figure increased to 71 per cent last summer and it will be substantially higher when calculations are made this summer.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As of June of last year, the three provinces with the most trail to connect were: Nova Scotia, 38 per cent done; New Brunswick, 61 per cent done; and Alberta, 59 per cent done.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In Saskatchewan, a lot of rural roadways were used, and not highways. As a hiker, Jackson said that was what she liked about Saskatchewan. The rural roads allowed her to see a side of Saskatchewan she never would have seen from the highway. One of her most memorable experiences was cross the North Saskatchewan River at the Wingard Crossing. That crossing is normally done in the summer months by ferry, but she was able to make an ice crossing.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Gabora referred to Jackson as 鈥渁 true role model for youth. She鈥檚 doing something outside the box and the beauty of what she鈥檚 doing is that she鈥檚 doing it for herself.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Gabora met with Jackson and her hiking partner on this stretch of the trail, Stephan Wynnyk, just as they left Canora. They had intended to camp overnight by Ehrlich鈥檚 Bridge on the bank of the Whitesand River.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 When Jackson and Wynnyk arrived in Canora on March 21, they said that was Day 184 of her trip. She tries to hike at about five kilometres per hour for four to 10 hours per day. She thinks the longest stretch she covered in one day was 43.5 kilometres. She has GPS tracking on her so her parents will always know where she is.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Wynnyk, who lives near her parents in Calgary, decided to join her on the section of the trail from Cochrane, Alta. to Winnipeg.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jackson said she tries not to have any expectations before reaching a place. She likes to experience it. She began in Victoria and plans to plant her foot in the Atlantic Ocean before the first snowfall of next winter. Along most of the way, she has had family members or friends walk with her. For the final leg, she hopes to have her parents join her 鈥� and they can offer a ride back.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 People have been very interested in her hike and many strangers have stopped along the roads to ask what she鈥檚 doing. She did start a website where she posts entries about where she has visited.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It is the people that have been the most amazing, she said. Everybody has been so welcoming and many have offered a warm place to spend a night.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Every day is so different and she has experienced many places she never knew about. 鈥淓very step east is exciting 鈥� it鈥檚 all new.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The provincial and national parks are beautiful and the Qu鈥橝ppelle Valley has to be the most beautiful site in Saskatchewan, Jackson said. Saskatchewan is definitely not as flat as most people are led to believe.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 She noted that her backpack was usually about 60 pounds when it was packed in the morning, but by evening as the water and food is used up, the pack is a lot lighter. In summer, she concentrated on carrying a lot of water for the day鈥檚 hike, while in winter, it is more protein bars.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jackson said she prefers the rural hiking as urban hiking is always a hassle. In the rural areas, it is possible to set up camp almost anywhere.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As she moved east, Jackson said what she can鈥檛 wait to see most is the Canadian Shield and the Great Lakes.
