An Edmonton woman crossing the world’s second largest country on foot has found her way to the Maritimes.
Sarah Jackson is more than half done her journey and is on her fifth pair of shoes.
She says it’s a journey she wanted to take once finishing school.
“I hiked Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania a few years ago, but other than that no, nothing comparable,” says Jackson.
The 25-year-old began her journey by foot in British Columbia in June 2015.
“I think I only have got 1,500 clicks left and I've done nearly 10,000, so the end is definitely in sight, I'm excited,” Jackson says.
While lugging about 55 pounds on her back, Jackson has been trying to follow the Trans Canada Trail as much as possible.
“I'm off it right now only because the Fundy footpath is seasonally not really accessible,” she says.
About 86 per cent of the proposed national trail is complete.The goal is to have a continuous coast-to-coast route by the end of 2017, making it the longest recreational trail in the world.
“I snowshoed actually some sections of it too, so I've had experience with a snowed in trail,” says Jackson. “Sometimes the snowmobile trails I'm on are OK because at least they're packed.”
Jackson says spring time walking is most ideal.
“It's warm enough when I stop, but I don't get too hot when I'm walking. I have warm gear and I do a lot of layering, and I sleep in a tent normally, so I have a warm sleeping bag. I like winter walking more actually than the really bad heat,” says Jackson.
Jackson says it’s hard to define what her favourite part of the trail has been.
“All of it, really. I go to bed every night thinking I'm in the most beautiful place and I'm in a different place every night, so it's not one particular place,” she says.
And there's still more to see. Jackson will arrive in St. John's by May.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore.
