7 Lessons from 11,500 km of the Trans Canada Trail
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It is interesting to see that this looks like by the numbers:
11,500 km averaging 1400 steps per kilometre = approximately
16,100,00 steps per person so far
800 blogs averaging 4 pages in length with an average of 2600 words per entry = 2,080,000 words
800 blogs averaging 64 images per blog = 51,000 images
1050 instagram updates with an average of 5 pictures = 5,000 images
1400 facebook posts with an average of 10 pictures = 14,000 images
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Put another way this means in 486 days on the Trans Canada
Trail between our blog, social media, and published articles we have written, released and shared more than 3,000,000 words about
Canada, nature, wildlife, birds and of course the Sentier Trans Canadian. In addition to having released nearly 100,000 images of the Trans Canada Trail, the nation, and its natural
beauty since 2018.
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In 4 years we have given more than 100 free presentations to
school classrooms, university lecture halls, public libraries, nature associations,
hiking clubs, and other interested groups including the Canadian Explorer’s
Club, Exploring by the Seat of your Pants, the Canadian Wildlife Federation,
and Bird Studies Canada. Beyond our talks we have also led dozens of nature and bird
walks across Canada in 6 different provinces.
In addition to which we have walked on the TCT with more than 500 people who – at different times – have come out to meet with us, give us support, or trek a few kilometres with us.
In the evenings we have also written and published more than 30 articles about our time on the trail, places that everyone can access nature and Canada’s birds. In addition we have had more than 100 articles (in every Canadian province and in 5 different languages) written about our 28,000 km expedition through 15,000 Canadian communities in publications such as Broadview Press, Canadian Geographic, Ontario Nature Magazine, Birdwatch Magazine, and Alberta Nature – just to name a few.
Over the years our photographs have also been shared across the nation, republished in magazines across the world, won awards in photo competitions, and are regularly used to support Canadian travel.
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Well to be entirely honest, while traversing 8 provinces and 11,500 km on the Trans Canada Trail through countless topographies, ecozones and regions, while seeing hundreds of species of birds I have been constantly amazed by what I don’t know. What I don’t know about Canada, its landscapes, wildlife and birds. What I don’t know about the nation’s varied cultures and histories. What I don’t know about communities, local perspectives, and issues which effect people across this stunning continent. And what I don't know about myself.
A hike outwards is also often a hike inwards as well.
Because of all I have seen, experienced and learned, I have been constantly stunned by the diversity of this nation, its provinces, and the shear variety in every region.
I am amazed by the huge number of opportunities to explore this country and grateful for the natural space we have in it which is open to everyone to enjoy.
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I have been humbled by the generosity, kindness and support of peoples from coast to coast to coast. From strangers in communities whose names I don’t know, from birders in each province who take us out to show off their favourite birding hotspots, from the blessings received en route, and for the help from friends old and new.
However, and even with all of the wonders and opportunities available to Canadians, and despite living in an age of technological advancement, information exchange and communication I have been particularly stunned to discover how much uncertainty, anxiety, and fear there seems to be in people and communities from coast to coast.
Perhaps because of seeing rising tensions in people and in communities I have come to increasingly appreciate the incredible opportunity I have to explore and share Canada with Canadians and the privilege of being able to do so. This 28,000 km trek is a truly unique opportunity and it is wonderful to be able to share with all of you.
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Lessons and Reflections after 11,500 km of the Sentier Transcanadien
Now that I have highlighted all that I don't know we should return to the original question - what have I learned
along the way? While I might not say
things in the right way, and have yet to figure everything out, I think there
are a number of lessons I have learned in the first 11,500 km of hiking the
28,000 km long Trans Canada Trail.
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Accepting NOT Expecting
First I have had to come to terms with Accepting the moment, the challenges en route, the critical emails, and how the world is as I move through it. While many of the blogs we write present the trail and this wonderful adventure as carefree and easygoing the fact is that sometimes it can also be frustrating, hot, buggy, gravelly, lonely, tough, and confusing. In this way long distance hikes are very much like life. The key to completing any venture with one’s sanity intact and to enjoying each day is to accept situations as they arise, learn from them, and to keep moving forward one step at a time. Our most frustrating moments have come from those times and sections of trail when we expected something – a nice pathway, the chance to relax, the opportunity to resupply, perfect weather – and these things just didn’t happen. In a world of online ordering, customizable everything, and quick deliveries getting back to basics and recognizing how little control we have over the world is both challenging and liberating. Accepting and not expecting has been an important lesson to learn.
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The second thing that I am constantly reminded of is to remember to be Grateful and to express my Gratitude. As we have trekked I have increasingly recognized blessings (no matter how small) along the route, sought to express gratitude for the support and help we are given by others, acknowledge the amazing possibilities the world offers each of us in our lives, and be grateful for what I am able to do.
In this day and age it is easy to be critical (something I am guilty of), it is easy to judge, and far too easy to fall into commenting on everything acting as though we are each experts on everything. However it is much harder to find contentment with the world, to listen to the wisdom of others, be grateful for all we have, and strive to amplify the positive in our communities. This trek has increasingly given me the chance to learn from others as well as see and acknowledge those blessings in life which might otherwise have gone unnoticed. I find that in this ever busy and noisy digital world that relearning to listen rather than just talking to fill the day or endlessly share random thoughts has also given me the time to learn and be grateful for what others want to share as well as give others the space to share that they know.
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Humility
The next lesson I have learned and struggled with is Humility. Recognizing how little I control the world around me, acknowledging my small part in the events of my home community or on the trail, and coming to terms with the fact that I often cannot understand the events in the world which shape all of our lives is humbling. I suspect farmers and coastal communities have a strong sense of how little control they have over the land, the weather and the harvest. None of us can control the weather, the events in our communities, or the actions of others. Adding to this, so much of life these days seems to make little sense. Supply shortages in a nation around the world transform our stores and what we can eat. Global Pandemics shutter our communities. Business decisions made on Wall Street to make some richer can mean that others have to sell their homes, not go to college, or work beyond retirement to make ends meet. So often now the cause and effect of the world is so distant that it is hard to navigate daily life. This is a humbling reality.
It was only when I started living on the land, when the
weather could not be hidden from, and when changes to river levels and
temperatures could change my entire life from day to day that I came to more
clearly see how small I am in the wider scale of things. The world is amazing but it is also humbling
as you strive to navigate it. More than
ever I believe that the solution to many of our problems is for each of us to
be more connected to the land, our communities, and nature. None of us is a self sufficient island onto ourselves. Recognizing that we are part of a natural system not above or beyond it is humbling and a challenge to come to terms with.
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Adapt
Continuing on, recognizing that I am not the master of my world, and have less control than I would like on events around me, I have come to see that in navigating life I can either struggle against the tides and live in frustration or learn to Adapt.
While by nature I am one to struggle against challenges, many situations like weather, critique, trail conditions are simply beyond my control. I cannot change people’s assumptions, I cannot make the trail easier or more scenic and I cannot alter the weather. I learned on the first day of this trek – when we had planned to hike 35 km and in fact walked just 5 km into an unexpected snow blizzard in the summer – that schedules, plans, and itineraries are subject to the whims of the world. I either had to spend each day uptight and pushing onward against these challenging realities, or adapt on the go and deal with each situation as it came as best as I could. Accepting and Adapting have been key lessons on this trek.
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Hike Your Own Hike
From these lessons, I have come full circle to a phrase I used to find cliché – Hike Your Own Hike. Whether setting out for a walk around the block, going on a weekend camping trip, or a thru hike remembering to Hike your Own Hike and for your own reasons is essential. If you are doing anything for reasons you aren’t committed to, or merely shifting amid the demands of others your venture will be very tough.
When we first announced that we sought to hike the world’s longest trail while birding, promoting citizen science, and photographing the entire expedition we were beset by emails. We were quickly told that we had better only show world class photographs, that if we didn’t walk in the extremes of winter in the toughest locations our trek wouldn’t count, and that unless we did it this way or that way then we should quit before we began. For months we were lectured and more and more demands, and the fears of others were put on us. I admit that they were some of the toughest times for us – all of our plans and hopes began to fade amid the expectations of others.
This commentary and input has continued for the past three years on the TCT with national birding organizations shunning us, local photographers sending their pictures to show how much better they are, potential sponsors informing us that we are not unique enough, and thru-hikers emailing to tell us that we are not extreme enough or have the wrong gear. The critiques never seem to end - and are overwelming at times.
Thankfully each year when we finally set out returning to nature and the trail I quickly remember that essentially this is our trek, our expedition and our adventure. Certainly we were and are dedicated to sharing it, to writing about each day, to photographing it as best as we could, to giving free talks to youth, communities and groups en route – but in the end we still have to Hike our Own Hike – or it will never be what we had dreamed of when we set out.
Trekking for our own goals, doing what we feel is essential and striving to make a positive change in the world by sharing Canada with Canadians has been our decision and for us it has been the right one. Ironically I have also come to see that the more true to ourselves, the more fun we have, and the better our outreach has become. So, no matter what you set out to do - make sure to do it your way and in a manner that makes you happy!
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Purpose in Life
Perhaps best of all by Hiking Your Own Hike and living life in a manner that is true to yourself, by striving to fulfill your dreams and by acting in a way that produces positive change in the world….it is easier to see, have, and maintain Purposefullness in life.
Finding and holding onto one’s purpose is not a simple thing. It has only been after months and years of trekking that I have remembered and clarified what I have come to see to be my Purpose.
For any number of reasons finding purpose in life is easier in nature as tie outdoors separates us from the noise of the modern world, makes us go back to basics, and forces us to test ourselves reminding us what we are capable of. Time in green spaces renews our perspectives and lets us listen to ourselves again.
In our homes and offices today we are subject to so much noise that distracts us from ourselves and callings. I have come to feel that in our ever urbanized, desk bound and digital world that finding and having purpose is extraordinarily difficult. There are so many opinions to navigate, so many unrealistic expectations thrust upon us, and so many issues that are beyond our control being projected at us.
Our world now seems as though criticism has become routine, fact has become obscured with opinions, and little of what we digest on the news and online inspires or feeds the soul. This situation is made more challeging when the present reality is one of uncertainty the result of pandemics, chaotic and unpredictable weather patterns, seemingly unresponsive and unproductive governments, a depressing economic landscape, and news cycles filled with tales of danger and dread. So much which pulls at us distracting us from ourselves and fills us with more anxiety.In this context few are able to cut out the noise, follow their direction and find their purpose.
In the modern world, one which has exchanged natural landscapes for digital ones – having a strong sense of purpose seems a rare and precious thing. I am grateful for those moments on the Trans Canada Trail which have put me in nature far more than most will ever experience giving me the opportunity I recognize my own voice once again and have Purpose in Life.
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Keep it fun and enjoyable
Beyond these lessons, the final and perhaps most important lesson learned has been to Enjoy each Moment. As I have noted, not every day is going to be wondrous or full of beauty and life changing experiences – somedays have bad weather, things go wrong, or you are just not up to staying on the same path you are on. Beyond all of this – and even tougher – the reality is that some days just suck. Yet the fact is that frustration can soon make situations worse, it can transform and lead any of us into making silly decisions, it can make you miss the amazing moments along the way, and at its worse can lead to arguments, panic or trouble.
At such times you have two options – you can fix the problem or change your attitude to the situation.I have found that if I expect the worst to happen it usually will find a way to, but if I keep an open mind and accept things as they come the world often provides. While I don’t claim to control most of the daily events on my trek the fact is that keeping perspective and striving to enjoy each day is essential.
Recognizing each moment for what it is, accepting the good with the bad, and trying to keep the outing enjoyable – especially during the tough moments – is key.
Always remember the old adage – “don’t take life seriously, you won’t get out alive”.
Each moment – good or bad – only comes once, and life is too short to waste being critical, upset, and frustrated. It isn’t always easy but trying to keep each moment enjoyable has been key to trekking for more than 480 days and still having the same excitement with each sunrise to continue onward.
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See you on the trail!
Remember to follow our entire adventure here : www.comewalkwithus.online
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