Words of Wit and Wisdom from the Province of Alberta

Wisdom from the Province of Alberta

By the time we reached Southern Alberta, we had walked thousands of kilometres across Canada. But nothing quite prepared us for the blunt honesty, wry humour, and quiet resilience of the people we met here.

This portion of the Trans Canada Trail challenged us in ways both expected and surprising. The wind was a near-constant companion, the sun unrelenting, and the trail often a long straight line that tested both our legs and our patience. But amid this vastness, we met people whose groundedness, grit, and generosity reminded us why we walk.

Out on these long prairie roads, the conversations often happened fast—at the edge of a field, beside a pickup truck, in the middle of a wind-swept town. They were short, direct, built on experience, and often unexpectedly profound.

As with each province, we’ve tried to listen more than we speak, and to carry forward the moments that stay with us. Here are a few of the words of wisdom from Southern Alberta, fragments of advice, humour, and trail-earned truth that reflect the land they came from.

1. There are always rumours, and they are rarely true.

2. Be Humble or Be Humbled.  The mountains don’t care how strong you think you are.

3. Be prepared, it will save you a world of headaches and pain.

4. Good Equipment is often the right equipment.

5. The prairies teach patience, and the Rockies teach respect.  Here we have the best of both.

6. Everyone wants to summit the peak, but don’t forget to look around while you climb.

7. Out here, the wind will strip away your ego - what’s left is who you really are.

8. Hike your own hike. Live your own life. Let others do the same.

9. Staying angry is a waste of energy and time.

10. Never be afraid to fail, it is one of the most important ways you'll learn.

See you on the Trail!