Words of Wisdom gathered on the TCT in British Columbia

Wisdom from Hiking the TCT in British Columbia

Long-distance hikes often become a crucible for insight, humility, and unexpected wisdom. We’ve experienced this transformation on many trails - the Bruce Trail in Ontario, the windswept East Coast Trail of Newfoundland, the ancient Caminos of Europe, and across the countless kilometres of the Trans Canada Trail. But nowhere has the convergence of wildness, reflection, and quiet clarity felt more powerful than in British Columbia.

By the time we reached Victoria and the Pacific terminus of the trail in BC, we had walked more than 14,000 km across Canada. We had crossed plains and shield, followed coastlines and rail trails, and met people whose words stayed with us long after their footprints faded. In British Columbia, the trail deepened. The forests grew taller, the rivers faster, the climbs steeper - and with them (hopefully) so too did our capacity to listen and learn.

Here, amid the peaks of the Rocky Mountains, through rain-soaked forests and along endless forest service roads, we found moments of pause that allowed the lessons of the trail to settle. And as we have done at the close of every province, we want to honour those who took a moment to talk, to share, and to leave us with something lasting.

What follows is a list of words of wisdom from British Columbia - gifts gathered from trail angels, fellow wanderers, quiet conversations, and the land itself. Some are practical. Some are philosophical. All are worth remembering and carrying forward.

Practical Insights

One of the most thoughtful and introspective conversations we had during our entire cross-Canada journey came unexpectedly—from a taxi driver waiting at the ferry terminal in Horseshoe Bay, as we prepared to leave the mainland for our final trek on Vancouver Island.

In that quiet moment, he shared ideas that have lingered with us long after the trail's end. He spoke not in slogans or advice, but in reflections drawn from a life of observation: that temporary happiness comes from things, while lasting joy comes from pursuing what you love and helping others. That life is simple - we just make it complicated with expectations, desires, and demands. That more time in nature doesn’t just make you healthier, but also makes you smarter, more grounded, and more willing to listen than to preach.

He reminded us that we are the only creatures who use money, while every other living being draws what it needs directly from the earth - food, shelter, and safety from the seasons. By trying to pick and choose instead of simply going with the flow, we lose the ease and clarity that nature offers. His parting thoughts were both sobering and freeing: you enter the world with nothing and leave with nothing - so stay in the moment, live simply, and find peace.
It was the kind of wisdom you don’t expect to hear while loading your pack onto a ferry, but it struck a chord and stayed with us.

And he wasn’t alone. From hikers and hosts to farmers and ferry workers, we encountered dozens of voices across British Columbia - each one offering insights that, taken together, form a kind of shared map for living well.