The Great Trail

Guys...I'm super excited to be finally publicly announcing a hiking trip that I have been planning/considering for the last five months! I have gone back and forth many times deciding of this is a goal I want to actually pursue or a fool's dream, and I have come to the conclusion that is both. Here's why...

The hike I want to complete is called The Great Trail. If you have never heard of it, it is basically a series of trails in Canada connected into one large trail. How long is this trail you might ask? Well it's 24,000 km or 14,912.909 miles. Unrealistic? It gets even worse. I want to be the youngest woman to complete it, and that means I better start walking soon. Currently there is a 24 year old female walking the trail as we speak. It is projected she will end while she is 24 or 25. Now if I graduate college at 21, that means I will have to complete the trail in 2 1/2 years estimated. If you haven't done the math yet, that's average of 20 miles a day. Any true and every experienced backpacker would know that an average of 20 miles a day (Some days 30) isn't very uncommon in the backpacking world, and is actually doable. BUT IT GETS WORSE! I want to document the entire trip via video, photography, and writing (both physical and online). That means I'm stopping more often and carrying heavier gear, which means I'm talking longer than the average "professional" backpacker takes to walk 20 miles. So yes its completely unreasonable, insane, unrealistic, not plausible. But it's also possible.

Something that has always rubbed me the wrong way is when people have these dreams, whether big or small, and they get really excited about doing it or they want to so bad, but they never take the opportunity. I've always hated when my friends and I talk about traveling to another country for a summer or even a road trip to a couple states away it ends up me trying to plan but everyone saying how impossible it is because it's unreasonable or it's not the right timing. I've come to find out there is rarely the right time to go on adventures. Rarely is it actually a reasonable idea. But in almost every case it is possible. I'm so tired of being told I can't do something because of circumstances about finances, time, or opportunity. So now here I am, planning a 14,912.909 mile trek in a different country. And you know what? I'm beyond excited.

To give you a real example of what my trip is going to look like, below is a picture of The Great Trail Canada has proposed. As of today the trail is not complete, but by this summer (2017) it should be. If you click here, it will direct you to The Great Trail website where you can mess with the interactive map and learn all about the trail. As you will see the trail map as of today consists of both water paths and ground paths. This means I have to figure out if I'll be hiking along the side of the water paths, unless I need to take a ferry to reach and island, or completely skipping that part all together. If you really get into the map you will notice that there are many little loops and side trails, which means I have to plan to either do all the loops/tangents and add extra miles or not. (It's a lot of planning and trust me I'm working on it.)

The Great Trail

I should give you a little more information before one of you goes of ranting about getting an actual job after college and how I'll probably run out of money before I even start. And believe me I know what I'm getting myself into, but I have a plan. Next year I am going to add film to my degree, and begin taking more classes during the school year and summer so I can double major in Communications and Film/Media. With theses degrees I plan on working with companies to help fund me for this trip. In the end I will be using my film and other documentation to create a documentary about the trail, Canada, my experiences, and people along the way..etc. (I haven't figured it all out yet, but I have time.) Also I have a Go Fund Me set up where, if you want to, can donate to my goal. To donate click here.

While planning for this trip, I will be updating often about my progress on my financial status of the trip, gear, different sponsorships, finalized details, answering questions...etc. Although my trip even feels impossible to me, I know this is what I want and feel like I am supposed to do. It's an opportunity of a lifetime that I'm not willing to pass up. Feel free to ask me any questions, give me advice, or tell me I'm completely insane. All is welcomed.

Happy Travels!