2015 Appalachian Trail
Walk to Remember

I was born and raised in Kapuskasing, Ontario where the summer days are long and mosquitoes abound and winters are long and cold. This, however, has not dissuaded me from enjoying the outdoors.  In fact, I am happiest when playing outside. To be able to combine my need to move and be active with the outdoors by hiking has been special. 

November 2014 was a beautiful day when we set off from Ottawa for a weekend hike in the Adirondacks with the Alpine Club. We drove through a blinding blizarrd and found the next day that it had dropped several inches of snow on the mountain ridge we were planning to traverse. It was a reminder of how different the weather can be high in the mountains, compared to down low.

I have decided to thru-hike the AT as a way of disengaging from the fast- paced and demanding career I had with the City of Ottawa. Getting back to nature and slowing down will help the transitioning between work and my next phase of life: retirement.  I am blessed with good health and that my husband and family are supporting me with this decision as it would not be possible otherwise. 

My way of giving back is to contribute to a good cause such as linking this thru-hike to fundraising for the Alzheimer Society – a bonus and an additional challenge that is worthwhile!

My first hiking adventure was a day hike with my husband to be, Greg, up one of the mountains of the Appalachian mountain range.  It was a fall day and when we reached the top, a mist had formed to crown the mountain which highlighted the fall colours of the trees.  It was spectacular and I was inspired!  The day hike convinced us to hike somewhere on our honeymoon and this we did hiking the Offa Dyke’s Path that skirts the border between England and Wales.  

Since then, I have hiked in France, Nepal, Newfoundland, Quebec, Wales, Iceland, the Adirondacks and in Italy.  Hiking the AT however, will be my first true backpacking experience.  Go big or go home, I say! From Wales we flew to Iceland to hike 6 days from Landmannalaugar to Posmork. Within one hour along the way we encountered snow, sleet, rain, sunshine!  We hiked through remote areas to huts heated geo thermally, walked over recent and ancient lava beds, viewed dramatic gorges, witnessed hot springs full of minerals and boiling water, ice caverns and steam vents.  We also witnessed the midnight sun on the first day of summer.  Cool.

In June 2013 Greg and I met up with two friends to hike portions of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path in South Wales.  We hiked from B&B to B&B and were blessed with 10 days of beautiful sunshine, spectacular vistas, and fields and fields of spring flowers in full bloom. 

We trained hard for months in the summer of 2011, climbing the stairs behind the parliament buildings and the ski hills around Ottawa. The adventure to Everest Base Camp was a challenge for me as I was suffering from an upper respiratory infection. The walk itself is not that difficult but the altitude makes every step seem difficult.

Nepal 2010.  My first trip to Nepal to hike in the Annapurna area, just north of Pokara.  I developed 'trekker knees' from the 1000+ steps per day up and down the mountains.  The stone steps were installed by the villagers to facilitate their walking from village to village.  The weather was perfect, the scenery perfect and the Nepalese were welcoming.  I fell in love with the country.  Little did I know at the time, I would return the following year on a charity trek to Everest Base Camp with Anda and friends.