Sonya is a 42 year old Canadian who is currently hiking across Canada on the longest multi-use recreational trail in the world with her partner Sean. The 24,000 km long Great Trail stretches from Cape Spear, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia, and from Edmonton, Alberta to Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. They began their journey in Cape Spear, Newfoundland on 1 June 2019 and hiked just over 3,000 km to Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec before the winter arrived. They will head back to the trail in spring, and estimate they will complete their journey in fall of 2022.
Sonya's love of hiking, camping, and the outdoors began as child during multiple school trips into the wilderness. She built on these experiences in university, where she studied Conservation Biology and Forestry, and spent as much time as possible outside, doing field research on forest songbirds. Her love of long-distance hiking began with Ontario's 900 km long Bruce Trail, and grew when she hiked the 800 km Camino Frances in Spain with Sean in 2016. Together Sonya and Sean hiked across France on the Via Podiensis (GR 65) in 2017, and along Newfoundland's East Coast Trail in 2018. After that they decided to make hiking a more central part of their lives, and after selling the house, donating most of their possessions, and leaving behind Sonya's desk job, they did a warm-up hike along the Camino Portuguese in early 2019 and then began their adventure on the Great Trail.
As they hike, their goal is to share positive images and stories of their travels across Canada to showcase the amazing and diverse people, places, history, and landscapes that make up this country. By sharing their passion for birds, hiking, and nature in person, on their blog, and through social media they hope to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds, but especially youth, to get outside, explore, and connect to nature through birding and Citizen Science.
Listen to Sonya Now!
Click here if you can't see the link below.
Show notes
Who is Sonya
Growing up in Canada
Getting into hiking and nature
The Bruce Trail, Canada
Accommodation on the Bruce Trail
Walking the Camino’s in Europe
GR65
Her love of hiking
The Great Trail in Canada - 24,000 km
Their reasons for walking the Great Trail
Planning to hike the trail
How long would it take?
Starting in the East
Breaking it down into sections
Time and money
Walking for a cause
Having a passion for birds
Selling their home
Being ready for a change
The reactions of friends and family
Concerns before the start
Dealing with Hurricane Dorian
Problem solving while on the trail
Day to day life on the trail
The highlights so far
Bird watching on the trail
Getting fit for the trail
Taking it slower at the start
Budgets and accommodation
Stating section 2 in March 2020
What happens during the winter months
Advice and tips for you to undertake your own challenges
Why you need to try things out first
Social Media
Website: www.comewalkwithus.online. (has links to blogs for our hikes across Canada, the Camino Frances, Via Podiensis, and East Coast Trail)
Facebook: @WalkWithUsAcrossCanada
Twitter: @TransCanadaWalk
Instagram: @comewalkwithusonthegreattrail
Feeling inspired week after week?
You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast!
Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode
If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment!
Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love.
Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!
Want to do more?
Please become a Patron and donate US$5 a month to help fund the runnings costs. Thank you.
Comments