Trans Canada Trail trip ideal Canada 150 Project

Looking for a perfect Sesquicentennial Project in 2017? Long-time trail advocate Sheila Thompson has your answer.

Thompson is travelling Alberta this summer to encourage people to celebrate the 150^th Anniversary of Confederation and the 25^th anniversary of the TransCanada Trail (TCT) in 2017 by travelling all, or a portion of, the 3,000 km long Trail.

She will kick off her summer adventure on Saturday, June 4 on Highway 17 at the North Saskatchewan River border marker between Alberta and Saskatchewan.  “It is a fitting place to begin because this is the original TCT route from back in the fur trade era. Downstream are Frenchman Butte, Fort Pitt and the Battlefords; upstream you find Fort George-Buckingham House, Victoria Settlement and Metis Crossing.  The area is steeped in history and adventure.”

Thompson says her favorite trips involve “paddling and pedaling – canoeing downstream from one site to another, then cycling back. This combines exploring historic sites, enjoying beautiful Alberta countryside and getting a great recreational experience.”

She will host a blog at https://tctsummertour.wordpress.com where she will post travel stories and a schedule of summer events for anyone who wants to join her along the way.  On Sunday, June 5 she will be paddling from Elk Point to Fort George-Buckingham House and cycling back to Elk Point on the Iron Horse Trail.

Thompson’s goal is to connect the dots along the Trail.  “I’m starting where it all began – along the North Saskatchewan River, the land of big skies and open spaces.  After following the river to the Capital Region, it is off to the Land of the Midnight Sun – boreal forests, and more rivers. Next comes Cowboy Country – farms, summer fairs and rodeos in central Alberta.  Then, it is north again to the historic trails along the mighty Peace River.  From there, mountain magic takes over with travels from one alpine town to the next, through Kananaskis Country, up Elk Pass to the Great Divide.  Finally, I will end my summer back in the Capital Region, in the heart Alberta, near where the three branches of the TCT converge. I’ll be celebrating the people, the landscapes, the history and the adventures of this great land.  I hope you will follow along.”

*Press Release from the Iron Horse Trail