Under blue skies and a bright sun, Melanie Vogel kicked off her battered hiking boots and did a little dance in the Pacific Ocean. A crowd of about 200 gathered at Clover Point erupted in applause, with cheers of “well done” and “congratulations,” as Vogel threw salt water on her adopted dog and companion, Malo, and threw her arms in the air. It was a remarkable moment for the German-born Vogel, 47, a solo hiker who made history as the first woman to walk the Trans Canada Trail from coast to coast to coast — the Atlantic, the Arctic and — with a surprising dash and the her own disbelief — the glass-flat Pacific on a warm Saturday afternoon. The 20,000 kilometer journey took Vogel five years and five months, about 26 million steps and 15 pairs of hiking boots. It put her in touch with hundreds of Canadians who provided shelter, food, donations and plenty of encouragement along the way. Vogel, an immigrant since 2008, called it “a solo walk fueled by human kindness.” A stopover in the Yukon due to pandemic travel restrictions lasted 18 months and made the trip longer than Vogel expected, but she took it all in stride and saw the country in four seasons multiple times, all kinds of weather, deserts and cities. . Malo, a yellow labrador cross, was adopted in Manitoba and has been her companion for three years. Vogel said she felt “deeply connected” to Canada’s vast expanses of nature — old-growth forests, snow-covered plains, tundra and rushing rivers — but was most struck by the people. Vogel lived in a tent during most of her trip, but she also stayed in Canadian homes. He said Canadians stepped up when support was needed: repairing equipment. Someone built her a wagon to carry her 60 pound package. invitations to homes; a sandwich that goes through a car window. encouragement online or sometimes a simple hug or high five on the side of the road. “These moments and the stories we shared showed me the true soul and spirit of this country,” Vogel said. “Strangers become friends. People open their hearts and open their homes… on such a long journey, you can’t do it alone. It’s impossible. “People make a country. That way you get to know the country even better by meeting them along the way.” Vogel, who has spent a career in non-profit organizations, said she financed the trip through her own savings, donations from Canadians and others, living a minimal lifestyle and a 2019 Women’s Mission grant from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. She is considering becoming a Canadian citizen and feels well prepared with the knowledge she has gained from walking around each province and territory. “I came to this country to stay for two years,” Vogel said. “Now I have fallen in love with this country.” Vogel hopes to inspire others to live a more eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle with minimal impact on the environment and is especially passionate about encouraging women and young girls to have the courage to explore and learn. “There’s a barrier for women to explore the outdoors on their own,” said Vogel, who chronicled her journey on social media. “I wanted to be someone women and young girls could relate to – a city girl who set out on an adventure to reconnect with nature. I shared my experiences and feelings honestly and talked openly about my failures and what I learned from them, and shared moments of fear and how fear eventually moved to the back of my mind the more time I spent in nature.” She added: “Nature invites you to go beyond your comfort zone and it made me happy to receive messages from women who felt encouraged by my walk to push theirs a little further.” Vogel’s trek follows BC trailblazer Dianne Whelan, who in August 2021 became the first person to complete both the land and water legs of the Trans Canada Trail. In 2017, Sarah Jackson of Edmonton completed a journey from East to West. The Trans Canada Trail, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, is the world’s longest recreational trail, spanning 28,000 kilometers on land and water and connecting 15,000 rural, urban and aboriginal communities in every province and territory. Vogel said she was speaking with Whelan this week. “I said it feels so good to have done something so big that also has such a good meaning behind it,” Vogel said. Of the comments on her social media, she said “so many people have been inspired in their daily lives by me walking across the country.” Now that her long journey is coming to an end, Vogel said she feels overwhelmed, excited and anxious all at the same time. “I started telling myself that even though the trail ends, the journey doesn’t,” he said. “What gives me the peace and strength to move forward is the thought that this or any other path will be there for me when I need to step outside, sort through my thoughts and take a few deep breaths. This thought is comforting.” Her family in Germany – her parents Rita and Frank and a sister and a brother – sent Vogel a shirt she wore to the finish line on Saturday. She had photos of them all, including a sister-in-law and children she hasn’t even met yet, with the message in German translating to “The last steps we walk together.” A donation rush this month will allow Vogel to return to Germany to see everyone for Christmas. [email protected]
