The Walk is a trek across Canada. On January 4th, 2005, Kyle Pickering started on the west coast of Vancouver Island and began traveling eastward. The walking trip will take an estimated 10 months. After living in Vancouver for several months, a strong yearning for the outdoors inspired Kyle to start planning a walk across Canada. With the free time that presented it self, Kyle poured all his efforts into preparing for the long walk. On January 4th, Kyle lifted his heavy bag and placed it upon his back... and started walking. As Kyle approached the Saskatchewan border, his foot started to give him problems, and after a visit to the doctor he found out that perhaps it's a little hard on the body to walk for that long. A stress fracture had found its home in Kyle's left foot. A required 8 week rest was taken to heal. The adventure was paused till early September. Bobby McDowell joined the journey on September 5th. Bobby wanted to join the journey ever since the beginning, but his schooling delayed his departure. Now that he has finished his academics, he is packed and ready to walk for a long time. He too is very exicited. Through the use of this website, you are able to track Kyle and Bobby�s movements throughout Canada, read their journal, contact them so you can join up with them, and view pictures taken during the trip. Some Frequently Asked Questions: Q:Why are you walking across Canada? A:I'm not entirely sure why. It might have something to do with the avoidance of responsibility, but more likely: Canada is a beautiful place, and I love hiking... Why not hike across Canada! The trip is being filmed and the dream is to make a documentary at the end of the trip. Q:What is your route? Do you walk along the highway? A:I am primarily using the Trans Canada Trail. The TCT is a linking of pre-existing trails (eg. Kettle Valley Trail, Galloping Goose) spanning the entire country. I sometimes veer off the TCT as it's not quite finished yet. I've walked a few days along the highway, and it's not very fun... I avoid the highways. The trail starts in Victoria, BC and ends in St. John's Newfoundland. Q:What do you do for food? A:I can carry about 10 days worth of food with me. I have porridge for breakfast, I snack all day on nuts and dried fruit, and then I have something good for dinner (pasta, soup, veggies, grains). I find water along the way, and when I am invited into someone's house, I feast on whatever they provide. Q:Are you hitch-hiking? A:I am not taking any rides, buses, bikes, horses, planes, trains, or anything else. The only transportation I use (other than my feet) are ferries for crossing sections of ocean. Q:Where are your skis? / What are those poles for? A:This is probably the most frequently asked question. I am using "trekking poles" while walking. They look like adjustable ski poles and people like to stop and joke about how I don't have any skis with me. The poles are like a 2nd pair of legs: they take weight off of my knees and legs, they make going up hills WAY easier, and they make a great air guitar. Q:Who made your website? A:I did. You can check out my personal site at kylepickering.com. I do freelance work sometimes. Q:What did you bring with you? A:Here is a list of everything I had in my backpack: 60 Liter Backpack Backpack cover Sleeping bag -18C 4 season tent 4 season thermarest 1/2 size msr simerlite stove gas bottle 2 pots spoon knife flint and steel 1 liter water bottle Trekking poles Boots Gators Clothes: 2 pairs of wool socks 2 pairs of liner socks 2 pairs of long johns (pants and shirt) merino wool t-shirt fleece pants gortex shell pants gortex shell jacket liner gloves tuque sun hat balaclava Sun glasses sun screen bear banger (to scare bears away) first aid kit toilet paper GPS Cell Phone Camera Headlamp Map Random wires and cords for electronics