When I finished the Dobson Trail in February I hit my first obstacle in 7 months, Fundy National Park. I am supposed to hike the 68km coastal trail to St Martins but the trail is closed and apparently has never been done in the winter. I have consulted with volunteers with the Fundy Hiking Trail Association, Marc and Alonzo Leger and Poul Jorgensen with NB trails and they have all said the same thing, wait until Spring. In winter steep climbs are covered in snow and ice, there is no search and rescue and only a helicopter could extract someone and even that is questionable. Despite a strong desire to do the trail I relented to the idea of an alternate route. I decided to explore some of it on snow shoes and do some drone filming with Duane Kelly ( Aero View Photography) and then I would head back up to Shepody Road and start making my way across towards St.Martins.
But then the weather warmed up and within a week the snow was gone and the alternate route idea faded. There are only two national parks on this trail that I hike through, Fundy Park and Banff. So my mind wrestled back and forth with what to do.
Of course I do not want to disrespect the wisdom of those who I have consulted with. They know the trail, I don’t. They say no.
But no means maybe until I at least try to find a way. It’s my nature. And after sitting with it for a few days I had an aha moment. There is a way. Her name is Meagan McGrath, she is one of the top females explorers in the world, has climbed the worlds highest peaks, skied solo through Antarctica, this lady has done it all.
I met her at Mt Everest, she is a character in both the documentary and the book about my journey making a film there. She is Canadian, she just got back from climbing Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica. Meagan works up in Yellowknife right now. She is with the Canadian Armed forces and she is coming to Moncton at the end of March to do the hike with me through Fundy National Park and the Fundy footpath. Check out more about this remarkable woman here. http://www.meaganmcgrathadventurer.com/
In the meantime I have resumed the trail on the other side of the Fundy trail. Below are links to the book and film I did on Everest, where you can see and read more about Meagan’s adventures.
http://www.40daysatbasecamp.com
http://www.basecamp40daysoneverest.com
40 Days At Base Camp- Trailer from Andrew Coppin on Vimeo.
Link to feature film on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/il/movie/40-days-at-base-camp-directors/id720201300
Hey, glad to see you’re teaming up with Meg. She is the one. Go gals.
Heard your interview on CBC Radio and was happy to see your adventure posted on our local FB trail page, Sentiers Bathurst NB Trails.
If I read your map right, you won’t be coming up to the eastern part of NB to visit our burgeoning trails. If you do happen to head our way, we’d be more than happy to welcome you and show you one of our wilderness trails, Sentier Nepisiguit Mi’gmac Trail, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1567739683508069/ , that was ‘officially’ started last year.
If I put the word ‘officially’ in brackets it’s because the trail has been used for years by the Mi’gmac and other nations. One of the prominent Mi’gmaq elders, guide, storyteller, Gilbert Sewell, and others, have greatly helped with the mapping of this trail. The mostly single track trail that borders the beautiful Nepisiguit River, is about 20 km long. It will eventually be 120 km and connect Bathurst to Mount Carleton, the highest point in the maritime provinces.
Wishing you safe travels and looking forward to reading of your ventures.