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.

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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