Dana Meise, a BC man hiking across Canada on the Trans Canada Trail, is making his way through Manitoba this spring. Meise is on the hike of a lifetime, walking solo from coast to coast to coast along the Trans Canada Trail. Last fall, Meise reached a milestone, completing more than 10,000 kilometres before wrapping up his season in Winnipeg.
Members of Manitoba Recreational Trails Association and trail enthusiasts from across the province, including Prime Minister Selinger, greeted Meise on his arrival at The Forks in November 2011. This spring, trail enthusiasts are once again invited to join Meise as he hikes across the Province. He begins the fourth season of his hike in Winnipeg on April 12th as a personal tribute to Terry Fox, who inspires and motivates him to complete this journey.
Meise’s ambitious plan to hike the entire length of the Trans Canada Trail is about fulfilling a lifelong dream to see all of Canada. “The Trans Canada Trail is designed to showcase our country and really connects history and community,” said Meise. “I wanted to learn more about Canada and what better way than to get off the highway and meet the people who make this their home.” Meise expects to complete ‘The Great Hike’ in about three years. He is keeping a journal of his trek and plans to write a book, sharing his stories from his journey on the Trans Canada Trail.
Opportunities to “Walk with Dana” will be available throughout his travels in Friendly Manitoba. Meise carries a satellite tracker and anyone can track his progress along the trail through his website or by requesting a weekly updates from the MRTA office. Meise’s route will pass through spectacular tall grass prairie and rolling hills south and west of Winnipeg and cross the Saskatchewan border near Duck Mountain Provincial Forest in late May. Trail users can spot special species, explore natural regions, and engage in cultural tourism by visiting the communities and historic places along the trail.
At almost 1,400 kilometres in length, the Trans Canada Trail in Manitoba is 90% complete. The Manitoba Recreational Trails Association is leading the effort to complete the trail and has been working with regional volunteer trail groups to build and maintain portions of the trail.
Once complete, the Trans Canada Trail will stretch over 22,500 kilometres, linking 1000 communities and all Canadians from the Atlantic to the Pacific and to the Arctic Oceans. It will be the longest and grandest recreational trail anywhere in the world.
“Canada has always been a nation of trailblazers. From the earliest days, people have looked for ways to forge links with each other across this vast land, said TCT President and CEO, Deborah Apps. Dana is our modern trailblazer. He is living his dream, and that of TCT founders, Bill Pratt and Pierre Camu, who envisioned the Trail as a new way to connect Canadians and reduce the distances that separate us. We all look forward to celebrating the completion of the TCT with Dana, and I invite all to join us and mark July 1st, 2017, in your calendar, as we will celebrate the connection of this national legacy in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary.”