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The trail through B.C. was pretty good, but it’s not complete between Calgary and Edmonton, Jackson said.

“So I’ve been walking along side roads and range roads, which has also been OK … I think east of the city I’ll be on a trail again,” she said.

“You go through sections that are like paved bicycle paths, really easy travelling, and sections that are like dirt trails, up through mountain ranges. I’ve had a couple days for sure that I’m bushwhacking like mad and I don’t know for sure if I’m going the right way, but it makes for a bit more of an adventure.”

Jackson carries a pack that weighs up to 50 pounds, with supplies including a sleeping bag, tent, stove, fuel, water and clothing. For most of the trip, friends and relatives have joined her for stretches of the walk. Jackson said she walks between 20 and 40 kilometres a day and is on her second pair of hiking boots.

“I have a locator beacon that sort of tracks my moves so my parents don’t worry too much,” she said.

“The cool thing about the TCT is that it does go through a lot of towns, so we do have access to restock supplies and treat ourselves sometimes to Subway (sandwiches), things like that.”

Jackson decided about a year ago she wanted to do a long hike after school, “to meditate on what to do with the rest of my life,” she said with a laugh.

She considered walking the Appalachian Trail in the Eastern United States or the Pacific Crest Trail down through the Western United States.

“I landed on the TCT because there’s so much of Canada I don’t know,” she said.

“It’s been incredible. It’s surpassed any kind of expectation I could have even set.”

Jackson has been documenting the experience with photos, quotations and links to songs on her blog, Sarah Rose Walks.

asands@edmontonjournal.com

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