Bath residents Kim and Josh Sutton have been preparing for a hike that will see Josh travel over 900km on the Bruce Trail to raise funds for the Canadian Armed Forces program Soldier On.
The hike will start in Tobermory, Ontario on June 29, and take Josh until July 22-23 to complete in Niagara Falls. The Suttons have set their goal at $5,000.
Soldier On is a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) program that assists with the recovery of ill and injured CAF members and veterans. Their programs provide opportunities and resources through sport, recreational, and creative activities. Since 2007, the program has helped over 10,000 members.
Josh is a member of the CAF and a member of Soldier On. He recalls his father introducing him to the Bruce Trail when he was young, and mentioned how he always wanted to go see more of the trail one day in the future. Along with his military background, and as a member of Soldier On, Josh decided to expand on his idea of exploring more of the trail, and to make the absolute most of it.
"Since I've been in the military, and hiking is kind of just a natural part of what we do, I just thought I'd put the two together, and then 'why not do it for a good cause?' on top of it," said Josh.
Josh's hike, over 900 km from Tobermory to Niagara Falls, is the complete stretch of the Bruce Trail, known as "Canada's oldest and longest marked footpath," according to the trail's website. Carrying all his supplies and equipment, Josh will be camping along the way. With 24 days of hiking planned, Josh will need to hike nearly 10 hours, or 30-45km daily, to cover the 900 km span.
Noting the sheer scale of this hike, Kim said Josh is already doing a lot of training to get fully prepared. The landscape may be tough along some parts of the trail, and it's something Kim adds Josh may not get a chance to prepare for locally.
"Anyone that's familiar with the Kingston area, we're comparing it a bit to Rock Dunder. So, that whole Tobermory section is all rocks, and that's going to be a whole challenge for him that he hasn't really done a lot of," said Kim.
Throughout the hike, Josh will get a chance to re-supply a couple times, as carrying 24 days worth of food just didn't make sense logistically, he said. The couple knows the hike will be taxing, but since it's for a good cause, and Josh is well prepared.
Josh says it's going to be a good time, and Kim says she isn't too worried.
"Walking 10 hours a day is quite a task. He's doing a lot of training up to it. though, so I'm not as worried about him that way, but we're all going to miss him at home," said Kim.
Josh and Kim's journey towards their $5,000 goal for Soldier On can be followed on Facebook. Currently, the couple has raised over $600 towards their goal.
To learn more about the fundraiser, visit the website.
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