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travel / adventure zone
| The Adventure Zone |
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| Photos courtesy of Summits of Canada: Steve Tomfeld |
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Journeying to the highest points of the nation
Imagine driving over 12,000 kilometres of spectacular landscape, paddling over 400 kilometres of
serene lakes and rivers, flying over and landing on stunning glaciers, skiing, snow shoeing, biking and
climbing over 90,000 vertical feet of rugged, mountainous terrain.
Do the Himalayas or some other frequented exotic locale come to mind?
James Coleridge and his team are set to embark on such a journey right here in Canada. And they're
hoping their historic expedition will foster nationalistic pride in, and international awareness of the
vast geographical beauty and diversity of North America's crowning country.
The Summits of Canada expedition is a quest to climb every provincial and territorial highpoint. Their mission includes measuring the height of each point, testing GPS systems, as well as capturing their journey on video and through photography.
Taking an innovative approach to classroom instruction, the team will also communicate with students in Canada and abroad via satellite phone calls, updates on their website and a live web forum. Some classes will have the privilege of participating in non-technical climbs, such as the high points of Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Ontario.
"One hundred and sixty-five schools from every province, territory and from ten countries are registered to follow the expedition. Surely this proves people want to know more about Canada," says Coleridge, the visionary and passionate leader of this unique program.
In April, the team will ascend 3,747 metres to the summit of Mount Columbia in Alberta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. They will brave cold winds to reach the apex at the northern edge of the Columbia Ice field, maneuvering around dangerous crevasses that yawn at their feet. However, Coleridge is not worried about these inherent dangers.
"You have to plan for the best and prepare for the worst. We have quite a qualified team in terms of people with altitude and technical experience, rock climbing, and glacier and rope travel," he says with pride.
The expedition has notably received a grant from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) and will be carrying an RCGS flag during their travel. When he heard about the society's endorsement, Coleridge says his reaction was reminiscent of the time he reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
"I was not only in awe; I was breathless and inspired even more about our work," he says. "The sixty-pound packs and forty-pound sleds become a little lighter with that kind of support."
Visit www.summitsofcanada.ca to find out how you can get involved in the climbing crusade that will equal three times the height of Mount Everest.
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