If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere. By: Vincent Van Gogh

I think that I can honestly say that every time I have been in the great outdoors, ie. canoeing or hiking, I have always resisted returning to the "normal" life. I often left with a resolve to return someday and stay until I am tired of it and want to go home. I may now have that chance.

Without giving a long detailed history of how I arrived at this point in my life, it is suffice to say that I am seriously contemplating walking no less than 500 miles (800 km) through the Alberta Rocky Mountains. My goal is to walk the Alberta Rockies from the Canada - USA boarder on the south to as far north as it takes to cover my 500 miles. I will walk every step of the way. I expect this will take me about 50 consecutive days of walking, hiking, and backpacking. My travels will take me through Waterton National Park, Kannanaskis Country and Peter Locheed Park, Banff National Park, and Jasper National Park. This is more than ambious for me because I am not young and not particularly fit.

Why would I do this? Well, because I can! Walking is the easiest and most pleasant of activities that I can engage in. The benefits to people from walking are not fully realized by most. Also I have people very close to to me who have had diabetes a number of years and have I have personally witnessed the effects of depression and anxiety in close friends and loved ones. My experience has been that simply walking makes me feel healthier and happier and, therefore I strongly believe simply by walking better health and wellness is possible. And so I invite all the world to join me. But of course I am realistic enough to know that this message will not reach all of the world. But I do hope that my family and friends will join me, for as short a time or as long a time as they choose. I will use my BLOG to post regular updates of my progress in the hope that many will then be able to join in with me.

If you want to make suggestions or communicate about this with me you may E-mail me at akloose_AT_gmail_DOT_com