My name is Angie and I am the Naturalist for Top Shelf Distillers (more on that later).  I am the coordinator for the Top Shelf Distillers team in the Great Canadian Hike.  Let’s start with a little personal introduction.

I grew up camping with my family and through Girl Guides of Canada.  First, car camping with both my parents and older sister, and then as I was old enough to carry a (far too heavy) pack I started canoe-tripping with my dad.  These experiences really shaped the foundation for my love of nature and being outdoors.  I appreciated the quiet, remote places you could get to by paddling and portaging.

This love has never left me.  I now back-country camp with friends and my own children as often as possible.  I also have the personal bucket list challenge of trying to collect all of the Ontario Parks so I front-country camp in the shoulder seasons as I like to avoid crowds whenever possible.

In the pursuit of lowering my pack weight to make portaging easier, I discovered the world of backpacking and thru-hiking.  I was immediately drawn in as a way to solo camp in remote areas without the added logistics and inherent risks of paddling.  In 2021 I completed a thru-hike of the Rideau Trail and it was truly life changing.  I tracked a total of 360km over 14 days and the sense of accomplishment is indescribable.  I have other dream thru-hikes, but of course creating the time and resources while balancing “real life” can be a challenge so smaller adventures will suffice for now.

Hiking has become therapeutic in nature for me.  There are plenty of studies to show the benefits of time spent in nature, around trees and the colour green, in fresh air, etc. and I absolutely find this true in my own life.  I find time surrounded by nature, moving at foot speed, to be meditative.  Hiking gives me the opportunity to reset, recharge, unwind, and realign.  As such, I see the importance of preserving and expanding trail access for all, to ensure everyone can reap these benefits.   

I am so proud to be leading the Top Shelf Distillers team in the Great Canadian Hike and promoting the Trans Canada Trail as a multi-use trail for all Canadians of all ability levels.

To join or sponsor our team please visit: https://www.greatcanadianhike.ca/fundraisers/TopShelfDistillers