Most recent print edition: Jul 28

– Last updated: Today

• About Us
• |
• Contact Us
• |
• Advertising
• |
• Submissions

News

TRU Students Enabling Hope

Greg Simmonds and Sadie Cox

Christine Selinger will be the first paraplegic woman to successfully navigate the rugged 35km Nootka Trail on BC’s west coast.

With the help of her sister, Chelsea Selinger, a TRU Adventure Tourism student, Christine has been planning and preparing for the Nootka No Limits Expedition.

“My personal mandate during this expedition is to prove that having a disability is not an inability,” said Christine.

Christine suffered a spinal cord injury after a rappelling accident in 2006. The injury resulted in the loss of use of her lower body. For many, this loss would mean losing a lifetime of dreams, but for Christine it simply meant changing the way she pursued them.

Using her competitive nature for strength she’s continued to follow her passions and has made it her personal mission to not be defined by her disability.

The Nootka Trail is an isolated hiking trail located on a small island off the northwest coast of Vancouver Island. This remote wilderness trail is renowned for the challenge it poses to the most experienced and able-bodied hikers.

“We chose the Nootka Trail because we wanted a more rugged challenge than more popular trails like the West Coast Trail,” said Chelsea. “The Nootka Trail offers us just the right amount of challenges”.

Christine and a six-member support team, will set out on this physically and psychologically demanding journey and complete the full 35km of coastal trail using a specially designed off-road hand cycle built for rugged terrain.

“The hand cycle was the most effective way we could find for Christine to maneuver the trail, besides crawling and ‘scooting’,” said Chelsea, “so we ordered the bike and hoped for the best!”

The remote nature of the trail brings all the regular challenges of wilderness travel, explained Greg Simmonds, a current TRU MSc Environmental Science student and Adventure Tourism graduate.

“We will face river crossings, vertical cliffs, wildlife, and exposure to cold, wet weather,” said Simmonds. “Hypothermia is always an element of coastal travel, especially early in the season when the days may not be hot and sunny to recharge.”

“I think one of the biggest challenges will be the mental game. The combination of terrain and weather conditions has the potential to be mentally draining and frustrating.”

The team flew out from Gold River by float plane to the trail head on May 20th.

“We aren’t sure how fast we’ll be able to travel but we estimate the trail will take us a maximum of nine days, getting us back to the ‘real world’ on May 28th,” said the sisters.

Christine’s team will provide knowledge, experience, and tools to overcome the many obstacles that will be encountered on the expedition. Each team member brings important skills including medical, adventure guiding, mountain climbing and backcountry touring.

Roland Moonie, a TRU nursing graduate, will provide critical medical care for the trip. “I’ve always wanted to do the trail,” said Moonie. “I have a background in rigging, rope rescue and am an experienced backpacker in addition to being a RN.”

Moonie said the nature of the trail, positioning on the hand cycle and crawling will all carry a high risk of abrasions that require a higher level of care than basic first-aid training.

Along with carrying essential gear, the group will set up high lines for river crossings, assist Christine up sections of vertical terrain and provide assistance while travelling on exposed coastlines.

“We hope that expeditions like this will open the eyes of the disabled and able-bodied alike to the endless limits of alternative backcountry travel and inspire more people to push their limits,” said Christine and Chelsea.

For more information, visit: nootkanolimits.com