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NWT - The Mackenzie Mountains loom large on the landscape for residents of Norman Wells, but few actually get to travel there.

Sarah Baker stands by the remains of an old bridge somewhere along the Canol Trail through the Mackenzie Mountains. Baker said there were all sorts of remnants from the Canol pipeline and its workers scattered along the trail as if people had just "picked up and walked away." - photo courtesy of Sarah Baker

"We look at them everyday from this distance but to be there is unbelievable," said Norman Wells resident Sarah Baker. This past June, Baker had the chance to hike the Canol Trail and she decided to go for it.

The trip was part of a youth leadership program put on by several businesses with the help of the GNWT. Sarah and 13 others including four youth hiked 60 kilometres before returning to Norman Wells early because of bad weather.

Baker was the only woman on the trip. She said it was only slightly awkward at first, but she was soon too busy to care.

The entire trip was plagued by rainy weather. Their flight ischeduled on a twin otter was cancelled, but at the last minute the group was able to get a flight in on helicopters instead. They landed at a plateau known as the Plains of Abraham.

"When we landed there it was just barren except for a single shack where they had a fire going," said Baker. It took several trips to get all 14 to the site. Once assembled the group decided to start hiking right away so they could get to a lower point on the mountain for shelter.

Baker was responsible for carrying her own pack and most of her own food. At 25kg (55lbs), Baker said she had the fourth heaviest backpack of the group. She brought a couple books to read but soon realized she didn't need them. Every night after supper she was too tired to do anything but sleep.

Along the trail, Baker and the other hikers encountered strange items left over from the Canol pipeline. She has pictures of a doorknob lying on the ground miles from anything. They also came across an abandoned washing machine.

"It was as if they had just packed up and walked away," said Baker.

They also found evidence of more recent visitors. They came across an abandoned mountain bike left by someone who had apparently given up on biking the trail.

The trail itself was overgrown and almost non-existent in some places. High up where there was less vegetation the trail was more obvious but even there they encountered washouts. Baker said the trail was little more than a "goat trail" with sheer cliffs in some places.

She said she had some second thoughts while carefully edging along these parts of the path.

"I kept asking myself, 'what did I get myself into?'" said Baker.

The journey came to an early end after four days on the trail. The group arrived at the Little Keel River and they called in a chopper to ferry them across, as was the plan. The chopper brought pizza and pop as a treat for the rain weary campers. As they were waiting for their ride the banks of the river kept rising. They had to move their camp fire several times to avoid having it washed away by the river. By the time the helicopter had arrived they made the decision to call it a trip.

"We wouldn't have been able to hike the riverbed in Dodo canyon anyway because of the water," said Baker.

She said it was the most challenging physical thing she has ever done but looking back now she said she is glad she made the journey. She is hoping the hikers will return to the Little Keel next summer to finish the last 80 kilometres. If invited she will go again and she is hoping more youth and especially females will take part.

"Now that I've done it, I'm hooked on it and I hope to go again," she said.