Friday, December 13, 2019
I went to FedEx Office the other day during my lunch break and scanned the required documents (ID, Passport, and 2 pages of application) for my permit to enter Canada at the Northern Terminus of the PCT.
The terminus and Monument 77 are pretty much in the middle of nowhere, so there’s not a manned border crossing. It is illegal to enter Canada from the US via the PCT without this permit. Canadian Government doesn’t mess around, as I learned back in my tour management days, when I almost got denied entry at Niagara Falls going to Toronto. I was 27 or so at the time and had an incident of youthful indiscretion way back when I was 17, but they were well aware and took me back into the back office to question me. Luckily I didn’t lie to them and they decided to let me in.
This permit had some very specific rules (ALL CAPS ONLY, for example) and the word is if you make one mistake they reject it and you have to start all over. Pretty sure I did everything right. I’ll find out in 8 weeks or so apparently.
I think it’s kinda nuts that you have to apply to cross the border 8-10 weeks before the START of your hike, even though you won’t be crossing for another 7 months or so.
Anyway, one more step accomplished for my pre-hike prep. I’m a little over 3 months out from my start date. Still a bit terrified.
Mexico to Canada 2023 