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Friday, March 29, 2024

Brit racked 5m steps travelling across Mexico to Canada on foot

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Brit racked 5m steps travelling across Mexico to Canada on foot
Brit racked 5m steps travelling across Mexico to Canada on foot

A brave Brit has racked up five MILLION steps travelling across the entire length of America from Mexico to Canada -- on foot.

Mary Mansfield, 40, suffered with crippling headaches for 15 years - but they miraculously disappeared within months of giving up meat.

With a new lease of life, she embarked on her dream trip of walking across the whole of America - from Campo in California to Manning Park in British Columbia.

She hiked 25 miles every day for six months, racking up around 5,600,000 steps and wearing out FOUR pairs of shoes along the way.

She came face to face with wolves and bears, and trekked across deserts, snowy mountains and thick forests.

Mary, from Hadfield, Derbyshire, said: "It's the hardest thing I've ever done and is probably the hardest thing I'll ever do.

"I didn't notice my headaches at all and only took a tablet once in six months.

"The best bit was getting away from it all and enjoying a sense of escapism.

"It was like I was in a completely different world and I was in complete solitude and peace.

"I was alone a lot of the time and I'm incredibly proud of what I have done.

"It was amazing and I can't begin to explain what an epic adventure it was.

I felt like a wild mountaineer." "I camped out overnight in the wilderness and did it completely on my own.

"I had a couple of accidents along the way.

I fell on a rock in the snow in California and cracked two ribs.

"I almost fell down a cliff in the snow too and had to pull myself from the edge with an ice axe.

"It was pretty scary.

I had to take a couple of days off when I was injured." Since the age of 25, Mary has suffered from chronic migraine syndrome doctors have struggled to control.

She had to take daily painkillers to allow her to carry out her day-to-day routine.

But after carrying out research online, she found suggestions cutting out meat can help to reduce the frequency of headaches and so decided to give it a go.

Six months later in June 2018, she said it felt like she had been given a new lease of life and suffered less headaches so wanted to take advantage.

Mary, an author, challenged herself to take on a mammoth challenge to hike from Mexico to Canada covering 2,653 miles - known as the Pacific Coast Trail.

Mary said: "I suffered with migraines for 15 years and they had a huge impact on my life.

"I was on meds every day and just doing basic things was a struggle for me.

"I decided I wanted to do the Pacific Coast Trail in June 2018 after six months of being on a vegan diet.

"It's something I have always wanted to do but never felt able.

"The idea is to do it without stopping and just living with what you have on your back." She quit her job as a medical sales adviser and booked a one-way ticket to San Diego, in Southern California, and set off from California in April.

She packed one bag with a tent, a spare pair of clothes, pots and pans for cooking, basic survival equipment and a satellite GPS navigation system to keep her on track.

She only carried up to ten days worth of food a day and every two weeks would pass through towns and villages to pick up supplies and grab a rare night's sleep in a hotel.

The rest of the time Mary travelled on alone through the hot desert landscapes of southern California, thick forests of mid-America and snowy mountain passes towards Canada.

She came across brown bears and the elusive wolves of California during the journey but thankfully came away from the encounters unscathed.

Mary recalls the moment she was walking along a trial in thick woodland when she noticed a brown bear was blocking her path.

"I was just walking along, looked up and saw a brown bear about 220ft away", she said.

"It was a scary moment but it went off in the other direction.

"I also came face-to-face with a wolf in California but it ran away as soon as it saw me." Mary said she did meet up with hikers along the way and in parts walked with others.

Her incredible photos of the six month adventure show the incredible scenery she travelled through during the awe-inspiring adventure.

Mary said: "I was never daunted by it and was just happy to be able to do it.

I just kept pushing and knew I had to complete it, for myself.

"Failing was not an option." Mary returned to the UK in November and was greeted by her mum and partner, Derek Fox, 53, who stayed at home.

She said the novelty of enjoying home comforts such as a hot bath and fresh fruit and vegetables have not yet worn off.

Mary is planning on writing a book based on her adventures and is speaking out to try to inspire other people to experience travelling the world.

Mary said: "It was the best experience of my life, without a doubt.

"It turned out to be the best painkiller I could have wished for."

A brave Brit has racked up five MILLION steps travelling across the entire length of America from Mexico to Canada -- on foot.

Mary Mansfield, 40, suffered with crippling headaches for 15 years - but they miraculously disappeared within months of giving up meat.

With a new lease of life, she embarked on her dream trip of walking across the whole of America - from Campo in California to Manning Park in British Columbia.

She hiked 25 miles every day for six months, racking up around 5,600,000 steps and wearing out FOUR pairs of shoes along the way.

She came face to face with wolves and bears, and trekked across deserts, snowy mountains and thick forests.

Mary, from Hadfield, Derbyshire, said: "It's the hardest thing I've ever done and is probably the hardest thing I'll ever do.

"I didn't notice my headaches at all and only took a tablet once in six months.

"The best bit was getting away from it all and enjoying a sense of escapism.

"It was like I was in a completely different world and I was in complete solitude and peace.

"I was alone a lot of the time and I'm incredibly proud of what I have done.

"It was amazing and I can't begin to explain what an epic adventure it was.

I felt like a wild mountaineer." "I camped out overnight in the wilderness and did it completely on my own.

"I had a couple of accidents along the way.

I fell on a rock in the snow in California and cracked two ribs.

"I almost fell down a cliff in the snow too and had to pull myself from the edge with an ice axe.

"It was pretty scary.

I had to take a couple of days off when I was injured." Since the age of 25, Mary has suffered from chronic migraine syndrome doctors have struggled to control.

She had to take daily painkillers to allow her to carry out her day-to-day routine.

But after carrying out research online, she found suggestions cutting out meat can help to reduce the frequency of headaches and so decided to give it a go.

Six months later in June 2018, she said it felt like she had been given a new lease of life and suffered less headaches so wanted to take advantage.

Mary, an author, challenged herself to take on a mammoth challenge to hike from Mexico to Canada covering 2,653 miles - known as the Pacific Coast Trail.

Mary said: "I suffered with migraines for 15 years and they had a huge impact on my life.

"I was on meds every day and just doing basic things was a struggle for me.

"I decided I wanted to do the Pacific Coast Trail in June 2018 after six months of being on a vegan diet.

"It's something I have always wanted to do but never felt able.

"The idea is to do it without stopping and just living with what you have on your back." She quit her job as a medical sales adviser and booked a one-way ticket to San Diego, in Southern California, and set off from California in April.

She packed one bag with a tent, a spare pair of clothes, pots and pans for cooking, basic survival equipment and a satellite GPS navigation system to keep her on track.

She only carried up to ten days worth of food a day and every two weeks would pass through towns and villages to pick up supplies and grab a rare night's sleep in a hotel.

The rest of the time Mary travelled on alone through the hot desert landscapes of southern California, thick forests of mid-America and snowy mountain passes towards Canada.

She came across brown bears and the elusive wolves of California during the journey but thankfully came away from the encounters unscathed.

Mary recalls the moment she was walking along a trial in thick woodland when she noticed a brown bear was blocking her path.

"I was just walking along, looked up and saw a brown bear about 220ft away", she said.

"It was a scary moment but it went off in the other direction.

"I also came face-to-face with a wolf in California but it ran away as soon as it saw me." Mary said she did meet up with hikers along the way and in parts walked with others.

Her incredible photos of the six month adventure show the incredible scenery she travelled through during the awe-inspiring adventure.

Mary said: "I was never daunted by it and was just happy to be able to do it.

I just kept pushing and knew I had to complete it, for myself.

"Failing was not an option." Mary returned to the UK in November and was greeted by her mum and partner, Derek Fox, 53, who stayed at home.

She said the novelty of enjoying home comforts such as a hot bath and fresh fruit and vegetables have not yet worn off.

Mary is planning on writing a book based on her adventures and is speaking out to try to inspire other people to experience travelling the world.

Mary said: "It was the best experience of my life, without a doubt.

"It turned out to be the best painkiller I could have wished for."

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