He began his walk on April 1, leaving his home of Vernon en route to the destination of Haida Gwaii.
His reasons for the walk are simple—yet profound. Sean Rogders is walking the 1800 kilometers to Haida Gwaii and back to raise awareness about our responsibility to our planet and to each other.
Rogders, a former soldier living on a disability pension believes that now is the time to begin to repair the damage we’ve caused to our environment. “Desertification, climate change, strife and conflict—we see it every day,” he said. He says that it is up to us all to make things better. “We are one planet, one people and we must care for each other.”
The big business of high speed efficiency is causing major disconnect. “We’ve not evolved as a species,” said Rogders, “we’ve traded the caveman bone for the iphone is all.”
He explains that we know the earth is the one place we can live and the only way forward is for us to develop a deep love for each other. “You are my family and I am yours,” he said. His journey can be followed by visiting walkingfar.com. Rogders shares in detail his reasons, his beliefs and his passion for humanity and our planet. He also blogs when there is service about his travels each day.
Rogders is going to need a little help to make his journey a successful one. “I love all the honks I am receiving along the way,” he said, “they give me strength.” He is going to need funds to be able to cross on the ferries and to afford to feed himself while spending two and half moths cleaning up the western shoreline of Haida Gwaii and then to make the journey back home to Vernon. If you wish to contribute, Princeton CIBC has opened an account for Rogders, accessible at any branch. Direct deposit to - Transit: 00460 Institution No: 010 Account: 7643691.
Wednesday, April 9 was a trying day. Two of the tires on the cart had begun having bearing issues outside of Penticton. A quick fix with some washers in Keremeos and on to Hedley. Just outside of Hedley, the cart has a flat and a second tire with a broken bearing held together by two washers. Rogders pulled it 30 kms to Princeton — all four original wheels blew bearings and three also blew tubes. The cart was immobile. Exhausted and sore, Rogders arrived in Princeton to the Princeton Motel. Owner/operator, Mike Dennington provided a deal for a room while Rogders stayed in town to find a way to get his cart on the road again.
On Thursday, Rogders found help at Mac’s Auto Parts. “The staff moved heaven and earth to locate tires for me and to have them here first thing Friday morning,” said Rogders. “It’s places like this (Princeton) that are the last vestiges of hope. Real people, who care.” On Friday morning after four brand new tires were installed onto the cart, Rogders made a final stop at Mac’s Auto to thank the staff again for their assistance in getting him going again.
He then left travelling up Vermilion Avenue on his way to Hope to continue his adventure in environmental awareness and the human spirit—one he hopes we’ll all join him in.