Crossing Canada on Whiskey

It was April 2015 when an Okanagan woman saddled up and set out on an epic adventure, hoping to travel from Quebec to her home in Kelowna on horseback.

Today, after 4,500 kilometers and more than 200 days of riding, the duo is finally home.

Katelyn Stromgren, 21, and her horse, Whiskey, crossed the William R. Bennett Bridge into Kelowna today to a crowd of cheering family and friends.

Stromgren says the journey, which she made with just a sleeping bag, tent, and cooking supplies, was life-changing.

“We were cold, we were sore, our gear broke down, we were being circled by bears, but…I made it to Kelowna!”

The trip started last year after Stromgren got tired of her life in Mirabel, a small suburb outside of Montreal. She says that though she liked the province, she felt that getting home to her family in the Okanagan was important. So she set off.

The journey, which was composed of 219 total days of riding through six different provinces, took Stromgren to places and people she never would’ve otherwise seen.

“I really enjoyed all the hospitality that I found along the way. The kindness of Canadians, all of the people that took us into their homes and helped us out.”

And while the trip wasn’t raising money or increasing awareness for any specific cause, it still grabbed attention across the country. Some fans even showed up to watch Stromgren’s Kelowna arrival, making sure to snap a picture with Whiskey.

“He’s the horse that no one wanted. He was given to me as un-rideable and un-trainable. I’ve had him for eight years and I love him to death.”