B4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 20, 2003 It’s along walk home Trekkers half way through their 4,000-km journey to B. C. By- JESSIE GIES ERICA FRANCIS has em- barked on a journey of grand scale that’s putting her physical, mental, and emotional strengths to the test. Terrace-born Francis, a graduate of Langara Col- lege’s display and design program, was working full- time at a chocolate shop in Vancouver and part- time at a coffee shop when she made the decision to join the Pacific Crest Trail hike, The trail stretches from Campo, Mexico to Man- ning Provincial Park here in B.C. Joined by companion Paul Mitchell, a multime- dia designer from Victoria, the two flew to the south- ern terminus of the trail in Mexico to begin the trek through three states, 60 major mountain passes, 19 major canyons and past more than 1,000 lakes. “She saved her money, sold everything, quit her job, and away they went,” mother Diane Francis said. When her daughter first set out for the trail, Fran- cis was leery about how much success Erica would have. “At first, I was a little apprehensive,” she said, “but they’ve done really, really well.” They began their jour- ney at the end of April and have since travelled ap- proximately half of the 4,000-plus kilometres of Pacific Crest Trail. Francis and Mitchell have been toting a small electronic device known as a pocketmail communi- cator. They have been scri- bing journal entries depict- ing their journey“and. up- loading them to the “Web site address www.pcta.org. “Muir Pass is still cov- ered with snow,” Mitchell wrote from mile 838 mid-July. “We got to the top with sopping wet feet and quite exhausted from the climb. The stars are always amazing out here, but from ithe top of Muir they were truly brilliant.” Their last e-mail was sent from Reno, Nevada on July 30. “Reno reminded me of downtown Vancouver,” Mitchell wrote, “glitz and gutter side-by-side.” “It was a great place for a break, but between the hotels it was a dingy town.” An average of 300 hi- kers per year attempt to take on the entire trail; thousands of others hike smaller portions. Diane said her daughter has expressed concern over the fast-approaching winter, saying it may not be possible to get back to B.C. before cold weather Tha Terrace Standard sore Ww lerracestandatd.com Chack oul cur ae or call OM-F2] Sa ade Belng Inioresion Comic ENCOUNTERS Games * Comics * Trading Cards Books © Mail Orders Welcome NOW OPEN AT OUR NEW LOCATION! #102-4435 Lakelse Ave. Terrace, B.C, VBS 1P1 (256) 638-7293 website: www,.comit-encountérs.com TH DO Comes © FET. Erica Francis hits “T think they’re going to do as much as they can,” she said. But even if Erica doesn’! make it, her family still believes the trip has been a positive exper- jence. “It has been good for her,” her sister Kristine said. Bring on the fall fair and don't forget to enter SKEENA VALLEY Fall Fair president Barb Adams is predicting a record year for garden produce and other entries and exhibits in general for this year’s fair which begins next Friday at the Thornhill Community Grounds in Thornhill, “We've had such nice weather this year compared to other years. I know my garden is incredible,” said Adams last week. “T just know we're going to have a bumper crop of people and produce.” “There’s been a huge response to our prize book this year. The library has been calling up every second day it seems, asking for more books,” said Adams. She's particularly pleased with the response to the pumpkin growing con- test, an undertaking of the fair society, The Garden Shed and the city’s 75th anniversary committee. “We stopped at 80 [entry packages],” said Adams. “If even half of those get entered, it will be. great.” The large response has resulted in the creation of four categories by age of grower and one apen category for the most unusual pumpkin. Exhibit hall visitors will find a new look inside this year, a move to pro- vide a more varied and eye-pleasing presentation. Gone will be the rows of flea-mar- ket style tables. Tables will instead be" grouped and items them- selves will be more promi- nently dis- played. “People may say they're not going to the exhibit hall this year, because they’ve been there for several years and have seen it. But what we're doing now is making the look more interest- ing by giving it a different styie,” said Barb Adams . Adams. And with the fair so close, the reg- istration deadline is fast approaching for exhibit and other entries. Fair representatives will be at the Downtown Lions compound, just inside the main entrance to the Thornhill community grounds, on Saturday, Aug. 23 from noon to 4 p.m. and from Mon- day, Aug. 25 from noon to 9 p.m. “People can mail in their entries but they must be postmarked by 9 p.m. Monday, Aug. 25 and they have to in- clude a cheque,” said Adams. The ad- dress is Box 495, Terrace, B.C. V8G 4B5. GENERAL PAINT TERRACE INTERIORS TERRACE BUILDERS Dm nist | 2003 FOCUS LX SEDAN | a proud sponsor of cri " Crime Stoppers offers a cash raward of up to ++ $1,000.00 for Information leading to an arrest and/or con- viction. If you have any Information call “Crime Stoppers” ‘| at 635-TIPS that’s 635-6477. Callers will NEVER be required to reveal their name or testify in court. 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