Trekkers hope 3-day adventure will show Edmontonians potential of river valley

While sunbathers flock to AccidentalBeach, three local adventurers are pushingEdmontoniansto connect with the river valley in a deeper way.

"We want to encourageEdmontoniansto take a bigger view of the river valley and get engaged in it in a bigger way and explore it in a bigger way," JeffreyHansen-Carlsontold CBCRadio Active's host Portia Clark.

• Edmonton wants expanse of river valley designated as provincial park
• City takes first step to protect massive section of river valley

Hansen-Carlson,Hank VanWeeldenand MarianneShalewawill spendtheweekend hiking, cycling, paddling, swimming and horseback ridingfrom Devonto Fort Saskatchewan as part of the inauguralEpcor RiverFestthis weekend.

They will be the first to make theirway through 165 kilometres of the capital region's river valley in one weekend, carrying everythingthey need on their backs.

"We're flattered to be the first to attempt this," Hansen-Carlsonsaid. "I live, work and play in Edmonton. I love Edmonton."

He said the river valley is a gift, but he is perplexed as to why Edmontoniansare not more drawn to it, beyond sunbathing on an exposed sandbar.

"We love it. We cherish it, but we're kind of lost in how it interfaces with our life. What do we do with it?

"If we explored it more,we would naturally come to celebrate it more.

"We're going to trek through places only a sliver ofEdmontonianshave seen and it's not very far away."

The three will be supported by the River Valley Alliance, but only when it comes to trading their bicycles for boatsor their hiking boots forhorseback.

The trio will begin the weekend hiking over 10 kilometres of new trails inDevonand paddling 25 kilometres in the dark to Terwillegar before bivouacking in Fort Edmonton Park.

Saturday will be spent bikingabout 100 kilometres of trails, swimming across the river and spending asecond night outdoorsin Old Strathcona.

Sunday will involve more hiking and end onhorseback in Fort Saskatchewan.

The threewill be active on social media throughout the trek and they are inviting residents in the capital region to join them for various legs of their adventure.

The trek is part of the firstEPCORRiverFest,which aims to celebratethe North Saskatchewan River Valley Parks system fromDevonto Fort Saskatchewanthrough Edmonton andthe counties of Parkland,Leduc, Strathconaand Sturgeon.

The festival also features three major events.The first will be inVoyageur Park inDevonon Friday; the secondin WhitemudPark &WhitemudEquine Center in Edmonton on Saturday;and then West River's Edge Park in Fort Saskatchewan on Sunday.

Each event, or rendezvous, will featureunique activities includingboat rides, food concessions, and displays from a range of outdoor operators and agencies.