William’s Trans Canada Trail: A Walk Through the Wind

Written by William Marcinko 

The salty wind tugged at my jacket as I stood on the edge of Signal Hill, Newfoundland, my chest rising with the Atlantic breeze and my heart still thudding from the last uphill push. I had just finished the North Head Trail — a rugged, narrow ribbon carved into the cliffs that plunge into the ocean below. I’d read that this trail was sometimes challenging but worth the views and it lived up to every word. 

I come from away 

I’m a second-year university student, and this summer vacation was supposed to be about rest. But something about Newfoundland called to me — the wild edges, the stubborn rocks, the fog that rolled in like a secret. And today, I traded lazy mornings for boots on red rock and knees scraping against stone stairs older than I could imagine. 

The trail snaked around craggy outcrops, where waves exploded below like applause. Puffins bobbed on gusts of air, and far below, kayakers looked like matchsticks drifting in ink. Each turn opened to a wider sky and a deeper breath. I passed only a few hikers — locals with knowing smiles and tourists like me, whispering “wow” at every bend. 

A little braver, a little steadier 

Photo credit: William Marcinko

At one point, I paused near a lookout where the wind howled in my ears. I sat on a bench worn smooth by weather and time, eating a smashed granola bar and watching the sea breathe. It was then I realized: this wasn’t just a walk. It was a reminder. That I’m small, yes — but not insignificant. That there’s a rhythm out here more ancient than any lecture hall or campus bell. 

By the time I reached the trail’s end, my legs were aching, and my thoughts had quieted. The Trans Canada Trail here had given me more than sore calves and a camera roll of dramatic coastlines — it gave me a sense of clarity. 

Back in town, as I passed the sign for Signal Hill once more, I smiled. Not at the historical plaque or the tourists snapping photos — but at the memory of standing alone above the sea, where I didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. I had climbed, wandered, and returned — a little braver, a little steadier. And for the first time all summer, I felt exactly where I needed to be. 

William is a third-year Hospitality and Tourism Management student at TMU’s Ted Rogers School of Management. Find him on Instagram at @william_marcinko. 

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Feature photo credit: Jennifer Mahon/Trans Canada Trail