500 DAYS IN THE WILD - DIANNE WHELAND TELLS ALL

An extraordinary journey by and extraordinary person. 500 Days in The Wild is a fascinating documentary from award-winning filmmaker Dianne Whelan, that tracks her incredible adventure as the first person to travel the 24,000 km on the Trans Canada Trail.

After a six-year journey, filmmaker Dianne Whelan became the first person to travel 24,000 km over land and water on the Trans Canada Trail—the longest trail in the world. 500 DAYS IN THE WILD weaves adventure, personal reflections, stunning wildlife and landscapes to document a unique ecological pilgrimage and journey towards reconciliation. Just as Dianne was profoundly changed by her experience, 500 DAYS IN THE WILD gives audiences a window into their own possibilities in life.  
 

As Dianne travels from one end of the country to the other, she meets Indigenous elders and communities, as well as locals and friends who walk and paddle with her. Admittedly, Dianne started out alone, disillusioned with the state of the world, to look for different ways of caring for the land and for each other. The journey turned more complicated when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, yet after it all, she ended the expedition a bit wiser, more hopeful, in love and with a passion to share this story. 

“I’ve made a film on the highest mountain in the world and I’ve made a film on the most northern coastline in the world, but 500 DAYS IN THE WILD is the mother of them all,” said Dianne Whelan. “Unlike most adventure films, which are about conquering something, 500 DAYS IN THE WILD is about connection – I didn't conquer the trail, I connected with it.” 

500 DAYS IN THE WILD is NOW Streaming on Paramount +

I spoke with Dianne Whelan about her journey and the mental and physical stamina it took to get her there.