Rockwood resident Peter Derksen has set out on a remarkable journey — hiking more than 4,600 kilometres from Mexico to Canada — to raise funds and awareness for soldiers fighting in Ukraine.
Derksen served with the armed forces in Ukraine in 2022
The retired police officer officially began his six-month trek along the Pacific Crest Trail in April, carrying everything he needs on his back and taking on the challenge completely unsupported. For Derksen, the journey is about far more than endurance — it’s about continuing a mission that began years ago.
“I was born into freedom and I don’t take it for granted,” he said. “We are privileged and have worked for this. We have to cherish what we have and fight for those who don’t. It’s a foundation of being human.”
Derksen’s connection to Ukraine is deeply personal. In 2022, following a 35-year career with the Winnipeg Police Service, the military and Manitoba Justice, he travelled overseas and spent a year supporting efforts on the ground. During that time, he delivered more than 900 kilograms of aid — much of it donated by members of the Winnipeg Police Service — to soldiers in need.
Now, three years later, he is continuing that commitment in a different way.
“I have always been driven by making a difference through the service of others,” he said. “Through my three careers, helping serve others was always there, and I want to continue to do that now.”
Rather than returning to the front lines, Derksen chose to fundraise. Through his hike, he is collecting donations for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation through his personal fundraising page, with all proceeds going directly toward supporting Ukraine. He is also matching the first $2,000 raised over the course of the journey.
The Pacific Crest Trail stretches from the U.S.-Mexico border to British Columbia, taking hikers through some of North America’s most challenging terrain, including the deserts of California, the Sierra Nevada mountains and the rugged Cascades of Washington. The trek begins with hikers touching Mexican sand through the fence at the U.S.-Mexico border before heading north.
While thousands attempt the trail each year, far fewer complete it, with more people successfully summiting Mount Everest. For Derksen, reaching the Canadian border will represent more than a physical accomplishment — it will symbolize meaningful support for a cause he believes in.
This level of endurance hiking is new territory for him. His previous experience includes completing the 70-kilometre Mantario Trail, but the Pacific Crest Trail presents a far greater challenge.
To prepare, Derksen spent months training through Manitoba’s winter, hiking daily in temperatures as low as -20 C. Much of that training took place near Rockwood, where he repeatedly climbed Pikes Peak for hours at a time while carrying a roughly 40-pound pack. His dog, Bella — who will stay at home with loved ones — often joined Derksen during his training sessions and was “no doubt confused” about why they were walking the same path so many times.
Other training included strength building and stretching to develop the resilience needed for the journey.
Even with that preparation, the trail presents extreme and unpredictable conditions. He began his hike during a California heat wave, with temperatures climbing above 38 C. After crossing roughly 700 miles of desert, Derksen will return to cold and snowy conditions, including tackling Mount Whitney — the highest mountain in the contiguous United States. He said the drastic change in conditions will be a “complete shock” to his body.
“I will either be a dried-out prune or I will be a well-established desert traveller,” he said. “Either way, I will have lost my skills to travel in the snow.”
Other challenges he is preparing to face include wildlife encounters, staying on the trail, reaching towns to replenish supplies and the general dangers of remote hiking — something easier said than done, with risks such as fast-moving mountain streams, steep terrain and extreme weather. But Derksen said these risks are worth taking.
“It’s a lot safer than going back to Ukraine and fighting in the military,” he said. “As an outdoorsman, I have the skills to prepare me for the wilderness. Now it is time for me to use them.”
Throughout the journey, he plans to share updates through a blog, allowing supporters back home to follow along and stay connected to the cause.
For Derksen, staying motivated comes down to perspective.
“There are soldiers still fighting for the land their parents were born on,” he said. “I have the ability to support their people and their right to be free, and I will — I have to open up the door to have a success at making a difference.”
He hopes his efforts will inspire others to act in their own way.
“Wherever, whoever and whatever you are, time is limited, so the best opportunity is now. See you all soon — ish.”
Updates on Derksen’s journey will be posted at www.thetrek.co/author/peter-derksen. Donations can be made at weblink.donorperfect.com/HikeForUkraine, with tax receipts available for Canadians.
