Walter Muma

Walter Muma (born 5 August 1956) is a Canadian man who is on record for completing a 3-month 11,500-mile (18,660 km) journey across Canada and Alaska by moped.

He also hitchhiked his way out to British Columbia, Yukon, Alaska and Nova Scotia, returning to Toronto after four and a half months on the road.

For his 3-month trip in 1978, Muma purchased a French made, Yellow 1978 Motobécane Mobylette 50v, which was equipped with a 49cc, 2.5 horsepower, two-stroke engine.

During the 1970s, Alaska and the northern portions of Canada were changing significantly as a result of the large mineral and oil deposits located there.

After passing Wawa, Muma continued along the main Trans-Canada Highway route, along the edge of Lake Superior.

A few miles off the highway, east of Thunder Bay, he visited the Ouimet Canyon, and later, near the western edge of Lake Superior, Kakabeka Falls.

Most of the terrain, thus far, had proved to be relatively easy to traverse on the moped, as it is primarily flatland prairie, however he did have some difficulty with a few dirt roads.

Near the 93 mile marker, he reached the end of the paved roadway and continued on the gravel portion, passing gas wells and the Sikanni Chief River valley.

By mile 384, although it was June 26, Muma encountered a large patch of snow next to the roadway left over from the previous winter.

Near mile 401, Muma took a short side trip on a partially washed-out road to the abandoned Churchill Mines.

Although the road was washed out, he was able to traverse it on the moped, later encountering increasingly rugged scenery and an abandoned cabin, before he finally reached one of the mines, where he camped for the night.

He took a side trip to Atlin, British Columbia (which was then only accessible from Yukon), passing the ghost town of O'Donnell.

His total trip took approximately three months, covered 11,500 miles and ended back in Toronto on September 7, 1978.

Muma continued to tour, backpack, hike and canoe in Canada and the United States after his record-breaking moped trip.