WCT 2016

West Coast Trail August 2016

Link to my YouTube videos. 

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL27CxMH4C6rZewyfmMgKJvJAC3oVLdB54

Enjoy

Equipment For The West Coast Trail

Are you hiking The West Coast Trail soon? Well if you are, you'll want to be sure you have the required equipment. There are many opinions on this subject, some I feel overdo it and tend to take way too much for the "what ifs", while others don't weigh the safety issues enough and find themselves having a miserable time because they don't have what they really need for this trail. 

I like to think of myself as an ultra-light hiker and have found that this particular trail needs a fine balance in "weighing" your options.  I have found that with proper consideration, a light weight hiker is able to safely hike this trail comfortably.  I can hike this challenging trail with a base weight of 10 lbs, I know this because I've done it and really enjoyed my experience.  I have also hiked this trail "ultra-heavy" twice and those two times are what drove me to figure this "UL" thing out. 

Clothing

Here's the deal with clothing, you can take as much as you want to carry, but to be honest if you hike in them on the WCT, they will get wet and stay wet (wet = heavy), it's the nature of the beast with this trail. I've decided that if my clothes are going to be wet anyway, I'd rather carry them on my body while hiking, than in my pack wadded up in a ball. They will dry quicker from your body heat which is better than getting other items wet in your pack.

While others may disagree, I personally don't care if I smell a little bit on the trail, it's like a badge of courage, and there are ways to combat the funk as long as you're willing to exert a little effort. I tend not to take extra hiking clothes; I do however take separate clothes that I wear around camp or in bed.  Now I won't say that I NEVER take extra hiking clothes on longer hikes such as the WCT, I will sometimes take one extra pair of hiking socks and underwear, but rarely anything else, regardless of how long the hike.  For me it's all part of the mental game, I will often change up these two items when I reach a certain milestone along the hike and feel I've earned a little reward.

How do I fight the funk? 

Good question, it's a little challenging especially on some of the more grueling trails.  I fight the stank by taking the time to both wash myself, and then my hiking clothes. Here is my routine:

1. With a disposable wash cloth and sudsy water collected into a larger freezer size Zip-lock bag I wash my body, I'll let you figure out where I focus my cleaning. 
2. I make sure that I completely dry off with a light towel.
3. I will follow this with a unscented non-allergenic wet wipe to neutralize any remaining odor causing bacteria.
4. After the wipes, I must confess, I like to use an unscented deodorant. I know this flies in the face of going UL but sometimes you just have to do what makes you feel better and if you can find a small travel size, they work great and definitely help with the smell, especially in the tent when your trying to fall asleep.
5. Next, I change into my camp/sleep only clothing. If it's raining, I will take extra care not to get these clothes wet. I've often done these first few steps in the outhouse, out of the rain, if there is one. By the way, the outhouses on the WCT are some of the best I've seen, with ample room for this kind of work.
6. Once I have changed, I will collect my dirty clothes, specifically under clothing, socks and shirt into the same freezer zip-lock bag with newly collected sudsy water.
7. I rattle and shake that bag aggressively and then I will get my hands in there and really get after these clothes.
8. Once I feel I have work them over enough I will drain the dirty water far away from our drinking water source.
9. Once drained, I will rinse my now sudsy clothing in fresh water until I have removed all of the biodegradable soap.
10. At this point I will attempt to wring out and hang my clothes to dry, not usually with much success on the WCT, however sometimes you get lucky. Hanging your clothes close the fire might help but be careful not to melt them by having them too close.
11. Finally, I will gather up my clothes prior to bed and store them away for the next day.

Yes sometimes they are not dry the next day but on a trail like the WCT, they aren't going to be dry long anyway. Yes it rains a lot, but sometimes there are days you can get lucky and have a spell of sunny weather, in these conditions your clothing will dry quickly from the heat of your body. Be sure to only take quick drying moisture wicking clothes, never cotton.

So Here is My Clothing List

Clothing Worn (one of each)

• Sun cap
• Sun glasses
• Bandanna (only cotton item I carry)
• Roll up sleeve shirt
• Underwear
• Running Shorts
• Small Gaiters (Dirty Girl)
• Ankle high wool socks
• Trail runners
• Watch

Clothing Carried (worn only if cold or raining)

• Toque
• Wool buff
• Wind jacket (optional, rain jacket will suffice, I just really like mine)
• Rain coat (this is not an item to go cheap on, this jacket will get a workout on this trail)
• Rain kilt
• Spandex pants

Clothing Carried (keep dry for around camp or in bed only)

• Down or fleece jacket (I prefer down, but with the high humidity on the WCT, you may want fleece)
• Long sleeve wool shirt
• Underwear
• Long underwear bottoms
• Wool socks

Reward / Change of Clothing (Optional)

• Underwear 1 Pair
• Ankle High Wool Socks 1 Pair

All of the items above, I have taken the time to weigh and find as light an option as possible without sacrificing quality and function.

Head to Foot Layers
On a trail like the WCT, layers are important. One day it might rain all day and a when it does it can be pretty chilly, wet and chilly is not a good combo and finding yourself without options for warming up can be a big problem. That being said, depending on when you hike or how lucky you are, the sun can and may be out and temperatures will be quite warm. In order to not over heat it's good to have hiking clothes that can be shed or rolled up to enjoy these rare occasions. 

I like to keep it simple; when I'm hiking in decent weather you'll see me in a super light pair of running shorts and a rolled up sleeve buttoned shirt, sporting a light ball cap and sunglasses. Wrapped around my shoes you'll find my tinny gaiters that keep the pebbles out of my shoes which are a light pair of non waterproof trail runners.  When I feel I haven't made enough fashion faux pas, I will tie a bandanna around my neck ready to wipe away sweat from my brow.

As the weather turns cooler I will unroll my sleeves, Throw on my spandex pants under my shorts and start layering based on need with my toque, buff, wind jacket, and rain gear.  Only in really bad conditions will I pull out my insulated jacket while hiking, there is no point in sweating and making everything wet from the inside out. I also like to keep my jacket for when I'm stopping for a extended break, around camp or in bed and am just taking it easy. Some times if it's just a little cool I will pick up my pace and use my increased effort to help warm me up.

Camp/Bedtime Clothing
These special items only come out when I can keep them dry, they are my last defense in staying warm and warding off dangerous body temperature drops. When I'm sitting around camp or in bed I like to stay warm without having to over exert myself.  This is a time to chill, sit back and reminisce about the day spent on the trail. It is real nice to change into clothing that doesn't stink when your preparing/eatting supper and going to bed, REAL NICE! Being faithful to a good hygiene regiment, like I shared above, can really help keep this clothing clean.

This clothing also helps supplement using a lighter sleeping bad for when the nighttime temps. drop.  I'll get into bedding in a bit.

Hiking Shoes

Here is where everyone has their own opinion, but for me this is what I know works. Most information you read on the WCT will say; you must have sturdy, heavy duty, waterproof boots. Having hiked the this trail 3 times, I can appreciate why they say this. You will also notice that most of these people also have long lists of items needed, without one word suggesting you seek out the lightest option in any of the gear they recommend. They hike this trail heavy laden and I can see why they may want a heavy duty boot to assist them in carrying their mighty loads.

My pack is light; to begin my 6 day hike, my pack including food and 1 litre of water will weigh about 25 lbs. By the end of my hike, my pack will weigh 10 lbs.  Most hikers I've seen on the WCT; including myself years ago, are about twice this weight, averaging 45 - 50 lbs. I've even seen packs weighing up to 75. With a much lighter load I am a lot more nimble, and can face the rough terrain with a different perspective.

I also know regardless of what I hike in, my feet will get wet on the WCT.  I've hiked it twice with Gortex hiking boots along with big old gaiters, and whether I was hiking through a swollen creek or I was just sweating a lot, my feet ended up wet not long into the trail.  Waterproof shoes are good at keeping water from small streams out, but they are excellent at keeping the water once in, from escaping.  Once my boots were wet, they stayed wet for the entire trip.

My trail runners are wet most of the hike too, in fact I don't bother trying to keep them dry, I plunge right through those steams, creaks and mud. My shoes wash off nicely in the next clean stream and if I have a long stretch and the weather is nice I find that the water runs out and my shoes will eventually dry.

For me, the weight of the heavy boots coated in mud and sand are not worth the pointless headache of trying to keep my feet dry. At the end of each day I remove my shoes from my feet, dry them off and put them into my nice dry bed time socks.  By morning the pruniness is even gone and I get to start all over in my damp socks.

Packing

Your back pack can be one of the 3 big ticket items that can really weigh you down, most packs you can buy at the stores these days are averaging 4 - 7 lbs, way too much for the UL hiker. When I first wanted to lighten my load I started by taking my current pack and cutting anything off that wasn't being used; it was ugly, but I definitely brought my pack down a few pounds. Here's the problem, I was stressed the entire time I was doing it, that I was some how going down a path that I could never come back from. I had paid decent money for this old pack and it kinda hurt a little to cut up an old friend. I got over it my first hike with the lighter version. Remember, you may be able to sell your old pack and put the money towards a lighter one, once cut up, that option's gone.

Unfortunately I couldn't cut enough off to bring my pack to a place where the true ultra light hikers were talking and realized that there were companies out there that were selling packs at around the 1 - 2 pound range. Well I broke down and bought my first UL pack and I loved it, it was just over a pound and a half and felt great on my back. Shortly after buying this pack I learned about a relatively new material called cubin fiber and that companies were selling back packs made of it that were coming in at just under a pound, well lets just say I was hooked. I'm a big cubin fiber fan, I won't tell you how much I've spent on it, it isn't cheap.

My current pack is so light and feels so good on my back that it's now one of my favorite pieces of gear.  Sure it's smaller then my old packs but I don't carry nearly as much as I used to, in fact even with my smaller pack on shorter hikes, I usually have room to spare.

Other things that I've done to lighten my load is doing away with a different stuff sack for everything, I still use them, just not for everything. One example is my sleeping bag, I just stuff it into the bottom of my pack in a water proof pack liner.  All of the stuff sacks I use are light weight, in fact in some cases I will use simple zip-lock bags to hold most of my smaller items.

My current pack is water proof when closed (one of the benefits of cubin fiber); however, I always use a pack liner even if its only a garbage bag to insure that the gear I want to keep dry, stays dry.

Shelter

On the WCT the closest you'll get to "cowboy style" camping will be under a tarp. I have not experienced a night where it doesn't rain a little, sometimes it's only a mist or heavy fog, but it will get you wet if you go without shelter. On this particular trail I have used just a tarp, a two person tent, and a hammock, all kept me dry and provided a great place to sleep the night away.

One thing to remember with only using a tarp is that you are not only trying to keep out the rain; at night the beach has other tenants including good sized rodents that love to nibble on anything you may have inadvertently left improperly stored. You do what you want, but I prefer being off the ground all together or at least having walls between myself and our small friendly neighbors.

If you do plan on taking a hammock, not all campsites have the kind of trees to accommodate you. When I did it, I recall hoping that I was the only hammock camper because if I did find a spot to hang I was in the only spot to hang.  This is not true of every site, in fact I found some awesome hang spots but they were few and far between.  I recommend being prepared with a backup plan in case you find yourself on the ground.

As for tents, I recommend you buddy up and share a light two person tent.  You can share carrying it and hopefully only be weighed down with about 2 lbs each.  There are a lot of great options out there for tents, do your research and pay attention to quality and weight.

Sleeping Gear
Sleeping Bag
The average temperature on the WCT is about 14* Celsius in the summer months, dropping a bit at night. A light summer sleeping bag should do the trick, especially when you have your dry bedtime clothing at the ready. I love my down summer quilt, however, if your not willing to be extra cautious in the humid conditions or are a just little nervous about it getting wet, you can opt for a synthetic bag, this year I found an inexpensive 6* bag for each of my children weighing in at less than 2 lbs each. They are a little cheap but at the price I paid I only care that they hold up for the 5 nights we are on the trail.

Sleeping Pad
I find a closed cell sleeping pad to be sufficient while lying on the soft beach sand, and you don't need to worry about a sharp twig in the wrong place puncturing you inflatable version.  In the sand you can take the time to prepare the ground for your tent so that you arrange a nice even lay.

What about my pillow?
I, like many of you, have a hard time sleeping with out some sort of pillow, however, the thought of carrying one bothers my UL nature. My solution is a stuff sack that I fill with anything I'm not using to keep warm. The stuff sack obviously can carry my bedtime clothing during the day keeping them dry, it also has a fleece lining on one side for a little extra comfort against my face.

Eating & Drinking
Eating
Nothing is better after a great day on the trail then a warm meal. Believing this to be true, I have made the mistake of taking too much food and quickly realized that carrying a ton of food that you will never eat in 6 days sucks. Think through what you will really eat and don't let your eyes be bigger then your stomach. With careful preparation one can come up with an easy cook menu that will provide a high calorie/oz ratio.

For me personally, I'm done hassling with a cooked breakfast, I like to take stuff I can eat quickly and get on the trail. With little to no mess, I can eat as I'm hiking and I also don't  have to carry as much fuel. Again lunch and trail snacks for me are no cook for the same reasons. I like to kick back and chill, enjoying where I'm at.

Now comes dinner, I've tried the pure no cook on a camp and I just can't do it, I need something warm to lift my spirits when I've been properly beat. I'm not talking extravagant, I like to prepare meals that I only have to add hot water to. I like to control my sodium intake so I tend not to use the store bought meals any more, also a zip lock bag is a lot lighter than the store packaging both in weight and cost.

As for cooking, I will take my Jetboil Sol Ti along with a 10 cm Imusa mug. I can quickly boil enough water to add to my prepared meal in my mug wrapped in a homemade cozy and let sit till everything has rehydrated; it works really well.  In little under 14 minutes, including how long it takes to boil water I can be eating a warm tasty meal. I know that alcohol stoves are lighter; I have them, I just find in extra humid conditions that they take too long to get the job done. Side note, on this summers hike with my 5 kids we will all use the one stove to boil for all of us. I've worked it out to about 6 - 8 minutes to boil the water needed.

I eat from my mug using a light spoon or spork, and then use a little sand and water to clean it out.

One last thing I should mention is that on the WCT trail there are a couple spots where the locals sell food, good food. If you plan it right, it will mean less food that you will need to carry.  Now this food comes at a price, a steep price.  One example would be the $25 fully loaded burger that will need to be chased by an expensive beverage. I recommend taking at least $50 - $60 to satisfy all your cravings.

Fully loaded burger purchased from Chez Monique, so worth it.

Drinking
Other then a few spots along this trail, there are a lot of water sources.  I rarely find that I need more than a litre of water at any time, remember 1 litre of water = approx. 2 lbs, it adds quick if you're carrying too much.

On the trail I will use two forms of making my water safe to drink. On the trail while hiking when I want drinkable water quick I will use my Sawyer Mini Filter, but at night while I'm chilling in camp, I will use purification tablets. The water on the WCT will definitely need to be purified and even then you better not be too picky about the colour, because it will likely look a nice shade of urine.

I love Nalgene for their durable trust worthy fluid carrying abilities, but dang they are heavy.  Though I have a number of these bottles from yester-year, I haven't carried one in a long time.  I've really grown to love using water bottles I can pick up at any convenience store, particularly the 1 Litre Smartwater bottle.  The long slender shape fits nicely anywhere on my pack, and it just so happens that they work great with my water filter.

Other than my water bottle I also carry a 2 litre Evernew collapsible container so that I can have a place to store extra water while in camp. I like to fill up my bottle and evernew soft container just before bed so that I have enough for anything I need to do in the morning. In the morning I will drink as much as I can handle and make sure my 1 litre bottle is full, maybe add some tang for better flavour and pour out or share any extra water I haven't used. I'm not interested in carrying it.

Miscellaneous Items
Toiletries
As much as I like keeping everything light I never sacrifice hygiene in the pursuit of it.  Like everyone else I like my creature comforts and for me they include the following:

• Toothbrush (trimmed to a shorter length)
• Toothpaste (usually a partially used travel size)
• Toilet paper (while the outhouses are very nice on this trail they do not come stocked)
• Wet wipes (hypoallergenic, unscented, and only enough for my daily needs. A big help in fighting chafe)
• Biodegradable soap (small container)
• Deodorant (unscented)
• Medication (allergy, head aches, inflammation, stomach upset, etc.)
• First aid/survival kit (very minimal)
• Disposable wash clothes 
• Towel (small)

I have found that this small list is really all I need and when done right can weigh very little.

Tools / Electronics / Equipment
Now for the final items that come along with me on every camp; items that are both necessary as well as things I just like to have.  Here they are:

• Knife (small, compact and super light)
• I find I rarely use a knife so there is no need for a Rambo wannabe.
• If I do need a knife, its usually only for small tasks so as long as it's sharp, it'll do the trick.
• Headlamp (small, with extra batteries)
• While it's unlikely you'd want to hike at night on the WCT, it is nice to have good light to find the toilet in the middle of the night.
• Hiking Poles (optional)
• I have found poles great for hiking the beaches and slippery shelves, but more of a nuisance on the inland routes, especially on the ladders)
• Camera (small, with extra batteries)
• Be sure to bring one of these, first you'll regret it if you don't and secondly because there are some parts of this trail your friends back home just won't believe in the telling.
• Rope 
• Find as light an option as you can, be sure it is strong enough to hang your food if necessary.
• Most sites have bear bins, but if it's busy, they could fill quickly.
• Fire kit (small, with storm proof matches and good fire starters)
• Repair kit (keep it small, most things can be repaired with a little duct tape)
• Cell phone
• I bring mine as a back up camera.
• service on the trail is very spotty and if you do get a signal it's likely a US network.
• Bear spray
• Bear bangers
• If you don't see a bear you will likely see the signs of them.
• The trail also has wolves and cougars.

I'm sure I've missed one or two items, but for the most part this covers it for me. Hopefully you have found this info insightful and it helps you plan your next outing.  Now get out there and if you haven't yet, give the West Coast Trail a try.

Happy Trails.

Planning Your Hike on The West Coast Trail

Planning your time on the trail; how many days to complete, and where you'd like to stay along the way can be fun and well worth the effort. Now I know there are a lot of logistics to just getting on and off the trail but this post is just about when you're actually on the trail,  I have shared some of the other details on a different post.

Most people spend 5 - 7 days on the trail; I have done it in 4, 5, & 6 days. While it is doable in fewer days I think 6 is the perfect amount of time, allowing you to set a pace that accommodates enjoying every part of the trail while not killing every day of your precious holiday time. Remember part of your holiday will be used up getting to and from the trail unless you’re lucky enough to live on the Island. 

There are campsites all along the trail, all in my opinion are great, however some come with better views and some are less crowded. When planning your timeline it's important to evaluate how much you want to hike each day and plan your campsites accordingly. Remember when hiking the WCT you must also take into consideration the tides, that if too high, will cause delays.

Well let’s get into it shall we . . . 

How Long?

First and foremost, how long do you want to be on the trail?

As I've stated above I recommend 6 days as the perfect amount of time needed, but everyone is different and your hike should be personal, you've probably heard or read people suggesting you must "hike your own hike", and I agree 100%.  What is really nice about the WCT is that the options are almost endless. I have run into school groups that had been on the trail for a couple weeks; seems like way to long for me, but they seemed to have had a great time, and if the weather is nice, why not.

Which Direction?

Once the how long is out of the way you will need to choose which direction you want to hike the trail. Recently the Park has opened up the option to start or end your hike from the half way point at Nitinat, but I am only focusing on the trail as a whole. That leaves us with two options, Pachena Bay and Gordon River trail-heads.

Gordon River (South)

The Gordon River trail head is located on the South end of the trail in the small town of Port Renfrew. The actual trail head has to be reached by Ferry from the West Coast Trail Information Centre where you will register and complete a mandatory orientation for the trail.

It is important to realize that the south end of the WCT is definitely the more challenging end of the trail, of this I can testify.  Some feel that it is better to hit this part of the trail first while they are fresh and strong, allowing for the trail to become easier as the trip goes on.

I have gone this direction twice and as a teenager I found this to be true, but as an adult with 20+ additional years under my belt, I sing a different tune. This part of the trail beat me up so bad that I never really did recover and the whole trail seemed just as tough as I became more tired.  

The Gordon River

Pachena Bay (North)

The Pachena Bay Trail Head is located on the North end of the trail, 5 km south of the small town of Bamfield. The trail begins right at the Information Centre where again you will register and complete a mandatory orientation for the trail.

This end is easier (much), and many people will start at this end hoping they will allow the trail gradually getting harder to warm them up for all the fun ahead, also accommodating a lighter pack for the harder end. This is the group I fall in, and how I hiked it the last time. I found that this is exactly how it worked for me; I danced along most of the trail, enjoying every part of it. One thing to note here is that only on the last outing was I into ultra-light hiking, so I'm sure that played a part. 

You know your skill set, and you are the only one carrying your load, so enjoy choosing your own path.

Pachena Bay Trail Head

Which Campsites?

Now that you've decide how long and which direction, it's time to figure out which campsites you'd like to stay at. This will be determined mainly by how far you want to hike each day and secondly which of the campsites you think you'll enjoy the most.  Remember that the south end the trail is harder and will take more time to hike, in some cases a km/hour is realistic for groups.  This will mean that on the north end you will hike longer distances while on the south end you will shorten your distances but not your duration.

Here is a list of all the recognized campgrounds along the trail complete with a short description, I must thank the good folks at victoriahiatus.com for most of this info along with some of the pictures:

• Michigan Creek km 12
• The beach is one of the least attractive. Michigan is the first or last campsite of the whole West Coast Trail, which usually means it crowded. Has an outhouse.
• 
• Darling River km 14
• The beach is a bit better, but the falls found just up the creek, hidden from the beach are very nice. Well worth checking out even if your just passing through. Has an outhouse.
• 
• Orange Juice Creek km 15
• A good beach with a good water source. Rarely used, so it can provide a nice quite place to enjoy your surroundings. No outhouse.
• 
• Tsocowis Creek km 16.5
• An OK beach with good water and much quieter than other spots. Has an outhouse.
• 
• Klanawa River km 23
• Beautiful beach with a big river, providing a great spot to camp.  Because it is close to the popular Tsusiat Falls campground it is often quiet and peaceful. The main trail runs to the cable car crossing which diverts the crowds away.  Has an outhouse.
• 
• Tsusiat Falls km 25
• Tsusiat Falls is a large campsite, a bit too large though. Almost everyone aims to spend a night here because of it's fame, so it's usually crowded. The falls are beautiful and I find it to be a great place to stop and see, however the sound of the falls can bother some when trying to fall asleep because they can be quite loud. Has an outhouse, but it's hard to find and inconvenient to get to.
• 
• Ditidaht Luxury Tents km 30
• These tents can be reserved, but they will cost. The price seems to rise every year, back in 2013 I paid $60 for the night for a tent all to myself, this year it is $90.00 per tent which can sleep up to 4 hikers. The water source is a small stream a short distance on the trail North of the tents. Has an outhouse.
• 
• Cribs Creek km 42
• The creek itself is quite beautiful, however, the beach is not great. It smells of rotting seaweed and the campsite is always crowded and not very inviting to spend the night. Has an outhouse.
• 
• Carmanah Creek km 46
• The beautiful Carmanah Creek flows through a beautiful beach, both are quite large.  There is a lot of room to spread out. This is one of the best beaches along the trail with spectacular views. Has an outhouse.
• 
• Bonilla Creek km 48
• Bonilla Creek campsite is relatively large and spread out. The forested area just off the beach has some great areas to pitch a tent under some shelter of trees. The Bonilla Falls are beautiful.  This is one of my favorite sites.  Has an outhouse.
• 
• Walbran Creek km 53
• Lots of room, beautiful and not too busy.  Has an outhouse.
• 
• Cullite Cove km 58
• Described as almost perfect, Cullite Creek is mind blowing beautiful. Comes with a picture perfect beach hemmed in by majestic cliffs.  Just off the beach, several campsites are laid out, hidden in the trees.  Because it's a little off the beaten track to get down into, it is rarely busy and most people don't even bother to check it out.  Has an outhouse.
• 
• Camper Creek km 62
• Camper Creek is beautiful, similar to Cullilte Cove there are cliffs on either side.  It is however due to location a busy site.  It's the first really good campsite from the Port Renfrew direction.  It is, however, quite large.  Has an outhouse.
• 
• Thrasher Cove km 70
• One of the smallest campsites, it is usually crowded. Thrasher is the first or last campsite of the whole West Coast Trail. Water can be sparse near the end of summer.  Has an outhouse.
• 

I have studied the map and from experience have concluded that there are 29 realistic options for hiking the trail in 6 days, here's a link to my findings:
West Coast Trail in 6 Days You've Got Options

There are more options, but for me, they really don't make a lot of sense. In fact, some of the 29 aren't perfect either, but will get the job done.  I have narrowed my choices done to a few that I think are almost perfect. I think it's important to point out that I am also including a relatively new option on the WCT, which is the Ditidaht "Luxury Tents", found near Tsuquandra Point nestled on Ditidaht First Nation Land just before km30.  These sites cost money but are perfectly located for those of us that want to hike the trail in 6 days. Below is their link, check it out:
Ditidaht Luxury Tents 

Inside the Luxury Tent

Another thing I like about this location are the gents that manage them, they are super friendly and love to share what they know about the land we have the privilege of visiting while on the trail.

If you’re interested, this year our group is going to stay at the following sites:
Night 1 Tsocowis Creek ~km17

Night 2 The Ditidaht Luxury Tents ~km30 

Night 3 Bonilla Creek ~km 48 (personal favorite)

Night 4 Camper Bay ~km 62.5

Night 5 Thrasher Cove ~km70

Whatever sites you pick, with the right attitude, you'll love them all and if your plans don't go as perfectly as you hoped, oh well just remember where you are and enjoy the ride.

What about the tides?

The tides do play a factor in how you hike this trail. If tides are perfect, it's great strolling the hard, yet slippery shelves that are only available when tides are low. There are many sections of the trail where we have the option of hiking the beach or hiking inland, frankly I choose the beach every time. Some complain about the soft sand and sinking, but I find with my lighter pack that it’s really not that bad and if you compare it and hard shelves to the muddy inland trail there's no better way to cruise along.

I mentioned in some areas you have options, however in others, you can only hike on the beach and some of these spots can only be crossed while tides are low enough. If you’re finding yourself not so lucky and the high tides are in the middle of the day, you'll just have to plan accordingly. Perhaps getting up early and enjoying a longer lunch is your only option; thank goodness you’re in one of the most beautiful places in the world, you won't get bored while on the WCT. Many of these spots come with their own entertainment; seals, sea-lions, whales, and of course a lot of seagulls.  Trust me, your feet will thank you as you sit on the beach with your pack off watching the waves.

Conclusion

Hopefully you've found this informative, there are other things to think about, part of what I love most about this trail are the surprises around every corner. Every time I've learned something new and almost immediately start planning how next time I'll do things just a little differently.

Soon I will post regarding gear needs and planning for food. 

If you have questions, feel free to ask. Happy trails.

West Coast Trail 2016

Preparing for the West Coast Trail

This coming summer I am booked to hike the West Coast Trail for the 4th time with the largest group yet.  Our group size is 10, and it just so happens that a family of 4 that I know are booked for the same dates,  more the merrier I guess.  

My WCT History

I have hiked this trail 3 times; the first was in 1989 as a young man with my 147th Venturer Scout Group, I was 17 and in the best shape of my life. I recall jogging most of the trail to get to the next great view point. We had a blast and to this day I am grateful for the patient leaders that invested so much of their personal time to help us have a great program. This trek was my final challenge prior to earning my Queen Venturer and Duke of Edinburgh's awards, honors I'm quite proud of.  

My second round was in 2011; you do the math, I was older and likely in the worst shape of my life, there was no jogging, mostly just surviving. On this trip I took my lovely wife and 3 other couples and though it was a much tougher experience, we all had the adventure of a lifetime. We became closer as friends and learned a lot about each other and ourselves. By the way, while I can still get my wife to camp with me, hiking is out, maybe I should of introduced her a little more gradually.

After the 2011 trip I couldn't find anyone that would do it again with me, so in August 2013 I hiked the trail solo. I was in better shape but still not great, hiking solo brings it's own challenges but once again, I had a blast.  The solo hike gave me a chance to get to know myself a little better and to meet knew people and make knew friends. I'm not sure I'm the biggest fan of hiking alone but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Like I said earlier, this year I will be hiking in a much larger group; it will consist of myself, my 5 kids, 6 friends and 2 of their children, that's 14 people total. I'm not sure how hiking with a group this size will go, but it should be interesting. I think our biggest challenge will be keeping a decent pace amongst the mud and ladders. I have planned a moderately aggressive schedule that I hope we can attain without injury.

Hiking with my kids

One special thing that is happening this time around is that my children are all coming with me. I have 5 kids, 2 daughters and 3 sons. My kids, ranging in age from 12 - 19, all enjoy the outdoors and I'm really excited that they all want to spend this much of their summer with their dear-old-dad.

I've been wanting to do this trail with my children for sometime, likely dating all the way back to when I hiked it the first time and was still only dreaming about who their mother would be. This last Christmas I told them all that all I wanted was for them to come with me on the WCT. It turns out they all decided to grant my wish, and I'm super excited.

Now that I've book our dates the big issue is how to outfit 6 people with everything they'll need, and keep it ultra light both gear wise and financially.

2016 Preparations

Well lets get started . . .
The first thing one needs to do is answer a couple question:

1. When I want to go? and,
2. Who I want to go with?

1. When do I want to go?

First you need to realize that there are only 3 seasons you are even aloud to hike the WCT, they are the two Shoulder Seasons and the Peak Season.

The Shoulder Seasons are from May 1 - June 14 and Sept 16 - 30. Some say the shoulder seasons are a great time to go but there is a greater risk of foul weather. The smaller crowds allow for a more secluded feel to your experience. Another benefit to going during the shoulder seasons is that's it's a lot easier to plan for the perfect date you want to hit the trail.

The Peak Season is from June 15 - Sept 15. I've only hiked in the peak seasons and had great success, however there is no guaranty of perfect weather, in fact just don't count on it. I have always enjoyed running into other hikers on the trail and have never felt as though it was over crowded. The parks do a great job of controlling the amount of hikers on the trail at any time.

The major down side experienced with peak season is the reservation process, if your reserving for a small group, it's not as big a deal but if your booking a larger group it can be a bit maddening trying to get dates you really want. This year was a nightmare, the website needs some overhauling, it can be a little confusing to orientate yourself through and they give a time limit to get all your info into the system, nothing's worse then frantically entering 10 people's info to realize you've run out of time and have lost your date. This year I didn't get my 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice, and ended up taking what ever I could get. It all worked out in the end, I just have to take an extra day off work and don't get the weekend to recoup prior to heading back into work. Oh well, it's still worth it.

I have a conspiracy theory that preference is given to a few of the professional guided tour groups who charge big money to have you follow them along the trail.  From what I understand you supply your own gear, food and winning personality and they are there to make you feel more confident. I'm really not against these outfits, if they are able to get you to pay that kind of money to help you feel more secure on the trail, more power to them. I just find it interesting that they are able to set there dates so early and never seem to have a problem nailing them with large groups. Rant over, sorry.

The West Coast Trail is closed from Oct 1 - April 30 due to prolonged periods of heavy rain, strong winds, high tides, large waves and short days. This being said apparently a small group did it and shared their experience on YouTube.  'm pretty sure it's not a wise thing to do, and if you do, you are on your own.

Here's a link to there video:

2. Who I want to go with?

The maximum group size you can book is 10 people, this is a big group when on any trail but on the WCT, it can be challenging to hike with groups of this size. The West Coast Trail provides many obstacles and when you have a large group each person has to get over the obstacle. As an example, take a ladder, it is recommended no more then two people on a ladder at a time, now add that to the fact that rarely does a ladder only come by itself, often it can be a set of 3, 4 or more ladders in a row. I'm not saying it's impossible but it will add time to your day on the trail. One way to combat this is to break your larger group into smaller hiking teams, this often happens anyway once everyone finds their comfortable hiking pace.

As I've noted before, I've hiked this trail alone and in groups, both experiences we're awesome.

Let's Do This

Once you've answered the first two questions it's time to get to work.  Here is my list of what you need to do next:

1. Meet with your group and go over what you're all getting into, you do not want any major surprises once on the trail, by that I mean, "YOU NEVER TOLD ME THIS TRAIL WAS SO HARD".  I have seen these conversations while on the trail and they are ugly. Unfortunately my wife was a little caught off guard when I took her but she handled it like a champ. I have seen other couples where one was not handling it so well while the other was ducking and diving. While I enjoyed the show I could tell that neither were enjoying themselves. This trail is tough, accept that from the beginning, it will make you hurt where you have never hurt before. Even as an experienced hiker I drag myself off this trail ready for Advil and a bed every time.
2. Reserve your planned dates. It's not an easy thing to do but worth the effort. In years past they have reserved spots for walk-on but this year for the first time in as long as I can remember, they are taking reservations for all spots for each day, not leaving any for walk-on. Another change this year was that they jumped up the Reservation dates to January, which I think came as a surprise to many people. I only new because I'm an over prepared person and was checking the site way before the expected registration day. 
• When you reserve you need to be prepared with the following info:
• preferred start dates - first choice and alternate dates;
• the number of hikers in your group;
• the names and emergency contacts for hikers;
• means of payment: Visa, MasterCard or American Express;
• the access point you plan to start from - Pachena Bay, Gordon River or Nitinat; and
• an email address to send confirmation and orientation information.
3. Be sure you have the required equipment. There are many opinions on this subject, some I feel over do it and tend to take way too much for the "what ifs", while others don't weigh the safety issues enough and find themselves having a miserable time because they don't have what they really need for this trail. I like to think of myself as an ultra light hiker and have found that this particular trail needs a fine balance in weighing your options. I have found that with proper consideration, a light weight hiker is able to safely hike this trail comfortably. I know I can hike this challenging trail with a base weight of 10 lbs, I know this because I've done it and really enjoyed my experience. I have also hiked this trail "ultra heavy" twice and those two times are what drove me to figure this "UL" thing out. 
4. Be sure you're physically up for the challenge. Training is important, go on a few overnight hikes and put some long kilometers under your feet. Proper fitness will significantly help you have an enjoyable time.  Learn how to stretch prior to your exercising, there is nothing worse then pulling a groin or straining your knees and ankles a few kms into your hike. As we get older our bodies need to be warmed up, every year I need to do a little more to get myself ready for the year's big hike.
5. Plan your transportation. However you plan to get to the trail, there are lots of options. I have driven and then caught the WCT express, I have driven and had someone move our vehicle and I have flown and again used the WCT express.  What ever way you plan on it will take some thought and will cost you $$$. This year we are fortunate enough to have some of our wives drop us off in Pachena Bay and pick us up in Port Renfrew. While we hike they will enjoy some of the more easy going activities Vancouver Island has to offer.
6. Plan your off-trail accommodations. What ever way you do it, you will likely spend a night or two before and after the trail, where and how you do this is as easy and spending more time in your tent or enjoying the comforts of fresh sheets and showers at any of the local accommodations on the Island. This time around we have booked nights at the Ramada in Nanaimo before and after the trail and one night at the Sea Beam Grappler House in Bamfield the night before we actually hit the trail. The night in Bamfield allows for us to go through the orientation the day before and hit the trail first thing in the morning.
7. Plan your time on the trail; how many days to complete, and where you'd like to stay along the way. Most people spend 5 - 7 days on the trail, I have done it in 4, 5, & 6 days. While it is doable in fewer days I think 6 is the perfect amount of time, allowing to you to set a pace that accommodates enjoying every part of the trail while not killing every day of your precious holiday time. Remember, part of your holiday will be used up getting to and from the trail unless your lucky enough to live on the Island. There are campsites all along the trail and all in my opinion are great, however, some come with better views and some are less crowded. When planning your time line it's important to evaluate how much you want to hike each day and plan your campsites accordingly. Remember when hiking the WCT you must also take into consideration the tides that if too high can cause delays.
8. Plan your menu. Nothing is better after a great day on the trail then a warm meal. Knowing this, I have made the mistake of taking too much food on this trail and I quickly realized that carrying a ton of food that you will never eat in 6 days sucks. Think through what you will really eat and don't let your eyes be bigger then your stomach. With careful preparation one can come up with an easy cook menu that will provide a high calorie/oz ratio. For me personally, unless I just must have a cooked breakfast, I like to take stuff I can eat quickly and get on the trail. No mess, no extra fuel for the stove and I can even eat as I'm hiking. Again lunch for me is no cook for the same reasons. Now comes dinner, I've tried the pure no cook on a camp and I just can't do it, I need something warm to lift my spirits when I've been properly beat. I'm not talking extravagant, I like to prepare meals that I only have to add hot water to. I like to control my sodium intake so I tend not to use the store bought meals any more, also a zip lock bag is a lot lighter than the store packaging both in weight and in cost. 
9. Become super excited because you're about to go on one hell of an adventure.

Well that's it for this post, stay tuned for future posts that will go into more detail of some of the points above.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Happy Trails

West Coast Trail in 6 days You've Got Options

29 Realistic Options for Hiking the WCT in 6 days There are many ways to hike the West Coast Trail, bringing with it many decisions that require attention, however, to get started one only needs to consider a couple things. First, how long do I want to take and from which end do I start? Once these decisions are made, one must figure out, how long they want to hike each day and at which campsites to stay? For example, I have decided that I want to give the trail 6 days to complete, and that I will hike North to South (Pachena Bay to Gordon River).  Now before I bother getting into what I want to pack and how I'm going to get there and so on, I like to figure out my best route on accomplishing these first few decisions because they will help with all my other planning (the dirty details, if you will). There are a lot of different camp sites one can choose from but not all are viable options for hiking in six days. Distance between sites and challenge levels of trail between these sites weigh heavily on how it's approached.  I must interject here, there is no easy way to hike this trail, it's very challenging especially on the south end, where 4 kms can take up to 4 hours to hike. I'm an experienced hiker and have hiked this trail a few times already, I know what I can do each day and still be able to enjoy my experience.  This year I am taking my kids and a couple pals that have never done the West Coast Trail, so this too weighs on my decision. Because of how my brain works, I have mapped out all of the reasonable options for hiking the trail north to south in 6 days. In my opinion, there are 29 realistic choices, some better than others. You will see my findings below. I have underlined the two options I found to be the best for me an my group. Hopefully some of you will find this helpful in planning your trip, happy trails.

Day 1

Destination

Day 2

Destination

Day 3

Destination

Day 4

Destination

Day 5

Destination

Day 6

Destination

Rating

Distance

4 Options

Distance

1 - 2 Options

Distance

2 -3 Options

Distance

1 - 2 Options

Distance

1 Option

Distance

1 Option

**

Pachena Bay

12 km

Michigan Crk km 12

13.1 km

Tsusiat Falls km 25.1

16.5 km

Cribs km 41.6

16.2 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

*

Pachena Bay

12 km

Michigan Crk km 12

13.1 km

Tsusiat Falls km 25.1

16.5 km

Cribs km 41.6

20.6 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

12 km

Michigan Crk km 12

13.1 km

Tsusiat Falls km 25.1

20.9 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

11.8 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

12 km

Michigan Crk km 12

13.1 km

Tsusiat Falls km 25.1

20.9 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

16.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

*

Pachena Bay

12 km

Michigan Crk km 12

13.1 km

Tsusiat Falls km 25.1

22.9 km

Bonilla km 48

14.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

12 km

Michigan Crk km 12

18 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

11.6 km

Cribs km 41.6

16.2 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

*

Pachena Bay

12 km

Michigan Crk km 12

18 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

11.6 km

Cribs km 41.6

20.6 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

12 km

Michigan Crk km 12

18 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

16 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

11.8 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

12 km

Michigan Crk km 12

18 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

16 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

16.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

12 km

Michigan Crk km 12

18 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

18 km

Bonilla km 48

14.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

13.7 km

Darling Rvr km 13.7

11.4 km

Tsusiat Falls km 25.1

16.4 km

Cribs km 41.6

16.2 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

*

Pachena Bay

13.7 km

Darling Rvr km 13.7

11.4 km

Tsusiat Falls km 25.1

16.4 km

Cribs km 41.6

20.6 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

13.7 km

Darling Rvr km 13.7

11.4 km

Tsusiat Falls km 25.1

20.9 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

11.8 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

13.7 km

Darling Rvr km 13.7

11.4 km

Tsusiat Falls km 25.1

20.9 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

16.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

13.7 km

Darling Rvr km 13.7

16.3 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

11.6 km

Cribs km 41.6

16.2 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

*

Pachena Bay

13.7 km

Darling Rvr km 13.7

16.3 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

11.6 km

Cribs km 41.6

20.6 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

***

Pachena Bay

13.7 km

Darling Rvr km 13.7

16.3 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

16 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

11.8 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

13.7 km

Darling Rvr km 13.7

16.3 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

16 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

16.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

****

Pachena Bay

13.7 km

Darling Rvr km 13.7

16.3 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

18 km

Bonilla km 48

14.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

*

Pachena Bay

15 km

Orange Juice Crk km 15

15 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

11.6 km

Cribs km 41.6

16.2 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

*

Pachena Bay

15 km

Orange Juice Crk km 15

15 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

11.6 km

Cribs km 41.6

20.6 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

*

Pachena Bay

15 km

Orange Juice Crk km 15

15 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

16 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

11.8 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

15 km

Orange Juice Crk km 15

15 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

16 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

16.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

***

Pachena Bay

15 km

Orange Juice Crk km 15

15 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

18 km

Bonilla km 48

14.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

*

Pachena Bay

16.6 km

Tsocowis Crk km 16.6

13.4 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

11.6 km

Cribs km 41.6

16.2 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

*

Pachena Bay

16.6 km

Tsocowis Crk km 16.6

13.4 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

11.6 km

Cribs km 41.6

20.6 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

16.6 km

Tsocowis Crk km 16.6

13.4 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

16 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

11.8 km

Culite km 57.8

12.2 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

**

Pachena Bay

16.6 km

Tsocowis Crk km 16.6

13.4 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

16 km

Carmanah Crk km 46

16.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

****

Pachena Bay

16.6 km

Tsocowis Crk km 16.6

13.4 km

Ditidaht LT km 30

18 km

Bonilla km 48

14.2 km

Camper km 62.2

7.8 km

Thrasher Cove km 70

6 km

Gordon River

Preferred Campsites

Tsocowis Crk km 16.6

Ditidaht LT km 30

Bonilla km 48

Camper km 62.2

Thrasher Cove km 70

or

Darling Rvr km 13.7

Tsusiat Falls km 25.1

Cribs km 41.6

Culite km 57.8

Thrasher Cove km 70

Michigan Crk km 12

Good

Mediocre

Excellent

Poor

Poor

Great Waterfall

Beautiful

Beautiful

Usually crowded

Usually over crowded

Crowded

Not a great beach

Not convenient

Convenient

Has an Outhouse

Has an Outhouse

Always Crowded

Has an Outhouse

Has an Outhouse

Darling Rvr km 13.7

Has an Outhouse

Excellent

Ditidaht LT km 30

Carmanah Crk km 46

Camper km 62.2

Beautiful w/ Waterfall

Luxury Tents

Excellent

Good

Has an Outhouse

Great views

Can be crowded

Orange Juice Crk km 15

Close to Chez Moniques

Convenient

Mediocre

Has an Outhouse

Has an Outhouse

No Outhouse

Bonilla km 48

Tsocowis Crk km 16.6

Excellent

Good

My favorite w/ Falls

Quite Has an Outhouse

Has an Outhouse

***Preferences are based on distance  and trail challenge to campsite as well as quality of site.