West Coast Trail

Trip List Calendar

2007-08-16 : Prep/Planning
In 2007, Legendary Ed (at 85-years-old) was the oldest person to hike the West Coast Trail. Karen and I were honored to do it with him.

Not only did he do the trail, but it was the hardest year to do it in recent history. In spring 2007 they had a devastating storm that caused a LOT of damage to the trail. They didn't even know if they'd be able to open it that year, the damage was so extensive. But, they made a hasty, herculean effort and got the trail open, but it was HARD... harder than in "normal" years.


2007-08-17 : Arrive Port Renfrew
The Calgarians arrived today, and are camping at Port Renfrew prior to starting the hike tomorrow. We're just waiting for Ed's daughter, Jeanne, to arrive.


2007-08-18 : Port Renfrew to Thrasher Cove
Today we discovered just how slow and difficult the hiking would be on the West Coast Trail. We averaged 0.8km/hour. That was partly because of the normal difficulty of the trail, but made even harder by extra challenges from a devastating storm that hit the trail a few months earlier. They weren't sure that they'd be able to open the trail this year because the damage was so extensive, but they worked like crazy and got the trail open... but it was harder than usual!


2007-08-19 : Thrasher Cove to Camper Bay
Today was a day that you could choose to do the rainforest part of the trail, or do the beach option. I was intimidated by the time constraints of doing the beach option (you don't want to get caught out there when the tide comes in), so Marty, Ed, Jeanne and I did the rainforest. Younger, stronger and fitter, Karen and Oliver did the beach route. It looked beautiful. I'm sure Marty would have preferred to be with them.


2007-08-20 : Camper Bay to Walbran Creek
A lot of the terrain was considerably more difficult than usual because of the destruction of the storm a few months earlier. However, one of the GOOD things about that is that many of the ladders were rebuilt for this season, so we had more new, good condition ladders than usual.


2007-08-21 : Walbran Creek to Cribs Creek including burgers at Chez Monique’s


2007-08-22 : Cribs Creek to Tsusiat Falls including Nitinat Narrows Ferry Crossing


2007-08-23 : Tsusiat Falls to Darling River


2007-08-24 : Darling River to Bamfield


2007-08-25 : Bus to Victoria
Thank Goodness We Had:
  • Ice Cleats.. A slippery layer of slime makes the log crossings and boardwalks WAYYYY more treacherous than they look, including a hazardous landing if you fall off (ask Ed)
  • A collapsible fabric water bucket to carry water from the river to camp site for easy filtering
  • Winter Camping Booties: Can be cinched up around your ankles for comfy walking around camp with rough sand and sharp debris (OK, only Rhonda had these and she claims the comfort was worth the humiliation. Hikers who laughed at first were envious later…)
  • Gloves: for Cable Cars and LADDERS
  • Gaiters: Make sure they do up with VELCRO, not with a ZIPPER. Camping on the beach will quickly fill a zipper with sand and then you can’t do your gaiters up anymore!
  • A strong, light-weight tarp. They don’t’ call it the “Wet Coast Trail” for nothing!


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