by site editor Rick McCharles
The North Coast Trail is a 43.1 km wilderness hiking trail in Cape Scott Provincial Park on northern Vancouver Island …
With essential sidetrips my distance will be at least 61km. …
The NCT is new, official grand opening held on May 10th, 2008.
Itinerary:
Bus Saturday to Port Hardy. I’ll stay at the North Coast Trail Backpacker’s Hostel.
Sunday morning 8am the North Coast Trail Shuttle water taxi departs for Shushartie Bay.
I’ll hike East to West.
Wild Coast Magazine has the best maps.
I’ll finish at Cape Scott Provincial Park, San Josef River trailhead. Returning to Port Hardy over 64km of logging roads by North Coast Trail Shuttle van.
… This is a very challenging route and is not recommended for inexperienced hikers. Many sections require hikers to climb over or along fallen trees, to cross through deep mud, and to use fixed ropes to climb up and over steep sections. It is not recommended for those with a fear of heights. …
… a wilderness area with minimal supplies or equipment of any kind. It is not regularly patrolled, so hikers should be completely self sufficient. …
Wish me luck. 🙂
besthike.com 
Remind me to demo “Topo Maps” for the iPad for you one day. Downloads topo maps for all of Canada and the US, in the highest res, and then when you zoom in on them, you can stitch them together, almost seemlessly. Gorgeous, and well worth whatever I paid for it. Can download in low or high res, and switch back and forth if you have a network connection. The magic is that the whole thing is standalone once you have done the download.
“Topo Maps” for the iPad
Cool.
make sure you have enough tequila..
Have a wonderful adventure Rick!
You always choose world class hikes which are such amazing journeys.
DSD
I’ve done the West Coast with a friend of mine and it wasn’t as demanding as we thought. We felt lonely though. It took us week and we haven’t met a living soul. Not even a bear! How was the North Coast? Do you think two women hikers can manage or should we pack a man with us? Thanx Kay
If you made the West Coast Trail, you’ll be able to finish the North Coast / Cape Scott Trail.
The main difference is that the NCT has many Bears and Wolves. You’ll see one or the other pretty much every day. They don’t bother hikers, happily.
The NCT is harder, mainly due to MUD. There’s far, far more mud.
I’ll be posting a detailed trip report and concluding that one section — Shushartie to Skinner Creek — is a waste of time. And should be avoided, if possible.
Congratulations Rick, I am sure you´ve had an amazing trip, … I´ll never forget the great time we had hiking the WCT 11 years ago. All the best from Switzerland. Gregi