Category: coastal

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West Coast Trail day 2

Trip report by site editor Rick McCharles.

day 0 | day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | day 5 | day 6 | info page

To catch low tide we were up and moving as early as possible.

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Of tidal pool creatures, I love starfish best.

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Fishing was lousy out of Port Alberni in 2013. But there were plenty of Sport fishing boats off the WCT.

This is the water taxi bringing yet another group of hikers from Port Renfrew to the trailhead at Bamfield.

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Some of our group had seen a bear off our night 1 campsite. Rare on the WCT. That one had been attracted to the coast by washed up dead dolphins. The most common prints are mink.

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The WCT is the called the shipwreck coast for good reason.

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I stopped by the First Nations Trail Guardian cabin to thank the guys for taking in my friend Greg Kolodziejzyk the year before. At risk of hypothermia during a non-stop WCT trail run, Greg took refuge here for a few hours.

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Boardwalk sections are better than ever.

Donkey Engine
Donkey Engine

Still, sections of boardwalk are rotted and/or collapsed.

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Some who’ve never done the WCT wonder why BestHike.com calls the WCT the BEST hike in the world.

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It’s the VARIETY. Every step offers up a wonderful new vista.

The many cable cars are a thrill.

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Climbing ladders with full pack, a challenge.

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We carried a good first aid kit, of course. About 1 of every 100 hikers is evacuated due to injury.

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How do you beat campsites like this? 🙂

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Normally windy on the beach, I prevent Maytagging by putting smooth stones inside my tent.

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We camped at famed Tsusiat.

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Taking a plunge while reaching for the waterfall, I seized the opportunity to wash clothing and body.

Living this close together, the ladies insisted on some standards of personal hygiene. 🙂

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One of the biggest motivations for the trip was to show the West Coast Trail to some young people. Teegan thought it was pretty cool.

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more photos from this day

day 0 | day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | day 5 | day 6 | info page

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West Coast Trail day 1

Trip report by site editor Rick McCharles.

day 0 | day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | day 5 | day 6 | info page

By luck I met my friends at the store in Bamfield, buying last minute provisions. Everyone but myself had arrived by JUAN DE FUCA EXPRESS Water Taxi. (about $135 / person one way in 2013)

They’ll be hiking back to their vehicles in Port Renfrew.

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Still clean. Still fresh. But with HEAVY packs. 🙂

It’s not easy to get permits for a group this large. (The maximum group size is 10.) But we somehow managed it, booking by phone the very first minute that reservations are taken.

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Famously — this is supposed to be the EASY end of the WCT. Yet Sandy found this the toughest day of all.

Sandy’s catch phrase for our adventure, day-by-day, was from Big Bang Theory:

What fresh Hell is this?

Day 1 was not all that “easy”. New ladders have been added at the Bamfield end.

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Still — there are some gorgeous attractions.

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When it’s not raining, temperate rain forests are intriguing. So many odd mushrooms, for example.

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Trying NOT to accidentally step on huge Banana slugs is a challenge.

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At this end, many of the biggest old growth trees have been logged.

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How are the toilets, you may ask?

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Not as good as on my past trips. Avoid them if you can. Sit in the woods, instead. 🙂

How is the mud?

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Not as bad as on past trips. 2013 was a very dry season.

As always, the safest strategy is to plod right through the middle. This is one trek where waterproof footwear and gators are recommended.

Most of our group was from flat, FLAT Saskatchewan. Tidal pools are a big attraction.

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All week our timing with the tides was perfect. Hiking the coast when tides are low, weather dry, makes the WCT far, far easier.

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On my other trips we camped at Michigan. Trying to avoid the crowds, we kept going to Tsocowis Creek. We found it fairly crowded.

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What’s this weird toilet-paper-look-a-like kelp?

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For the first time on the WCT (for me), we had a bear lockers at every campsite.

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A perfect start to the West Coast Trail. 🙂

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… Except that my headlamp failed. New batteries were dead. 😦

Warren advised to put a piece of plastic between the batteries and the contact while in transit. Next time.

more photos from this day

day 0 | day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | day 5 | day 6 | info page

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West Coast Trail day 0

wctmaTrip report by site editor Rick McCharles.

day 0 | day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | day 5 | day 6 | info page

The West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island in Canada is our #1 hike in the World.

This was my 4th WCT. 🙂

My Dad dropped me at the ferry in Port Alberni. Riding the Francis Barkley is my favourite way to start the WCT.

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The weather was perfect as it had been for most of the summer of 2013.

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arriving Bamfield
arriving Bamfield

Scheduled to rendezvous with the rest of my group next day, I could have taken a trail shuttle out toPachena Bay Campground at the trailhead.

Instead, I stayed at small Centennial Park Campground ($23) in Bamfield.

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Having no place to store my food overnight, I ended up leaving it in this shed. Storage for a communal fenced garden.

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My new lighter failed. They truly are an unreliable technology. 😦

It was nice to have a final few hours with phone / free internet access (Bamfield Community School Library). And there were OTHER good reasons to spend my last night in Bamfield. 🙂

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I enjoyed both meals at Tides and Trails Restaurant.

more photos from this day

day 0 | day 1 | day 2 | day 3 | day 4 | day 5 | day 6 | info page

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Dientes Circuit, Chile

The Dientes Circuit in Chile is of the best hikes in the world.

It’s also called:

• Isla Navarino Circuit
• Circuito Dientes de Navarino
• the teeth of Navarino

Dientes

Leo Turpan via email:

Just got finished with the Dientes trek yesterday. Pretty amazing stuff out there.

Got a bunch of snow, but it made for a beautiful christmas and even more beautiful landscape. …

Getting to Puerto Williams:

Option 1- Boat from Ushuaia (doesn´t leave everyday, need to check departures at Ushuaia dock) $750 Argentinian Pesos, about $115

Option 2- Ferry from Punta Arenas (leaves only once or twice a week, Tranbordadora Austrual Broom, takes 30 hours but is highly recommended) $90,000 Chilean Pesos, $170 US

Option 3- Flight from Punta Arenas (one flight everyday, I think.) $60,000 Chilean, $115 US

Town/Trek Info:

-There is one map of the trek, not professional, but does have contour lines and GPS markers. The map can be purchased from a small camping store near the center of town. The store also stocks some types of gas, knives, tents, sleeping bags, etc. You can also rent a GPS there that has the circuit route already uploaded

-There are two supermarkets in the center of town that stock all the basic food necessities

-Multiple hostels in town, all priced at 10,000 Pesos or more. All have info about trek

-Register for hike at the police station, no rangers or servicemen on this trek

Trek/Logistics:

-31 Km route, 4 days 3 nights recommended, some do it in 5 days but pace is slow

-clockwise direction starting from Puerto Williams; do NOT reverse the route, you will not have a good time.

-A decent amount of trailfinding will need to be done, do not underestimate the mileage, miles are long due to weather, trailfinding, and trail conditions

-The route can be extremely muddy and wet, gaiters and gortex are a good idea

-Can camp virtually anywhere

-Tons of water

-can extend the trek with a connection to the Lago Windhond trek

-2 hour walk back to Puerto Williams on the road once you reach the end of the trail, but Chile is known as an easy place to hitchhike

map

 

Check out Dientes information page.

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7 Great Walks of Tasmania

Tasmania has always been one of the world’s best kept secrets. It has unique natural beauty, abundant wildlife, unspoilt wilderness and sophisticated food and wine.

The Great Walks of Tasmania is a collection of independent guided walk companies offering unforgettable experiences in Tasmania’s most inspiring and extraordinary locations. They combine the best of Tasmanian wilderness walking with excellent guiding, unique accommodation and offer delicious Tasmanian food and wine along the way. Together their walks cover over 300km of Tasmania’s prime walking tracks.

Variety abounds and there is a walk for every fitness level and time frame; choose for example a 23km walk over 4 days or an 80 km walk over 9 days. Relax in elegant standing camps or tents or stay in an award winning walkers lodge or huts. Prices range from AU$1,095 to AU$2,600 so there is a walk to suit everyone. …

Tas

details

(via Discover Tasmania)

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North Coast Trail 2013

scenes from the trail has a detailed trip report on the new North Coast Trail on Vancouver Island. These ladies found it easier than I did. 🙂

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Distance: 59.5 km (including about 16 km which is part of the Cape Scott track).

Recommended number of days: for average parties 5.5-7, for fast and very fit parties 3.5-5.

Location: Near Port Hardy, BC. Part of Cape Scott Provincial Park.

Logistics: A water taxi is necessary to get to the starting point at Shushartie Bay. The North Coast Trail Shuttle offers a water taxi from Port Hardy and a pick up at the Cape Scott trailhead (about 60 km from Port Hardy).

Bookings: At this stage, it isn’t necessary to book the track. You should book your shuttle/boat in advance. You must also pay a back country fee to BC Parks of $10 per person, per night.

Further Considerations: Make sure you consult a tide chart before leaving, and have one with you. There is only one short section that is truly impassable at high tide, but many of the beach sections are much easier at low tide. Also consider that this is an area in which there is a lot of wildlife, particularly wolves and bears. …

read more – scenes from the trail – The North Coast Trail

related – Club Tread – North Coast Trail

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Dientes de Navarino, Patagonia

The most southern hike in the world on the Chilean Isla Navarino leads you off the beaten track and through unspoiled nature and wild landscapes of Tierra del Fuego, far away from civilization.

From Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino we prepare ourselves for this unique hike around the “Dientes de Navarino” – mountain chain. During this hike we will walk through mystical southern beech forests, cross vast snowfields and have an impressive view over the Beagle channel. …

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Dates 2013-14
16-nov – 22-nov-2013
13-dic – 19-dic-2013
15-jan – 21-jan-2014
12-feb – 18-feb-2014

Other departure dates on request.

Price per person (Based on double occupancy)
USD 1890.-

read more …

 

Check out Dientes information page.

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erecting tents in the rain

Warren Long:

Figured that I might as well see how it was to set up our (expected) West Coast Trail tents in the rain. This was a good thing to do. The good tent got pretty wet inside, before I got the fly on. Next time I will be much faster getting the fly on correctly the first time….

The old tent is old, and the fly is no longer water tight. I ended up with puddles inside it after it had been in the rain for a few hours. I have now purchased and sprayed on some new waterproofing. Time for another test.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.