Category: cost

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researching the North Coast Trail, B.C.

I’m looking for first hand advice on the lastest, greatest hike on Vancouver Island, B.C.

The North Coast Trail has been on our list of best hikes in North America since before it opened officially in 2008.

Nathan Derksen hiked it in 2004 – trip report

North-Coast-Trail
one of Nathan’s excellent photos – larger version

… The 43.1 km trail in Cape Scott Provincial Park runs along beaches and in forest around the northern tip of Vancouver Island from Shushartie Bay to Nissen Bight. At Nissen Bight it links up with an existing 15 km trail which leads to the trailhead at San Josef River[1]. The total distance for hikers between the trailheads is 61 km. The trail is in a wilderness area and hikers may see deer, elk, black bears, cougars, wolves, sea birds, seals, sea lions, grey whales and sea otters. …

It’s often compared with the famed, nearby West Coast Trail.

I have already contacted the 3 main trailhead transportation companies as I won’t have a personal vehicle.

Cape Scott Water Taxi
Box 580 Port Hardy B.C. V0N 2P0
Phone (250) 949-6541
Toll Free: 1-800-246-0093
info@capescottwatertaxi.ca
capescottwatertaxi.ca

Catala Charters Jim & Cathy Witton
Box 526 Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0
Phone/Fax (250) 949-7560;
Toll Free 1-800-515-5511
catalacharters@hotmail.com
northcoasttrailwatertaxi.com

North Coast Trail Shuttle
Box 977 Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0
Phone: 250-949-6888 Cel 250-230-1994
shuttle2@telus.net
northcoasttrailshuttle.com

Leave a comment if you have recommendations for me.

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Canadian National Park fees frozen


I’ve long complained that Parks Canada Fees are too high.

Some good news:

National park gate fees … are being frozen in a bid to entice cash-strapped Canadians to visit more often.

A two-year fee freeze at national parks and historic sites, described as”some of the most magnificent and fascinating places to visit in the world,” was announced Saturday by Environment Minister Jim Prentice.

“In this time of global economic recession, our government is doing what it can to encourage Canadians to enjoy these places,” said Prentice. “For many families, every dollar counts.” …

Individual rates for 2008 will stay in place until April 1, 2011. For the travel trade, the 2009 rates now in effect will be frozen until April 1, 2012.

“This important economic decision will help make Canada’s best vacation destinations more affordable to Canadians, and will help make our parks more attractive worldwide,” Prentice said. …

The move comes in time for the unveiling of Parks Canada’s new national advertising campaign, designed to encourage Canadians to plan vacations to visit parks and sites. …

Calgary Herald

kids-on-glacier
jocorvera/PINDUTERO – The Columbia Icefield – larger version

Annual Pass entry to 27 participating National Parks

Adult – $67.70
Senior – $57.90
Youth – $33.30
Family/Group – $136.40

National Parks of Canada

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Is hiking dying or not?


I remember all the hiking blogs jumping on the gloom and doom prediction that “hiking was dying“.

From Feb. 2008:

… Since the late 1980s, the percentage of Americans taking part in such activities has declined at slightly more than 1 percent a year. … participation is down 18 percent to 25 percent from peak levels.

NPR – Americans Spending Less Time in Nature

I pooh-poohed it at the time.

Now, a year later, what’s the buzz?

take-a-hike-arizona
Take A Hike Arizona – flickr – larger original

Outdoor camping’s popularity jumped 7.4 percent between 2007 and 2008, according to a report from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. Overnight backpacking is up 18.5 percent …
Backcountry.com – The Goat – Camping Stock Rises in Weak Economy

In our current economic crisis, more families are ditching the hotel room and learning how to pitch a tent …
Backpacker – Daily Dirt – NEWBIE CAMPERS ON THE RISE

Backpacker – Daily Dirt – BACKPACKING ON THE CHEAP

Trail Space – Trend Alert: Camping is Chic!

Let’s proclaim this year The Year of the Hiker.
The Trailmaster

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avoiding trailhead vehicle break-ins

From Rocky Thompson:

Colorado police arrested a four-person burglary crew that would run a smash-and-grab on cars parked at trailheads. The four thieves-who are kind of like supergroup combination of Bonnie and Clyde plus Thelma and Louise-would wait until hikers had left their cars before smashing windows and stealing credit cards to buy video games and electronics. …

car-broken

The Goat Hikers Targeted by Criminal Masterminds

I’ve tried just about everything over the years, including leaving an empty vehicle unlocked.

There’s no perfect solution. Each trailhead needs be considered individually.

In Hawaii last year I left my rent-a-car miles from the (reportedly dangerous) trailhead at a campground. Walked the extra distance to the trail, for security.

At many trailheads in Canada there’s no worry. Remote hikes in the Rockies are almost all safe.

Leave a comment if you’ve a strategy to share.

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Mountain Travel Sobek – half price

Outside reports:

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, Mountain Travel Sobek is doling out 40 free adventures. Travelers who book a trip by Apr. 17 can bring a friend for free. Destinations include: Machu Picchu, Morocco, the Swiss Alps, and more.

40 Free Trips

40-free-trips

home page – Mountain Travel Sobek

There are some good deals out there for guided hikes. Shop around.

Leave a comment if you’ve seen any good value deals on treks.

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National Park or Disney World?


I’ve never entered Disney World.

Since I’ve never owned a house, I could not spend the “profit” on rapidly escalating market value on a holiday.

Now many others in North America join me in comparative poverty.

Kurt Repanshek on National Parks Traveler posted on this topic – With or Without a Stimulus Package, National Parks Can Be Economical Vacation Destinations.

… If you take a family of four (three members age 10 or more, one under 10), to Disney World for one day, you’ll pay nearly $300 (you can do the calculations at this site) for the privilege of passing through the gate. The Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida? Buy online and one park for one day will only cost you $73 per ticket.

How much more you’ll spend on hotels and meals, well, you can imagine. …

Now, if you go to Yellowstone National Park, it’ll cost that same family of four just $25 to pass through the gate — and that entry pass is good for seven days. Go to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and it won’t cost you anything, as there are no entry fees at that park. …

piggybank2-main_full

read more – With or Without a Stimulus Package, National Parks Can Be Economical Vacation Destinations

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best airfares for trekkers

I travel a lot.

Normally I search for flights on two sites:

  • Mobissimo
  • Yahoo Travel Farechase

    • Both are good in North America. Internationally Mobissimo is better.

    Recently Mobissimo has added a killer feature – Activity Search. One of the choices is Trekking.

    mobissimo-activity-search
    screenshot

    I was shocked at the excellent search results from my city, Calgary. These guys know trekking!

    mobissimo-trekking
    screenshot

    I shouldn’t be surprised.

    Blogger climb_ca on the Getoutdoors.com Outdoor Blog GoBlog is associated with Mobissimo.

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    adventurer rewarded for stupidity?


    map-of-brooks-rangeDavid Roberts was air rescued in Alaska this past summer at a cost of over $90,000.

    Though he had a lot of experience with arctic wilderness in Saskatchewan, the media is reporting that he was totally unprepared, and a “goofy guy”.

    Roberts, a 54-year-old Australian, was trying to walk almost 100 miles across the Brooks Range wilderness when he set off a long-distance distress call on Friday. He’d been out there alone for two months.
    …

    He hauled a 140-pound sled full of supplies behind him, he said. A persistent stomach bug left him dehydrated while frequent, stabbing pains pierced his cold feet.

    He traveled fewer than 40 miles in two months — far less than he’d expected.

    …

    Alaskans have little patience for seemingly ill-prepared adventurers, and news of the rescue prompted comparisons to another explorer who trekked into the wilderness 16 years ago — Chris McCandless. McCandless starved to death after trying to survive on his own for more than three months near Denali National Park.
    …

    Roberts didn’t know who would have to pay for his rescue when he made the decision to get help, he said. “I didn’t presume that somebody else was going to pick up the tab on that.” …

    Anchorage Daily News – Adventurer’s wilderness trek ends with air rescue, free hotel

    Roberts will not be billed for the rescue costs.

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    57,000 New Jobs in US National Parks?

    As reported in Treehugger:

    57,000 New Jobs Could Be Created in US National Parks

    With the economy foundering at the moment, it’s not surprising that many people are proposing projects to the incoming Obama administration that will create new jobs and benefit the economy as a whole. A new report from the National Parks Conservation Association does its part for promoting reinvestment in the US National Parks system as another worthy area for green investment.

    The report says that they are $2.5 billion worth of job-creating projects in the National Parks, and furthermore that for every dollar invested there it could bring back four dollars in value to the public. …

    … read more

    Certainly spending money on infrastructure is a good strategy for economic recovery over the coming years.

    I’d be thrilled if building up the National Parks infrastructure is part of that. In the USA and around the world.

    Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
    Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

    larger version – flickr – SC Fiasco

    Next … we need to convince State governments to invest in State Parks. Florida, for example.