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West Coast Trail Vancouver Island BC
Pacific Rim Adventure Hiking Not For the Faint Hearted…
The West Coast Trail, one of the 10 most challenging hiking trails in the world, is the best hiking trail for adventure hiking on Vancouver Island and the island’s Pacific Rim…
The Trail is for serious outdoor enthusiasts and dedicated hikers only. It's tough, it's long, it's muddy and dangerous in parts, and it's cold! Sound like fun?
It's a challenge even for the serious, healthy hiker.
The 75 kilometer trail is now part of the Pacific Rim National Parks system and is the hiking trail is located between the towns of Bamfield and Port Renfrew.
The trail can take anywhere from 5 to 10 days to travel.
Because of this, it is necessary to bring all of your own supplies. This includes food, water, a tent and sleeping gear.
You will not find stores and restaurants along the way, so make sure you pack all the food, camping gear and necessities that you will need.
Due to the stormy weather conditions in the winter, you can only hike the West Coast Trail from May through September.
Additionally, there is now a reservation system in place, to limit the number of hikers that can begin the trail every day.
There is also a mandatory traveling permit and a registration fee required in order to hike the trail; combined these costs will run over $150.
This Coastal Trail can be dangerous to traverse and can be physically and emotionally taxing. The chance for injury on the West Coast Trail is high, as you will be left to your own devices in nature for several days.
During your journey across the trail you will climb ladders up and down steep cliffs (some of which can be daunting at several hundred feet in length).
You will cross a number of bridges and you will probably be forced to change your route or timing because of rising or falling tides.
You will also have to use manually operated cable cars across rivers.
The area gets a lot of rain, so it is necessary to bring proper clothing in preparation for this. You are hiking the edge of a rainforest!
The Rewards of Vancouver Island Adventure Hiking
For those who decide that they are willing to take on this challenging hiking trail, it can be a beautiful and rewarding experience.
The scenery and views are pristine and unmatched. There are amazing forests with massive, towering trees.
Hikers will encounter lots of wildlife, and if you are lucky, you might even come across baby seal pups.
Hikers are strongly encouraged to keep their distance from wildlife. Baby animals be abandoned by their parents. And predators such as wolves or bears may become aggressive if you provoke them.
The West Coast Trail was originally constructed over 100 years ago--as a means to rescue sailors from shipwrecks. The coastline that the trail traverses is famous for being difficult and dangerous and has had over 50 shipwrecks to its credit.
The Trail is one of the most exciting hiking trails in the world—for those who are fit and prepared. However, if you are not quite up to doing it, there are many less demanding British Columbia hiking trails on the Island.
by Tim Leadem
by Tim Leadem
