West Coast Trail

Travis and I backpacked the West Coast Trail in 2008. The West Coast Trail is a 75km trail in the temperate rainforest of Vancouver Island. It was one of the most spectacular experiences of my life.

Native peoples in the area have used the trail for nearly four thousand years. Eurpoean settlers expanded the trail in the 1800s as a way to rescue shipwrecks in the aptly named "Graveyard of the Pacific." The rocky coast is so steep and treacherous that shipwreck victims often died awaiting rescue even if they somehow made it to shore. The trail is now a rite of passage for hardcore backpackers.

Due to the dangerous terrain, tides and weather, it is mandatory to take a safety orientation and sign a waiver to hike the trail. The coast is patrolled by the coast guard, but we were advised that rescue can take up to 24 hours. We were well trained and prepared but it still got pretty hairy in places due to a storm that destroyed much of the trail the previous year.

We experienced mud, storms, and terrifying ladders dozens of stories tall. We followed bear tracks for miles. We had many falls off of slippery logs. We avoided getting stuck in a rocky area when the tide came in. I survived hypothermia.

We spent a very surreal evening in a cave behind a waterfall with some other backpackers waiting out a storm.

The West Coast Trail is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I would do it again in an instant.