Our friends, J&R, invite Murray and me to backpack the West Coast Trail with them and their daughter and son-in-law. We debate this invitation alot since we haven’t been backpacking in, maybe, 10 years. We decide to go for it because when will the opportunity present itself again.
West Coast Trail
The West Coast Trail is a 77 km hike along the west coast of Vancouver Island. In the late 1800’s it was a telegraph line to connect the western communities and then also a route for ship wrecked mariners to take to get to civilization.
I get nervous looking at the websites as this hike is not a stroll in the park. There are ladders to climb, cable cars for crossing creeks and one day that is at least a 15 km day. Check out this Parks Canada website for more information.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ/activ6a/i.aspx
R manages to get reservations for the group for the last week in July. This is a good time do to the hike as it will be a full moon and the tides will be low. Maybe that is also why all six of us did not get reservations on the same start day. R booked Murray and me on the day before the other four and so we start a day early but we will dawdle one day so the group can catch up to us. He also has booked us on the bus we must ride one way to return to our vehicles.
If we treat this hike just like any other physical challenge, be it a marathon, triathlon or century ride, and we train, we will be ready for the challenge and actually enjoy ourselves. With this in mind Murray and I dig out our hiking boots and start walking twice a week through our river valley.
Up Next: Debbie’s hiking boot catastrophe……