West Coast Trail 2006

West Coast Trail 2006

September 23, 2006 – September 29, 2006

Group

Chaperones

Students

Return to Top

Pretrip

Saturday, September 16, Tom Veenstra called and asked if I could go on the WCT with the group from DCS leaving the next Saturday - one week from then, hiking the trail south the north. I said I’d love to go, but didn’t think I’d be able to get the time off, but I’d ask anyways. My supervisor was on holidays that week, so on Monday I asked one of the others about the next weeks schedule and she said it hadn’t yet been made, so put the time off I want on the calendar. At this point I still wasn’t sure I’d be able to get the time off on such short notice, plus I had already used 10 days of my 2 weeks of holidays for the Nootka Trail in August. Wednesday I went in to work and talked to the supervisor and she said she was able to change the schedule around and get me the week off. A quick call to a coworker confirmed he’d be able to take my shift on the 23rd. Looks like I’d be able to go on the trail after all. After a call to Tom to let him know I’d be able to come, he let me know there was a packing meeting Thursday after school. Just 3 days to get everything together, so I headed to Victoria to pick up a new tent as well as some hiking clothes and a few essentials. After work on Thursday I headed to the school and picked up the food I’d be carrying (lunch Day 5… crackers, nutella, cream cheese and pb&j) and got some more details about the trip and when we’d be leaving.

Pre-trail pack weight: ~40lbs + water + some group food

Return to Top

Day 1 – Duncan -> Thrasher Cove

We met at school at around 0520, picked up our food from the fridges and got everything packed away and into vehicles. During this time we discovered the North group had taken not just their bagels, but also our bagels. After a word of prayer and saying goodbyes to those there to see us off, we left the school at 0545. We made a stop at Tim Hortons in Mill Bay to buy bagels for our lunch on Day 2. We took Humpback Road out to Port Renfrew and arrived at the trailhead around 0815. The trailer didn’t open till 0900 so we spent awhile getting our stuff ready and many people wrapped the toes and parts of their feet in duct tape to prevent rubbing and blisters on the trail. While waiting there, we met Bryce Hamre and his wife Chelsea who were also planning on starting the trail the same day. At 0930 we got inside the trailer where we did our registration and watched the presentation on the trail. It was very full in there with our group and a number of other hikers planning on starting the trail the same day. The registration and presentation was finished around 1030 and we headed down the road to catch the boat across the river. The boat could only take 12 people per trip so our group of 15 was split into 2 trips. While waiting on the other side for the second group, we spent some time adjusting packs and some of the guys spent time throwing rocks into the river.

We started hiking around 1115 once everyone arrived. The trail was rough with ups and downs, but the group pressed on and did great. I took up the rear on this day and we kept up a good pace. We stopped for lunch at the donkey from 1340-1410. We had all packed our own lunch for the day and a number of treats were distributed. We started hiking again, did more ups and downs, and passed the highest point on the trail. At some point in the day I took the ladies tent from Nate as his knees were bothering him. During the hike, Bryce and Chelsea were hiking with us some of the time, passing us on occasion. We took the trail route down to Thrasher Cove so we could do Owen Point in the morning. We reached Thrashed around 1600 and some of the front part of the group had found an area for us to camp and was busy getting everything set up. As soup and dinner was being prepared, we explored the beach and the guys went around the corner to find firewood for our fire that night. We had dinner around 1730 and spent the evening around the fire. Dinner was Lipton's Sidekicks - a meal we would grow to love and hate over the next week (especially when the noodles are undercooked as they were that night - don't worry though Mr. V, it was still pretty tasty). After dinner, we were forced to hang our food as the cache was too small for all our food and the food of the other people camping at Thrasher that night. We picked a tree and Darren climbed up the tree with the rope to hang it - first through a pulley which broke when we tried to pull our food up, then over a branch which we used. We headed to bed early around 2030 as we had to get up early the next day to get the tides around Owen Point right.

Return to Top

Day 2 - Thrasher Cove -> Camper Bay

We got up at 0500 while it was still dark. We broke camp, had breakfast and got everything ready to go as it was starting to get brighter. We started hiking at 0715 and spent the morning hiking with the sunrise. The route around the point was mostly huge boulders that we had to scramble around and over to find our way around the point. Bryce and Chelsea hiked with us today, and for the rest of the trail, sticking with our group and stopping with us. We all made it safely over the rocks and found our way to Owen Point around 0850. We stopped there for pictures in the caves, followed by devotions on the rocks. We resumed hiking around 0940 where the “trail” consisted of mostly shelf walking with finding routes around and over surge channels. At 1035ish we reached the beach access A where stopped for a break and a group picture. It was here that we headed in to the trail for the rest of the day. The trail consisted of roots, mud and log walking. I stuck in the back of the group this day as well. We reached Camper Bay at 1220, a nice benefit of our early morning. After some debate about carrying on to camp at either Cullite Cove or Logan Creek, it was decided to stay at Camper and have a restful afternoon. We had our lunch of bagels and spent the afternoon in the sun exploring the beach area, exploring around the south corner, collecting firewood, washing, and general relaxing and hanging out. Our dinner this evening was spaghetti – delicious! We sat around the fire and had our devotions around 2000. The students made their own fire and spent the evening around it. We all headed to bed 2130-2200.

Return to Top

Day 3 – Camper Bay -> Walbran Creek

Up at 0600 for breakfast, breaking camp and getting packed up. We left camp at 0815 and headed up the hill for an early morning ladder. The rest of the morning was more of the same as day 2 – up, down, roots and logs. We reached the Cullite ladders, the biggest set on the trail, shortly after 1115 and headed down and right back up the far side. We had decided to do it this way so we could keep going, rather than stopping for lunch at the bottom and creating a bottleneck getting back up the ladders. I stuck to the back of the group for the morning. We stopped for lunch at the top of the ladders – crackers, cream cheese and pepperoni. After lunch we continued hiking, I moved to the middle of the pack and we reached a brief section of boardwalk through the bog. We soon reached Logan Creek suspension bridge around 1310. On the far side of the bridge we stopped for a drink break and a chance for everyone to catch up. Once we were all together again, we carried on and soon reached another area of boardwalk through the bog, this one much longer than the last. We reached Walbran Creek around 1510 after descending a set of ladders. This is where we would meet the North group.

We set up camp along the creek with our tents in the trees. We spent awhile getting cleaned up and swimming in the water and exploring the area. The North group slowly started to arrive, some coming by beach, crossing the creek around high tide, while others arrived via the trail and cable car. Nate spent awhile digging a hole for a sauna and later Griffin and myself helped him get it finished. We had dinner (each group cooked their own), followed by devotions together. We spent some time around the fire together and in that time, someone pulled out Mr. V’s bottle of garlic. After playing with it for awhile, it ended up getting thrown in the water. Mr V offered $20 to Ryan to go get it for him, so Ryan commenced building a raft. As he was busy, the guys spent some time throwing rocks at the bottle, trying to sink it. Ryan got his raft made – it floated – and he paddled out towards the bottle. As he got closed, Mr. V decided to get the bottle himself, so jumped in fully clothed and just beat Ryan to the bottle. It was decided this was a good time to get Mr. V clean so we got shampoo and as he got out of the water, Danna rubbed it into his hair, though he never did wash it out. We spent the rest of the evening around the fire, mostly segregated into north and south groups, and had a couple rounds of saunas. We had some of our food in the cache, but it didn’t all fit, so Nate, Tom, Danielle and I took it down to the cable car and stuck it in the middle of the creek for the night. On the way back to camp, Tom was complaining about his Crocs rubbing his feet, so switched sandals with Nate. Spent the late evening after most had gone to bed around the fire with some people from both groups listening to Mr. V tell stories.

Return to Top

Day 4 – Walbran Creek -> Cribs Creek

Day 4 we were up just before 0700. Before we got the students up, we headed down to the cable car and to the cache to retrieve our food. We had breakfast and got our stuff packed up and ready to go. After saying our goodbyes to the North group, we made our way to the mouth of the creek where we crossed through the knee high water, helping each other through by carrying packs and lending a hand. We were all across by around 0910. On the far side of the river, we spent awhile getting our feet dry, duct taped and getting boots on. We spent the morning hiking along the beach, some sandy, some pebbles and some shelf. Just before 1200 we got our first look at Carrmanah Lighthouse looking past Bonilla Point. We took a break at Bonilla Creek before carrying on for the long beach walk towards the lighthouse. At around 1230 we reached Carmanah Creek and rather than hauling everyone across the cable car, we decided to walk through the creek. We tried various places to cross and many of us ended up with wet feet, but we all made is safely.

We stopped for lunch at Chez Monique’s, though she was not there due to heart problems, so her husband was there selling chocolate bars and pop. We ate our lunch of tuna and wraps before heading on to the lighthouse. A short walk later we reached the lighthouse at 1440 and spent time exploring, doing the labyrinth and talking to the lighthouse keeper. Teunis, Liz and Rachel went ahead to Cribs as Teunis wasn’t feeling well. Coming back from the lighthouse we played a joke on Tom, pretending Darren had been hurt coming back from the lighthouse. A couple of us ran ahead and told Mr. V to come quick and as we rounded the corner Griffin was doing chest compressions on Darren. Mr. V was about to start mouth-to-mouth when Darren cracked a smile and Mr. V caught on. At around 1530, once we all got back together, we took a short trail to the beach, which we followed to Cribs Creek and our camp. It was a hot day and rather tiring walking along the beach on the beating sun. We reached Cribs Creek around 1630 and spent some time setting up camp, getting firewood and cooking dinner. Tom’s foot was getting worse and startng to show signs of infection. Meredith and Griffin looked after it keeping it clean and giving Tom drugs for the pain. Talk of maybe having to evacuate him. Spent the evening around the fire before heading to bed around 2100-2200.

Return to Top

Day 5 – Cribs Creek -> Tsusiat Falls

We were up around 0545 and spent the morning getting everything ready to go for the day, eating breakfast, etc. More talk of evacuating Tom… decided to see how he felt during the day, how things looked later. Left camp around 0830 and followed the trail for much of the day. There was lots of damp, slippery boardwalk with the usual mud and roots. We stopped past Cheewhat River around 1040 to fill water bottles before carrying on to Nitnat River where we had lunch around 1250. People bought pop and we ate our wraps and spreads. We boarded the boat for our trip across the Nitnat Narrows – everyone on one boat. Duane, our boat driver decided to give us a bit of a special trip and took us out to the mouth of the narrows where he gave us a history lesson on the villages and houses of his ancestors that were along the river. He also told us about the native canoe journey he had been on recently. Mr. V was worried about being out in the boat for so long and close to the mouth of the narrows so put on a life jacket and stayed away from the edge of the boat.

After getting back on the trail, we hiked for a while till we reached the beach. We took a break here before carrying on along the beach. We got our look at hole in the wall from the beach around 1530, but due to hiking at high tide, we were forced to head to the trail to go around the point. We then returned to the beach and followed it till Tsusiat Falls. We camped on the far side of the falls, close to the cache and outhouse, so were forced to cross the river on a log placed across it. We reached camp around 1630 and spent time getting camp set up, gathering firewood, and swimming and bathing in the falls. Tom’s foot was getting worse so he spent most of the afternoon laying around camp resting. We spent the evening around the fire, having treats and asking the group skill testing questions. The students had planned to go to their own fire in the evening, but we stayed together as a group. People started heading to bed around 2130 with the last of us crawling into bed around 2300.

Return to Top

Day 6 – Tsusiat Falls -> Michigan Creek

We awoke to a foggy, cool, damp morning around 0715. Spent the morning getting packed up, breakfast, water, etc. Tom was starting to get the red line up his leg from his infection. Started hiking around 0945. We had to cross the outflow from the falls on the log again before heading up a set of ladders to reach the trail. We hiked along the trail for a while – mostly boardwalk, nice trail. At Klanawa River, there was a crew replacing the cable for the cable car, so they were taking people across the river in a rowboat. When Tom reached the far side, Meredith had the crew leader come talk to him to discuss his foot. They gave him a chair to sit in around the fire and he took off his boot. The crew member radioed to the wardens and described his injury and symptoms. After some discussion, it was decided they’d send someone in to check him out with probable evacuation. It was pretty foggy so were deciding on helicopter versus boat. As we were waiting, the sun came and the fog started to clear so it was decided they’d send a helicopter – sometime in the next 1.5 hours. It was decided the students wanted to wait and see Mr. V off rather than hiking on, so the students had their devotions while the chaperones talked about the rest of the trip and got important instructions from Mr. V. We had lunch while waiting for the chopper to come – crackers and spreads. Around 1240 the chopper came flying down the river and landed 75 feet away on the riverside. The wardens came out to check him out. They decided he needed to be evacuated and they couldn't wait around too long as the fog was starting to set in again. We got the essential paperwork and cooking utensils from his bag and helped him to the helicopter. After saying goodbyes, the helicopter took off at 1300 and we got our packs on and started hiking again down the beach.

I took the lead of the group with them following me down the beach, and for the rest of the trail I led the group. At KM 20, we headed back to the trail, taking periodic drink breaks. We stopped at Valencia Bluffs at 1430 where Meredith gave us a history lesson of the bluffs and the trail. We continued hiking down the trail and decided that due to high tide, we’d stay on the trail all the way to Darling River. The trail from Tsocowis to Darling was rougher than before Tsocowis, but still pretty good. At Darling River, we all crossed, with most keeping their feet dry. Griffin, Darren, Ryan and Tyler went ahead to camp while we waited for the rest of the group to catch up. Charmaine slipped on the far side of the river while tossing her walking sticks across. She got some bruises and dislocated her ring finger, so Meredith gave her some drugs. We carried on hiking, camping on the far side of Michigan Creek around 1700. We set up camp and spent the evening around the fire. At 2100 the chaperones sent the students to bed – they weren’t impressed, but listened. After the students were in their tents, the chaperones got the supplies Mr. V had given us to make a “cake” for Rachel – it was her birthday the next day, on Friday. The cake was rice crackers topped with Nutella and Reese cups and other chocolates. Bryce and Chelsea had an emergency candle that we placed on top of it all. Teunis and Griffin then pretended they saw something in the woods and we all started yelling for the kids to get out of their tents. Darren and Ryan came crawling quickly out of their tents and the rest came out with some persuasion. We all sang happy birthday and spent some more time around the fire and everyone was back in bed around 2200.

Return to Top

Day 7 – Michigan Creek -> Home

We got up around 0550 and were again greeted by a cold, damp fog. We got our stuff packed up, had breakfast and were ready to hit the trail by 0830. Seems this day I ended up with the whole ladie's tent as well as the whole girl's tent, unlike the earlier days where I only had one full and part of the other (plus my own). We regrouped on the trail to make sure we were all together, then started a steady hike mixed with short breaks. We reached the Pachena Lighthouse shortly before 0900. We spent some time here looking at the lighthouse, then took some time to do “warm fuzzies” for our neighbour in the circle. We headed back out on the trail and resumed our steady hiking pace. Part way through the morning, Danna’s Achilles tendon started to bother her and cause some pain. She hiked with it for awhile, but at one of our breaks we decided she should get rid of some of her weight. I took some of the stuff she had hanging on the outside of her pack and Ryan took her pack and carried it in front of him. We hiked on for a bit longer, then at a later break I let Danna take the lead so she could set the (quick) pace. We kept mostly together as a group, taking short breaks. As we got closer to the end of the trail, we hit a big set of ladders – a detour around a landslide on the old trail. After topping those ladders, we hiked along the trail for a while before hitting another set of ladders back down. We regrouped a few minutes from the end of the trail and hiked the last bit as a group. We reached the trailhead at 1215 and we had our high-five line, and pictures. Danna’s parents were there to greet us with doughnuts and juice. I finished our trail registration and we got all our gear together and into the vehicles. The battery on the large van that was left at the trailhead for us had died, so we borrowed jumper cables from the park office and jumped the van and we were on our way. We took the road home through Port Alberni, along the logging roads, with a stop at McDonalds before leaving Port Alberni. We drove back to Duncan, stopping in Duncan for gas and flowers before heading to DCSS at 1740. We all got our gear unloaded from the vehicles, said our goodbyes and headed home.

Return to Top

...Post-Trail Thoughts...

They were a really good group of students. Had a great time with them, watching them bond and get to know more about each other. Very entertaining group. Awesome to watch them pull together and help each other. Great perseverance through the tough parts of the trail, tough parts emotionally.

Was great it worked out I could get the time off work to be able to come on the trail. Had a great time getting to know the students and chaperones. Was nice to be able to do the trail again, this time from south to north, and see, experience and photograph the trail again. Looking forward to the next time I have the opportunity to go!

Post-trail pack weight: ~65lbs (including water and leftover group food)

Return to Top