West Coast Trail – The 75km/48 mile hike in Vancouver Island (2021)

That's quite a pace, wowie! Usually I'd be tuckered afterwards with a 0 planning 20-25 kilometer...er hike.

To be honest, the most enduro sport for me that I can do right now is kayaking, and I can do ~10 miles or so on flat water with my sorta tubby 10 footer in about 4 hours or so (with breaks)...and that's it, with a week's recovery afterwards.

Crazy distance for them, I'm impressed and a little jealous to be honest. Maybe I'll be there someday. :)))) <3

I did this trail a few years ago, was an utterly amazing experience. We did the route backwards, going north to south. I brought some really good cameras with me and the weight was 100% worth it, the shots I got on that trip still hang on my wall to this day. Example photo: https://adobe.ly/3LpJ444

We were very lucky weather wise, it did not rain the entire trip, which as others say, is not typical. The ladders, oh man, very terrifying as someone with a fear of heights. Some of them lean fucking backwards, so your pack and body weight try to pull you off the cliffside…

The crab spot near the middle is amazing. Everyone does stop there, how can you say no to crab and beer after hiking 25 miles?

The Juan de Fuca trail that is next door is also one of my top favorite hikes, though I have never been able to finish it as we got rained out both times - once in scouts, once in a group of friends - the trail slid away and we could not physically continue each time.

I was just about to comment about my dear of bumping into a grizzly bear while hiking there, but apparently “only” black bears live on Vancouver Island. That would still keep me away and I always wonder if I’m just way too cautious or if the likelihood of running into a bear is so low that it’s worth it?

The chance is low and the chance that it would be an issue is also low.

I did this hike in grade 11. Right when it opened in a class trip.

I can pinpoint the timing pretty precisely - I heard about the Chernobyl disaster after getting back. Also I bought rubber gumboots for the trail. Highly recommended.

It is truly beautiful. If you've never visited the Pacific Northwest, you should.