When I did this trail long ago I got to meet Monique (since passed) who ran a very tasty burger joint at the mid point. She had quite the operation going with a sizable garden and food boated in regularly. Exchange students ran much of the kitchen. I must admit, I had not been prepared to find myself arguing over esoteric details of Python with her. Monique was a very interesting person who was still going to school…
Thanks for letting me know Monique (and now her husband) have passed. A lot of fond fond memories there.
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 m…
Just so I can picture it: in the middle point of this hike there is a flow blown restaurant / food shack?
> > You would be surprised but there are so many debates in the hiking community. This debate is to bring hiking poles or not. > I definitely recommend using hiking poles. This "hiking community" is just the people getting into those debates online. The vast majority of the actual hiking community just enjoys their trips in silence without getting into online arguments. Source: In my circles of about 40-50 hiking ent…
People breaking the toothbrush are stupid, you should perforate it to keep the size and save weight! /s
You can buy those brushes. The shaft is perforated like a honeycomb pattern for structural strength.
A few random reactions: > You would think sleeping by the beach is relaxing, but really that is far from the case. I didn’t sleep that well as the ocean was thundering in the middle of the night. I agree sleeping on the beach is nowhere near as pleasant as it sounds. I remember one night I set up camp near the shore, and kept waking up throughout the night to the sound of lapping waves in a panic that the tide was ri…
We do "family" hiking (3 kids, 9 to 15) with up to 110km through the mountains with maximum 20 km and about 1000m up and 1000m down on a "hard" day. I fully agree with you: - start slow to get the body to find itself (and keep 2 days at the end of the hike to book a nice hotel with a pool for the kids). - hiking poles are a must. It also saves the hike if you have ankle/knee pain as you can put the weight on your arm…
For sore knees and ankles, do a backwards walking, then a sled pulled backwards with weight for a few weeks, 10 minutes a day 3x/week. Doesn't need to be expensive, can drag anything to get the effect. See kneesovertoesguy for more.
There's a survival show called Alone that recorded several seasons on Vancouver Island. One thing I learned from that show is not to underestimate this island: The rain, the wildlife, the wild! Most of the seasons can be watched for free, now: https://play.history.com/shows/alone#episodes
When I did this trail long ago I got to meet Monique (since passed) who ran a very tasty burger joint at the mid point. She had quite the operation going with a sizable garden and food boated in regularly. Exchange students ran much of the kitchen. I must admit, I had not been prepared to find myself arguing over esoteric details of Python with her. Monique was a very interesting person who was still going to school…
Oh, I wish I could have had the chance to meet Monique. What an interesting lady! Please, if you have any other stories from those adventures, I would love to hear them. Is there a particular Python discussion with her that sticks in your mind?
She had been a Pascal programmer (at least for a bit) before moving to BC. I don't remember the details unfortunately but I do remember the surprise. :)
As nice as the route is (and it is spectacular), the characters on the trail were probably the highlight. Each of the 13 campsites are unique and since the trail has steady entry from both ends, you'd meet a new group of fun people each night. There was a diver running a Crab and Baked Potato operation at Nitinat, and the Carmanah Lightstation was handing out XL chocolate bars to anyone knocking on the door.
Here we are on the edge of the world and yet there's humanity throughout.
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.
Yeah, I've only come face to face with a grizzly once, black bear a few times a year over decades in the bush. Grizzly with cubs or on its kill is a serious thing, bear spray is a must.
A few random reactions: > You would think sleeping by the beach is relaxing, but really that is far from the case. I didn’t sleep that well as the ocean was thundering in the middle of the night. I agree sleeping on the beach is nowhere near as pleasant as it sounds. I remember one night I set up camp near the shore, and kept waking up throughout the night to the sound of lapping waves in a panic that the tide was ri…
> > You would be surprised but there are so many debates in the hiking community. This debate is to bring hiking poles or not. > I definitely recommend using hiking poles. This "hiking community" is just the people getting into those debates online. The vast majority of the actual hiking community just enjoys their trips in silence without getting into online arguments. Source: In my circles of about 40-50 hiking ent…
I only know one person who openly declared breaking off his toothbrush to save weight. As well as using aluminium crampons and all manner of tricks. This was 'cos he was 60 at the time and his knees weren't as good as they'd been. I'm extremely grateful to him for sharing his expertise leading a climb, taking a number of us up Mt Baker, WA. So, you know, sometimes, quote from Hamlet, "there's method in his madness". ;) Or to quote Tesco's (true but disingenuous) slogan, "Every little helps" ;)
A few random reactions: > You would think sleeping by the beach is relaxing, but really that is far from the case. I didn’t sleep that well as the ocean was thundering in the middle of the night. I agree sleeping on the beach is nowhere near as pleasant as it sounds. I remember one night I set up camp near the shore, and kept waking up throughout the night to the sound of lapping waves in a panic that the tide was ri…
> > You would be surprised but there are so many debates in the hiking community. This debate is to bring hiking poles or not. > I definitely recommend using hiking poles. This "hiking community" is just the people getting into those debates online. The vast majority of the actual hiking community just enjoys their trips in silence without getting into online arguments. Source: In my circles of about 40-50 hiking ent…
Debate is a strong term. Most of the online discussion is the same chill banter as you experience IRL. A forum like /r/ultralight might seem a bit odd when you first read it, like any other online forum dedicated to a niche subculture, but it's all in good fun, and people are self-aware and are able to poke fun at themselves for being such nerds and "weight weenies." My weight goals are nowhere near "ultralight" (yes, there's a definition) but the ultralight community is a great source of ideas and information, even for beginners.