Nootka Trail Backpacking Interest Meeting - Thu, Feb 26 2015

Nootka Trail Backpacking Interest Meeting (2/26/2015)

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED:Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:
Event Type:Meeting
Event Location:Denny's, 7215 Macleod Trail South
Date(s) & Time:Thu, Feb 26 2015  6:30 PM
Registration Cut Off: Wed, Feb 18 2015 11:00:00 PM
Event Duration:Depends on the group, but probably around 2 hours
Difficulty Rating:D1: Easy
Event Coordinator(s): Barbara B.
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Member Cost:Voluntary Donation Only (See Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:8
Maximum No. Guests:0
Minimum Group Size:5
Maximum No. Guests Per Member:0
Number Registered So Far: 8 (Log in to see who's signed up.)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
Please Note:
This is a meeting for people with backpacking experience who would be serious about hiking the Nootka Trail for a week in early August. This is not an event for those who want to hang out for an evening (you won't get a slideshow or anything, but bring maps or whatever and have some questions). Before attending this evening session, please familiarize yourself with the resources listed below.

The Plan:
I’m planning on hiking the Nootka Trail on Nootka Island and am trying to get a group of 5 people together (exact dates to be confirmed, but will be a ~10- day commitment [including travel days] between late July - mid- August). The official trail is 40km and generally takes 5 to 7 days. It is a challenging hike through rugged terrain, and unlike the West Coast or North Coast Trails, has no facilities - no outhouses, no food lockers, or the like. I'd hike it north to south (as virtually everyone does), maybe add on a day trip extension to a shipwreck, as well as a two-night stay (beach tenting) at Calvin Falls, with possibly another 2- night stay somewhere else, to make this a 7-day/6-night or 8-day/7-night trip of approximately 50km. The goal for this trip would be to have some challenging hiking, but also to have a fair bit more downtime - time that can be used for exploring sea shelves, caves, photography, or simply relaxing on the beach. There are even opportunities for tenting in caves in some places in case weather would turn bad.

Access to the north trailhead (Louie Lagoon) is by float plane from Gold River on central Vancouver Island. I'd go for chartering the Beaver, which can take a group of 5 people plus backpacking gear. Together these 5 people + gear cannot exceed 1,200 pounds. The return trip would be by ship (the MV Uchuck III) from Friendly Cove back to Gold River, a journey that takes approximately two hours.

Some Highlights:
Expect to see and experience:
   · sea stacks
   · tide pools
   · beach
   · rainforest
   · waterfalls
   · shipwreck
   · native artifacts
   · ocean and cave camping
   · bears and wolves.

Difficulty & Specifics:
   · Distance: 35km official trail + 10km return to shipwreck = 45km. Might be able to also add on Crawfish Lake.
   · Challenging backpack, D6 difficulty, but lots of time
   · Natural hazards: many - tides, earthquake zone, some off-trail, wilderness
   · Rescue, if needed, could be days away

Pre-Requisites:
This isn't a trip that I'll do with someone whom I don't know. We'll be living together for a week, so I want good group dynamics and compatible abilities. Therefore, for the actual trip I'd screen people based on the following:
   · Preference given to those who have attended my backpacking events in the past.
   · Must have backpacking experience.
   · Must have your own gear (tent, sleeping bag, stove, tarp, bear-proof food cache, etc.) & be fully self-sufficient.
   · Must participate in pre-trip meetings, which include emergency planning.
     These will be held approximately once a month on Thursday evenings (if that time slot won't work for you, then this won't work for you).
   · Must attend some pre-trip hikes and/or backpacking events with me.
   · Must be easy-going.
   · Must be flexible. We'll settle on an anticipated start date, but this could get delayed by a day or two due to weather.
   · Must be serious about actually making this happen.
   · And have a sense of adventure :-)

As we get into summer I'll be posting more day hikes and overnight backpacking trips so that people can test out gear, get a sense for group dynamics, etc. Preference will be given to members whose backpacking experience I am familiar with. Note that there will be no organized carpool for this event; the expectation is that we all meet up in Campbell River the night before we start backpacking.

Resources:
   · Book: Coastal Hikes by Philip Stone
   · Map: Nootka Island 1:50 000 by John Baldwin
   · Nootka Trail by Ed LaPointe
   · The Nootka Saga by Chris Baraniuk
   · Nootka Trail on ClubTread.org
   · Nootka Trail Hiking Adventure by Paul Talbot

Costs:
Direct Hike-Related Costs:
   · Chartered float plane flight (DeHavilland Beaver) from Gold River to trailhead with Air Nootka. $850 for 5 people with gear = $170/person including taxes.
     Total weight for 5 people + gear cannot exceed 1,200 pounds.
   · Boat (MV Uchuck III) from end of trail (Friendly Cove / Yuquot) back to Gold River. $45 + tax / person. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
   · Fee to Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation Band to cross reserve land along Nootka Trail. $45 per person payable at Gold River boat ramp.
   · $12 towards subscription for emergency two-way communication (inReach)
   · COC voluntary donation. Even at $2/day, this is way cheaper than doing this trip with a guide ($1,300 - $1,500).
     Total for actual hike component: ~$300/person

Other Trip Costs:
   · Transportation to/from Calgary to Gold River, BC (1,290km each way; no public transit goes there)
     COC carpool would be around $490/vehicle return.
   · Ferry costs to/from Vancouver Island if driving ($100+ each way per vehicle + occupants)
   · Accommodation before/after the hike


Required Items to Bring:
   · Any books/maps/etc. that you have for the area
   · Your questions
   · Actually being serious about going on the trip (not just here for an evening out)
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Notes:

- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
- Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Wendy W and Lynda H., at content@calgaryoutdoorclub.com.

Cost & Payment:
Voluntary Donations:Although there is no cost for this event, please note that the club survives on voluntary donations. Please consider making a donation based on the value you feel you receive from the club. See our How You Can Help page for more information.
 
Voluntary Donation:What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: