West Coast Trail - July 2022 (7/4/2022)

Once you are on the Waitlist, you will be contacted by the Coordinator for your background info required to determine your suitability for the trip.
Event Participation is limited to the 6 WCT Permits available. There are 2 people already registered, up to 4 participants will be selected from those interested. Participant selection criteria will be determined by your demonstrating the following:
1. Your past experience on multi-day overnight backpacking trips
2. Your fitness level, including your ability to hike long distances (between 8 and 17kms daily) through mud and over rough terrain, including climbing ladders and over slippery surfaces, all while carrying a heavy backpack
3. You are healthy and injury free
4. You get along well with others
Note: Participant selection will be at the sole discretion of the Coordinator, based on the selection criteria stated above.
Please do not send any monies until you have been confirmed by the Coordinator.


7 Beautiful Days on the West Coast Trail.
The West Coast Trail (WCT) is a 75 kilometer (47 mile) backpack through thick lush, wet rainforests of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The WCT takes you through many weather systems and eco-systems exploring along sandstone cliffs, navigating across rivers, sinking treks over sandy beaches, navigating tide tables, jumping surge channels, walking boardwalk, crossing in cable cars, balancing over log bridges, climbing ladders straight up and down, crossing rope bridges and of course... slogging through mud. It is a trail for the strong willed, healthy bodied, experienced, well prepared backpacker only, one who adheres to low impact wilderness camping rules.

IT IS ONLY FUN IF YOU ARE PREPARED. Muddy bogs, ladders and rain. But people still go year after year. One of the toughest trails to do in Canada because of the conditions. Not for the fainthearted. You should be in good physical condition and be able to handle the rigors of carrying a heavy pack from camp to camp over challenging terrain and conditions for a whole week.

THE PLAN:
Sunday July 03, 2022
- We meet up in Victoria and overnight here.
Monday July 04, 2022:
- Our shuttle leaves Victoria at 6:30am and drops us at the Gordon River Trailhead at 9:30am.
- Following a quick orientation with Parks Staff, we begin our 7 day, 6 night adventure
- Have fun backpacking on the WCT for 7 days
Sunday July 10, 2022:
- Upon completing our backpacking adventure, we exit the WCT at Pachena Bay later in the day.
- Depending on our exit time, we may be able to find transportation to Bamfield and overnight there.
Monday July 11, 2022:
- We catch our shuttle around mid day and head back to Victoria
- Our shuttle arrives in Victoria around 8:00pm, so we may plan to overnight before heading home the next day.
Tuesday July 12, 2022:
- Our WCT backpacking adventure has come to an end and we all head home, or you may choose to extend your stay if you wish.

BE PREPARED FOR:
- Rugged, uneven ground: it takes approximately 3 days on average to travel the southern 22 km of the trail between Gordon River and Walbran Creek.
- Slippery conditions on muddy trails, wooden surfaces, boulders and rocky shorelines.
- Wading rivers, climbing ladders, using cable cars, following an irregular trail, negotiating steep slopes and earth slumps.
- Damaged structures: trail maintenance is ongoing and the condition of structures can change at any time.
- A temperate rainforest climate. Rainfall averages 330 cm (130 in.) per year with heavy rainfall possible at any time and frequently. Floodwaters can delay hikers for days. Fog is also common. The average summer temperature is 14° Celsius (57° F). Incidents of hypothermia and physical injury increase significantly during prolonged wet periods.
- It may take more than 24 hours for help to arrive.

NOTE #1:
- The indicated cost covers the WCT Permit and the Shuttle Bus transfers to/from the trail heads.
Cost of the WCT Permits and Shuttle Bus transfers ($352.75 per person) have already been paid and your payment of this amount is due immediately upon you being confirmed for this trip by the Coordinator. .
The remaining costs for hotel is estimated and more accurate hotel costs remain to be determined.
- Should you cancel after being confirmed, there will be NO REFUNDS if a suitable replacement cannot be found.
- You must be fit enough to tackle the trail.
- We will be sticking together as a group
- Be prepared to train for the event.

NOTE #2:
In preparation for this trip, pre-trip meeting/discussions and backpacking training events are contemplated, including:
- Stair events with loaded backpacks in April, May and June 2022, details TBA.
- Overnight backpacking trips over at least one weekend in May and another in June 2022, details TBA.
If you have not been backpacking recently, you will need to attend some training events.

Your participation in training events is strongly encouraged and may be REQUIRED for certain Participants, depending on your demonstrated fitness level.
Participation in training events will ensure our group is ready to take on our amazing adventure.
Participant selection will be at the sole discretion of the Coordinator, based on the selection criteria stated above.