2008 Lawrence/Bodner group
On August 6th, 2008, a group of eight hikers set out early to hike the famous West Coast Trail. Ranging in age from 19 to 50, inexperienced to veteran backcountry hikers (all family and friends), we eagerly looked forward to six nights, seven days on one of the most gruelling hikes in North America. The West Coast Trail is a 75 km (47 mile) backpacking route through a temperate rainforest that winds through the forest and along the beaches. Views from the sandstone cliffs are breathtaking, as well as many waterfalls, caves, sea arches, sea stacks, sea life and more. We were fortunate to have had excellent weather (only one day of rain which was mostly drizzle that stopped when we arrived at camp). But the mud was sometimes challenging as well as the slogging along the beach in hiking boots and heavy backpacks.
A bit of History: The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, located on the southern end of the west coast of Vancouver Island, is a very scenic, lush temperate rainforest and faces the open Pacific Ocean. Pacific storms forced many vessels onto the rocks and shores of this rugged coastline, hence the nickname, “Graveyard of the Pacific”. The trail was built as a life-saving trail for shipwreck survivors and is now kept as a Parks Canada hiking trail with the help of the First Nations tribes that live in it.
