Category Archives: West Coast Trail

Arriving in Port Renfrew August 29th, we decided to camp at the Pacheedaht campground in the local First Nations Reserve. August 30th we attended the required orientation at the trailhead office and early the morning of August 31st we parked our car about 800 meters from Butch’s Marina. Marilyn dropped me off with the packs and gear, parked the car (paid $20.00 for 7 days parking) and she walked back to Butch’s Marina to join me. We were scheduled to take the 9 AM ferry across and downstream to the trailhead itself which is located across the Gordon River. Here is Norah’s convenience store, behind which we got on the boat. And a better shot of Marilyn waiting with some other campers, Randy and Jenn from Moncton, New Brunswick, some chinese people who had to do the trail in 5 days or less, and a few others. Behind Norah’s was … Continue reading →

We were looking off the stern of the BC Ferry toward Tsawwassen near Vancouver. You can see a larger image by clicking on it and then hitting the back button on your browser. We focused our attention on Mount Baker. I am not absolutely sure it is Mount Baker, but I’m fairly certain it is. Note that our camera is defective. The round dark gray spot is a defect inside the lens, or with the imaging system. I chose NOT to edit this defect out of the picture, as I easily could have. It is present in every picture, but not always visible due to the background. When suddenly, a huge and rapidly expanding cloud formation rose into the sky seemingly north of Mount Baker. This is a later, poorly exposed picture. We interpreted this as some sort of steam explosion, possibly from Mount St. Helens, although I am not … Continue reading →

Day 1: Situation desperate. Supplies low. Morale suffering. Life support systems failing. There is talk of mutiny within the crew. Crew members are plotting against each other behind each others backs and secretly hoarding supplies. We are suffering from scurvy. Crew members are divided as to whether we should kill and eat the cook, who is fond of using old socks for gravy stock. Lewis and Clark never had such problems. We are lost. Some want to go north, some south, east, west, up or down. Biggest arguments come in figuring out where exactly these directions lie. There is talk of not even leaving home. If this is what it’s like in Devon before we leave, what chance have we? By now you probably figured out I am just kidding. There are only two crew members (me and my wife Marilyn), and a third spiritual member Liz Itter who secretly … Continue reading →

Well, Liz, Marilyn and I spent all day finalizing our gear, packing for the West Coast Trail, cleaning house, training our house-watchers (our friends), and tying up a few loose business ends. Tomorrow morning we are up at 7:15 AM to get ready for the 5peaks race in Terwilliger Park in Edmonton. We have to report at 9 AM for Marshall duty. I wanted to run this race but did not dare just in case I got injured and therefore could not do the West Coast Trail. But when I get back I will be running every race under the local sun plus beginning to train for next year’s half marathon. My Mizunos are also very close to being worn out so I will have to fetch me a new pair. After the race, we have to go to my mom’s for our weekly supper/visit which leaves us like, zero … Continue reading →

Hi Liz, I hope you will feel better soon. I can’t do anything for you and that is a different kind of pain. I know you and your story is inspiring courage in a lot of people who are facing challenges, many of which pale in comparison to yours. As you know, you are invited (in spirit) with Marilyn and I to hike the West Coast Trail in the Pacific Rim National Park on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island. A full report will only happen when we come back. For now, let’s say we are leaving this Sunday morning (August 27th). We will be heading west through Drayton Valley then south through Rocky Mountain House. From there we turn west until we hit HWY 93 (the Icefield Parkway) then south to Lake Louise. All this while we are driving through unbearably beautiful terrain. Then we go west until we … Continue reading →

Between the two of us our gear weighed in at 97 pounds WITHOUT water. We had to hack and slash in order to lose weight. This is almost as hard as trying to lose body weight. I mean, just look at all this stuff! Many reports of people doing the trail online, as any google search will show. We are traveling very light compared to many people, with our maximum loads at 39 and 49 pounds including a liter of water each, whereas some people reported their pack weights at 75 pounds and more! We got rid of “tupperware” type containers for our cooking stove, we used a plastic baggy instead, and did it again for the first aid kit. We got rid of stuff sacks, downgraded to lighter gaiters, lost a days food and some snacks, traded Nalgene water containers for lighter Rubbermaid ones, lost some clothing, dropped one … Continue reading →

Before I begin, I want to say that this trip is dedicated to Liz Itter and her fight against the cancers that are consuming her energies. Like me, Liz is a runner and member of the Penguin Brigade, but unlike me, Liz is a veteran Penguin. Please visit and support her by clicking on the link in the sidebar. Does this look like enough food for two for eight days? This picture is the result of our meticulous planning for our upcoming trip to the West Coast Trail. A lot of this food was purchased at a large Chinese Superstore called T&T’s in West Edmonton Mall. We avoided the expensive and relatively low calorie processed freeze-dried stuff like “Mountain House” made especially for backpacking, which you can buy at backpacking specialty stores such as MEC. It is based on 3000 calories per day for both Marilyn and I. It has … Continue reading →