West Coast Trail

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View of the Pacific from the West Coast Trail

The West Coast Trail is one of the most famous and - depending on the weather - most demanding trekking trails in Canada . It was originally created as the Dominion Lifesaving Trail in the early 20th century. Today the West Coast Trail is known as one of the best trekking routes in the world.

location

The West Coast Trail (WCT) is located on the southwest of Vancouver Island in the southern part of Pacific Rim National Park in the province of British Columbia . The trail with a length of 75 kilometers runs between the towns of Bamfield and Port Renfrew on the coast and thus partly along the Juan de Fuca Strait . The actual starting points (“trailheads”) are, however, at Pachena Bay (northern trailhead) and Gordon River or Port San Juan (southern trailhead).

history

After the sinking of the steamship Valencia , which hit a reef off Vancouver Island in 1906 and killed 136 people, it was decided to facilitate rescue operations. Construction of the trail began in 1907 to give castaways an easier route back to civilization and to improve their rescue. Shipwreck occurred in the region, also called the Cemetery of the Pacific ( English Graveyard of the Pacific was known), relatively common. Between 1854 and 1977 around 80 ships ran aground on the coast off the WCT. In addition, other measures were taken to prevent shipwrecks: For example, a lighthouse was built at Pachena Point, shelters with a telegraph and emergency food were set up at a distance of a few kilometers and the city of Bamfield received a lifeboat.

Used until the 1950s, the trail lost its importance for shipping due to technical progress. In 1970 it was renamed the West Coast Trail and has been part of the Pacific Rim National Park since 1973.

perpetration

The WCT inspection takes about a week and can be done in both directions. The trail is officially open from May 1st to September 30th. In the main season from June 15 to September 15, the number of hikers is limited to 75 per day. Since 2016 it has been possible to reserve online from January and the available places in the high season from mid-June to early September are quickly allocated. For several years it has also been allowed to enter the WCT in the middle of the path at Nitinat Lake , these places are less popular. You can put yourself on a standby list in the hope that reservations will expire on the start day or in the days after that and that places will therefore be available.

Despite its careful modernization, the trail is still very demanding. It leads the hiker along the steep coast, through temperate coastal rainforest and through rocky or marshy terrain. Sometimes steep ladders have to be climbed, rivers have to be waded taking into account the tides and gorges have to be crossed with cable cars . Every year around 1–2% of hikers have to be evacuated; Conversely, this means that an evacuation takes place on average every other day. This usually happens due to ankle injuries or hypothermia .

For several years now, the trail has been maintained by the Quu'as partnership, a corporate joint venture between the First Nation tribes of Pacheedaht , Ditidaht and Huu-ay-aht and Parks Canada .

Tsusiat Falls on the West Coast Trail with a small campsite

Destruction in winter 2006/7

In January 2007 it became known that the winter storms had severely damaged the trail. According to initial estimates, the storms fell over 3,000 trees, a bridge and a cable car were destroyed and a large landslide was recorded. The cleanup, for which $ 500,000 in grants were released, dragged on until mid-May, so the WCT couldn't open until later than usual.

Web links

Commons : West Coast Trail  - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ West Coast Trail. traildino.com, accessed August 11, 2015 .
  2. ^ West Coast Trail (WCT). (No longer available online.) Vancouverislandaccommodations.com, archived from the original on March 4, 2016 ; accessed on August 11, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.vancouverislandaccommodations.com
  3. 12 of the World's Top Trekking Destinations. hikebiketravel.com, March 23, 2011, accessed August 11, 2015 .
  4. The 10 Best Hikes In The World. (No longer available online.) Guideloop.com, November 25, 2011, archived from the original on March 3, 2016 ; accessed on August 11, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.guideloop.com
  5. Laura Ratliff: The World's Best Hiking Trails. cntraveler.com, May 16, 2013, accessed August 11, 2015 .
  6. Julie Blakley: 10 Best Hiking Trails in the World. bootsnall.com, February 19, 2009, accessed August 11, 2015 .
  7. ^ West Coast Trail Rules, Guidebook and Map. westcoasttrailbc.com, accessed August 11, 2015 .
  8. ^ Shipwrecks of the West Coast Trail. langaraprm.com, accessed August 11, 2015 .
  9. West Coast Trail (WCT): 2016 Hiker Preparation Guide (PDF, 4.6MB). pc.gc.ca, accessed March 18, 2016 .
  10. West Coast Trail (WCT): 2015 Hiker Preparation Guide (PDF, 4.6MB). pc.gc.ca, accessed August 11, 2015 .
  11. West Coast Trail (WCT): 2015 Hiker Preparation Guide (PDF, 4.6MB). pc.gc.ca, accessed August 11, 2015 .
  12. ^ Damage cleared, West Coast Trail opens to hikers. canada.com, accessed August 11, 2015 .