West Coast Trail Guidebook Previews

INTRODUCTION

HISTORY OF THE TRAIL

WHO ARE THE TREKKERS?

RESERVATIONS, FEES AND ORIENTATION

GETTING THERE

TIPS BEFORE YOU BEGIN

*FUN* EARLY TREKKER

TREKKING NORTH TO SOUTH

Map 1    Pachena Bay - The Beginning
Map 2     Pachena Bay Trailhead - Black River
Map 3    Black River - Orange Juice Creek

*FUN* STILL WATER BLUES

Map 4    Orange Juice Creek - Klanawa River

*FUN* ADVICE ON MICE

Map 5    Klanawa River—Tsuquadra Point
Map 6    Tsuquadra Point—KM 37
Map 7    KM 37—Carmanah Point
Map 8    Carmanah Point—Vancouver Point
Map 9    Vancouver Point—Logan Creek
Map 10    Logan Creek—Camper Bay

*FUN* F/K A/T HIKING BOOT

Map 11    Camper Bay—Thrasher Cove
Map 12    Thrasher Cove—Gordon River

*FUN* WALKABAGO

TURNING ON THE HEAT
(fire-building tips)
COMFORT INSURANCE (tarp tips)
FOR-WHATEVER-IT'S-WORTH (tips)
TIDE TABLES
FIT BITS (how fit should you be?)
SAFE TREKS
HYPOTHERMIA
SUN AND HEAT EXPOSURE
EQUIPMENT
FOOD FOR THOUGHT (recipes)
LIFE ON THE BEACH
TREKKING SOUTH TO NORTH

*FUN* AT LEAST IT’S NOT RAINING

Map 1    Gordon River—Thrasher Cove

*FUN* IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER

Map 2    Thrasher Cove—Camper Bay
Map 3    Camper Bay—Logan Creek

*FUN* FEET

Map 4     Logan Creek—Vancouver Point
Map 5    Vancouver Point—Carmanah Point
Map 6    Carmanah Point—KM 37
Map 7    KM 37—Tsuquadra Point
Map 8    Tsuquadra Point—Klanawa River
Map 9    Klanawa River—Orange Juice Creek

*FUN* DOST NOT TREK

Map 10    Orange Juice Creek—Black River
Map 11    Black River—Pachena Bay Trailhead
Map 12    Pachena Bay—The End

TRAVEL CONNECTIONS

THE BLISTERS AND BLISS TEAM

Blisters and Bliss a Trekker's Guide to the West Coast Trail
is a trail guidebook designed to be carried along on the hike and lead from either direction. The Table of Contents is shown on the left. Detailed maps accompany all the text. Numerous, light-hearted cartoons poke fun at all aspects of this world class hike. A few snippets from the book are shown below.

HISTORY

OF

THE

TRAIL

Bits and pieces of many of these ships remain strewn along the coast. The huge boiler of the Michigan, that went down in 1893 at Michigan Creek, is still visible at low tide. Anchors, capstans, overturned hulls and unrecognizable "things” from other ships are also common.

Klanawa River - Tsuquadra Point	Logan Creek to Camper Bay	Camper Bay to Thrasher Cover
APPROXIMATE TREKKING TIME: 2 1/2 TO 3 HOURS DISTANCE: 7 KM The trail from Klanawa River to Tsusiat Falls is all inland. There are a lot of steady and not-so-steady climbs. This is the start of some impressive ladders.	The Logan Creek suspension bridge is a masterpiece of engineering. It offers spectacular, if not heart-stopping, views from its centre.	There is a spectacular cave that you can walk through to get around Owen Point provided the tide is below 1.8 metres. Watch for the sea lions off Owen Point. They can help kill some time if the tides hold you up.

FOR-WHATEVER-IT'S-WORTH DEPARTMENT (tips)
Keep pack weight well under 30% of your body weight. If you must carry more than this, hire sherpas so you can enjoy the trip.	Tide tables are available free of change at the Parks Canada information centres, located near each trailhead. The tables are for Tofino (a village located on the west coast of Vancouver Island), and one hour must added to the times given to adjust for daylight-saving-time.	Buy the highest quality food you can afford. Foods containing little or no additives provide a nutritional advantage. Pasta is very versatile, nutritious and an excellent source of carbohydrates. Instead of spaghetti noodles, which are very sharp, try pasta shells. Shells also pack better than bulky macaroni.