Vancouver Island
Backpacking 6 Days on the West Coast Trail (7/04)

After 48 hours of rain in the Adirondack High Peak Region this past spring, I decided to plan this trip with more thought for carrying a little extra (dry) clothing. Despite this, keeping my gear-list trim and light continued to be my quest.

On the first day of traveling west we would fly into Vancouver, B.C., take the bus/ferry system to Vancouver Island, and spend night #1 in Victoria. The following day, we would commute by bus (4-1/2 hrs) to a B&B in Bamfield for night #2... leaving behind at the hotel in Victoria all of our travel bags, clothing, etc., we would NOT BE CARRYING on the WCT (day-3 of the trip). On day-8 of our trip, we would hike off the WCT at Port Renfey, take the WCT Bus for a much shorter ride, and return to our hotel (and our bags) in Victoria for a final night in Canada. On day-9, we would fly home.

Overall, it would take two days of travel and two nights at different hotels, before beginning the WCT at it's northern trailhead outside Bamfield. We would spend 6-days backpacking south along the ocean and cover 48 miles. The trail would be dotted with zillions of water crossing and ladders to climb up and down; wet feet were a given. Although we were not likely to have much rain (although it could rain for the entire week), I expected the ocean air to be damp. With these factors in mind, I put the following gear list together. At the time of this writing (6/04), I hoped my provisional gear/clothing/food list would not exceed a pack weight of 35-lbs.

Pre-Hike Pack Weight #1 (7/18/04):

It's Sunday at 2:50 PM. Departure date is 7/20/04. My gear and clothing have been weighed individually and collectively. I've added a little more clothing, and I'm taking my short and long gaitors - we're going to a rain forest, you know. Here are the totals:

Pre-Hike Pack Weight #2 (7/19/04):

Departure date is 7/20/04 - Tomorrow. After a last minute check-in with AXE, I was convinced that all the bad weather PR we've been hearing about takes place in the months other then when we'll be hiking. Consequently, I went back to the drawing board and reduced my pack weight by 3-lb/2-oz. I left home:

So... My new Total Pack Weight is... 44-45 lbs! I'm NOW ready to cruise! Here's how the whole enchilada breaks down...

"g's" Gear and Travel Lists for the West Coast Trail

Day of Departure
Here are the things I will wear and carry onboard the aircraft.

Travel Clothing
Here's where planning gets a little tricky. The clothes and misc. things I take for traveling on day #2 will be taken on the backpacking trip which will begin on day #3. Obviously, the clothing I will wear on day #2 will be hiking clothes.

Backpacking Gear
Keeping this list trim and light seemed to be the easiest. The 4x5 tarp will be used as protection from the rain while sleeping if need be. Weights: lbs/oz; Gear not taking.

Clothing (6 days)
Will there be enough dry clothing? Will there be enough hot dry weather to dry damp clothes?

First Aide

Misc. Pouch

Personal Food

Community Gear (to be divided 4-ways)