Geography, Climate, and Ecology of the West Coast Trail
Located in British Columbia, the WCT runs along the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island. The island is separated from the mainland by a series of four straits: Johnstone Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait, Strait of Georgia, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Pacific Ocean borders the western coast. The Vancouver Island Ranges run the length of the island and split it into two halves: the western being wet and rugged, the east being drier (in terms of the Pacific Northwest) with rolling hills.
The trail runs along the western coast, between Pachena Bay and Gordon River, and is characterized by its mountainous terrain, inlets, bays, and fjords.
Despite its northerly latitude, Vancouver Island's climate is perhaps the most mild in Canada. Indeed, the average temperature during hiking season (May-September) is about 66°F and rarely drops below 32°F in the winter. The western coast experiences an abundance of precipitation throughout the year (averaging 261 inches/year), however the summer hiking season experiences the least amount of that precipitation.
Being in the temperate rainforest biome, the trail is flanked by a mixture of large conifers (find a list that can be scrutinized here). The trees conceal many animal species, including Roosevelt elk, black bears, Vancouver Island wolves, and the most concentrated population of cougars in North America. Notable exceptions to the island's fauna include grizzly bears, skunks, coyotes, porcupines, and moose - all of which are found on the mainland.
2012 WCT Preparation Guide
Being in the temperate rainforest biome, the trail is flanked by a mixture of large conifers (find a list that can be scrutinized here). The trees conceal many animal species, including Roosevelt elk, black bears, Vancouver Island wolves, and the most concentrated population of cougars in North America. Notable exceptions to the island's fauna include grizzly bears, skunks, coyotes, porcupines, and moose - all of which are found on the mainland.
2012 WCT Preparation Guide
The Route
Stretching 75 km (47 mi) along the coast, the WCT guides hikers through beaches, bogs, and forest. Assuming a north-south route, the trail begins at Pachena Bay and continues south to the Gordon River outlet. Most choose to travel southwards since the most southern part of the trail is much more strenuous - the days leading up to this challenging portion may serve as training for some (not recommended) and will leave hikers with lighter packs as food and fuel are consumed.
The trail itself, once known as extremely rigorous, has become more tame in the past decade or so. While this does alter the nature of the trail's challenge, it doesn't take away from its natural beauty or backcountry feeling - especially because only a limited number of hikers are allowed on the trail at any given time. Further, the trail has inherent natural thrills that take the form of large rivers/chasms that must be crossed via cable-car, steep enough terrain that one must climb ladders to continue along the trail, and trail sections that cross over, through, and near headlands, surge channels, exposed shelf, and areas that are impassable at high tide. Indeed, perhaps the most important 3 things carried by any hiker are a compass, map, and list of tide tables.
WCT Map
The trail itself, once known as extremely rigorous, has become more tame in the past decade or so. While this does alter the nature of the trail's challenge, it doesn't take away from its natural beauty or backcountry feeling - especially because only a limited number of hikers are allowed on the trail at any given time. Further, the trail has inherent natural thrills that take the form of large rivers/chasms that must be crossed via cable-car, steep enough terrain that one must climb ladders to continue along the trail, and trail sections that cross over, through, and near headlands, surge channels, exposed shelf, and areas that are impassable at high tide. Indeed, perhaps the most important 3 things carried by any hiker are a compass, map, and list of tide tables.
WCT Map
History of the West Coast Trail
The WCT passes through a region which, until about 200 years ago, was primarily inhabited by the Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht and Pacheedaht First Nations. These cultures had been present in the region for 4000 years and during that period had developed a number of trails for the purposes of trade and travel.
During the late 1800s, two lighthouses were constructed off the coast and a telegraph cable was run along the shoreline due to the significant number of shipwrecks occurring on the reefs and rocks that line the coast. Lives continued to be lost despite these efforts, perhaps most notably when between 117-181 individuals died when the SS Valencia wrecked off the Southwest coast of Vancouver island.
The original West Coast Trail, deemed the Dominion Lifesaving Trail, was constructed in the early 1900s to help survivors and their rescuers move more effectively along the coast. The trail had shelters along it at 8 km intervals, each with a telegraph and instructions to properly use it.
It was not until 1973 that the trail became part of the Pacific Rim National Park. Since its incorporation into the park, the WCT has been continuously updated and improved for the public's use. Perhaps the most notable event on the WCT since 1973 was the severe storm damage the trail sustained during the winter of 2006/2007. A trail spokeswoman estimated that at least 3,000 trees had been felled, also stating that the storm and landslides were responsible for the destruction of a bridge and one of the famous cable-cars. Nearly $500,000 was invested into the trail in order to repair the damage sustained and removed the trees that had fallen across it.
