Not included:

• Travel to and from Victoria
• Additional foods (Chez Monique's, Dinner in Nanaimo)
• Tips and gratuities
• Personal Gear and Equipment (Personal gear list will be sent to each participant)

Cost:

$150 to book (non refundable)
$1,100 balance due within 30 days of booking
$1,250 total

Cancellation policy

Upon receipt of written notification of cancellation, the balance of your trip fee will be refunded based on the following schedule. Cancellations received:

• More than 45 days in advance: Full refund, less $150

• Less than 45 days in advance: Full refund, less $300

AOE reserves the right to change or cancel a trip at any time. If a trip is canceled by AOE, you will receive a full refund. We recommend the purchase of Health, Travel, Accident and Cancellation Insurance.

WEST COAST TRAIL

Special Notes: The West Coast Trail is an amazing backpacking trip, though it is also a very challenging trail. Clients must be in good physical condition as well as be able to help carry group equipment. They should be capable of carrying 30 to 45 lbs per person, this will include group gear!

August schedule

August 10^th : Meet in Victoria. Travel to the trail head and orientation and registration at the Pacific Rim, Parks Canada office. We will stay in Port Renfrew at a bed and breakfast. We will distribute food and other group gear. This is a great time to get to know your other group mates as well as ask any additional questions about the trail.

August 11^th : We will take the Gordon River ferry (12 person boat) to the trail head at 9 am. Our campsite that we will hike to is “Thrasher Cove”. Thrasher cove is only 6 km away, though this will take us most of the day as the terrain is very challenging. We will spend all day hiking in the rain forest with no view of the ocean, though you will experience the true beauty of the luscious undergrowth of the rain forest. . You will experience your first set of ladders as well as see a the donkey machine (it was left behind from logging during WW1 as all the men left and never returned). Thrasher Cove is on the beach in a small cove, it has an amazing view of Port San Juan and Port Renfrew across the water. Sometimes there are yaghts that will anchor for the night in the cove.

August 12^th We will follow the beach to Owen Point. We may take the trail if the tides are not with us. Hiking to Owen Point involves hiking through and onto huge boulders. This route is easier and shorter than the trail. Hiking near Owen Point has very unusual caves to explore (Cataman caves). At Owen Point we will return back to the trail due to impassable headlands. We will head to Camper Bay for our second camp location. Camper Creek we will be camping on the east side of the creek, though the ocean is easily accessible by crossing the knee high creek.

August 13^th This day begins with ladders out of Camper Creek and right onto the trail, where we will spend rest of the day hiking through the beautiful old growth rain forest. Due to impassible head lands and very dangerous surge channels we will not hike on the beach this day. Sandstone creek has a very picturesque view of the water carved out through the sandstone and has created unique pot holes. Cullite Creek we will encounter the cable car, we use this depending on how deep Culite Creek is and then more ladders. We will travel along boardwalk through a bog that has stunted ceder and hemlock trees as old as 300 years. We will then head to Logan Creek. This campsite is very seldom used and is very secluded. We camp on the beach across Logan creek. This is a great place to bathe at the mouth of the creek.

August 14^th This day starts of with crossing the famous Logan suspension bridge. A short trek on the trail through the rain forest we will arrive at Walbran Creek. At Walbran we will begin hiking on the beach again and leave the most difficult part of the West coast trail. Just past Bonilia point we will stop at Chez Monique's for a late lunch and our food drop, then onto to Carmanah light house. Our destination is Cribs, this is named because it a natural breakwater. Watching the tide come in over the crib is an amazing view.

August 15^th If the tides are with us we will hike the beach by climbing up onto the crib. Then on to Cheewhat River. The water is very dark, almost like tea caused by the tannens in the cedars. After crossing the Cheewhat River and onto Nitnat Narrows. The Narrows, because of its depth and current, must be crossed by boat. At the Narrows you can enjoy a cold pop, beer or fresh cooked crab. Then onto Tsuisiat Falls, on this part of the trail is one of the most spectacular views of the entire trail. Tsusiat Falls is considered to be one of the major highlights of the trail. We will stay here for two nights.

August 16^th Tsuisiat Falls. Explore the area above the falls or just hang out on the beach all day and sometimes you can see young Grey whales rollickingly about 500m just off shore.

August 17^th From Tsusiat Falls we will hike to the Klanawa River and encounter more ladders just before Klanawa River then onto our last cable car crossing. Heading at this point to the beach. Then back onto the trail for a short time then back to the beach at Tsocowis Creek. This section is all beach and shelf hiking to our campsite at Michigan Creek on the way we may see a boiler from a old ship wreck.

August 18^th Leaving Michigan we will pay a short visit visit to Pachena Lighthouse, this day we hike in the rain forest all day. This use to be the easiest part of the trail though due to the storms of the last 2 years this part of the trail has the tallest ladders. Pachena Bay is the end of the trail for us. We will be met by our driver and drive to Naniamo for dinner and then on to our bed and breakfast, for baths and showers.

August 19^st Breakfast at the bed and breakfast and goodbyes to our new found friends.

Useful links:
Vancouver Island Outdoors
Quu'as First Nations
Port Renfrew