Video

The West Coast Trail is officially closed from October 1st to April 30th. During the harsh winter months frequent and prolonged periods of very heavy rain, severe strong winds and extreme high tides are the norm. There are no shelters and no dry firewood. The essential ferry services are not in operation. Anyone on the West Coast Trail requiring rescue during the winter months must pay the full cost of the rescue, which may be several days away. This video does not recommend, advocate, advise, encourage, suggest, endorse, or propose hiking the West Coast Trail during the off season. The West Coast Trail has the reputation of being on of the most gruelling treks in North America. It is isolated, strenuous, physically challenging and potentially hazardous. The West Coast Trail is also extremely rewarding due to the spectacular scenery and unique setting. We set off, against all advice and rules, to hike the West Coast Trail during winter; a feat attempted by few and successfully completed by even fewer. The treacherous Nitinat Narrows has claimed many hikers with it swift currents. Cable cars were disabled and washed out along the way. Not a footprint we saw until we neared the lighthouse at Carmanah Point. Tusiat Falls thundered over the precipice, where normally, during the crowded summer months, it must be just a trickle. The impassable headlands were extra slippery during the winter, we were told. The boardwalks and ladders were covered with dangerous frost. Captain James Cook arrived on the West Coast in 1778 and years of exploitation through trade in sea otter and other pelts ensued. Missionaries and settlers followed and with increased Trans-Pacific and coastal sea trade the infamous weather and tidal conditions of the West Coast took their toll in a series of calamitous shipwrecks. The area soon became known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific". Any stranded survivors soon perished if they made it to the rugged shoreline prompting the government to construct a rough trail and telegraph line to assist shipwrecked survivors. Hiking the WCT demands stamina and expertise in hiking and backcountry camping skills. Only competent backpackers should attempt the entire route. You are required to cross deep gullies on fallen trees, negotiate very steep slopes and follow an irregular, slippery trail. This is a wilderness area and it may be many hours before help can be obtained should an accident occur. All hikers should carefully evaluate their individual and group abilities before attempting the West Coast Trail.