Ben
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- Sep 12, 2014
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- 1,873
I went in the middle of June. The West Coast Trail was originally built a century ago as a life saving route in response to the frequent shipwrecks along the southern coast of Vancouver Island facing the Straight of Juan de Fuca. It runs between the Gordon River at Port Renfrew, and Pachena Bay near Bamfield. In Canada the trail is 75km, which is ~48 miles. Some of the route travels right along the beach, some of it through forest. There are two ferries involved in the length of it, a few cable cars, a number of bridges, and quite a lot of ladders.
I started from the East end at Port Renfrew and hiked West. From the park office at Port Renfrew it is is necessary to take a very short ferry across the Gordon River estuary to access the start of the trail. Looking back upon disembarking. The last i'd see of the group i rode across with.
![west coast trail 031.JPG west coast trail 031.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37499-8777970fcaa52ed663e19f28f9f4f93e.jpg)
The way is well signed, and rather vegetated. Coming from the East the first several miles are wooded like this.![west coast trail 040.JPG west coast trail 040.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37500-c1c85b0a9ce4e7531a5c20cb141d7cf1.jpg)
It's not long before the ladders begin. Up and down we go.
![west coast trail 050.JPG west coast trail 050.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37501-21df4aaaa7d5e741d9569e6c4b088a11.jpg)
![west coast trail 056.JPG west coast trail 056.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37502-2e864f3a209c98a15b118af4496dba92.jpg)
Even before the original trail was finished a telegraph line was strung along the route, also to aid in life saving efforts on account of the ship wrecks. Remnants of it can still be seen along some portions of the trail.
![west coast trail 059.JPG west coast trail 059.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37503-adb5d82f880a32cd338308ac4858ffe0.jpg)
![west coast trail 060.JPG west coast trail 060.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37504-1e652386a69e07fba338b49dea5d0f49.jpg)
This picture is a close up from the previous, a glass insulator grown into the tree.
![west coast trail 061.JPG west coast trail 061.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37505-cb2a318803efdc0ca0b57a58f2badf1e.jpg)
A not insignificant amount of the far eastern end of the trail looks like this. Right up the rocks.
![west coast trail 069.JPG west coast trail 069.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37506-ce0c39efed4fabffb76c93cfcc261a89.jpg)
An old donkey engine from old trail construction. The two logs it sits on are held together at both ends with timbers, and bolts two or three feet long running through them.
![west coast trail 075.JPG west coast trail 075.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37507-3e183a02481151369f27558dc40209fc.jpg)
An old, from old trail construction. There are more of these.
![west coast trail 083.JPG west coast trail 083.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37508-fe1cbbea26f92d1f01a63fa33ce17817.jpg)
![west coast trail 088.JPG west coast trail 088.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37635-8fc66227ef3c0f729dfbf60b82916d4a.jpg)
This was not the only place i had to more than hunch over to get under a tree across teh trail. You might note this one has been here long enough for an other tree to start growing off of it.
![west coast trail 102.JPG west coast trail 102.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37509-0b654d3f69cc77c1bb8c792056a767e7.jpg)
Many sections of the trail have board walk in various states, some better than others.
![west coast trail 106.JPG west coast trail 106.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37510-be25012db7c6b2617ad5a19cd880f721.jpg)
![west coast trail 113.JPG west coast trail 113.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37511-d6297bf8cc04f8e3a53bcb1641e042d5.jpg)
![west coast trail 115.JPG west coast trail 115.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37512-68b679d778a2bd5dd1a9301056dc6feb.jpg)
One of the aspects of the trail that most impressed me was some of the innovative construction along it. The best parts did not picture well. But there were places where the route passed along a downed tree that had been planed, to an other downed tree that had been planed, lying at a different angle, perhaps to an other. And this would all start and end with steps cut into the log to be able to get on top of and off of it.
![west coast trail 123.JPG west coast trail 123.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37513-6abafaed2f3be7b33bb4ec8e6631bfe0.jpg)
In some places there was mud. When i went it was fairly dry, i did not see any rain, which was fortuitous.
![west coast trail 126.JPG west coast trail 126.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37514-d686f9249cae5fb5be60b3e3477fcf0c.jpg)
![west coast trail 132.JPG west coast trail 132.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37515-bde959d9701d4acb29ea258be4d4684b.jpg)
In some places whole rounds from a log have been sunk into the mire in attempt to make a path across it. At times it was difficult to find solid surface to walk around it on.
![west coast trail 133.JPG west coast trail 133.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37516-b811575847b90643c04a9fedcf288c46.jpg)
Old board walk.
![west coast trail 137.JPG west coast trail 137.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37517-a83df52a61f4333c82dde80b8052fae6.jpg)
One of the creeks, finally with a view out to the ocean.
![west coast trail 144.JPG west coast trail 144.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37518-b10454d275b0771283146212a6206851.jpg)
Trail.
![west coast trail 148.JPG west coast trail 148.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37519-c5525a29434a7e71dbe554d18b63cc2e.jpg)
And finally a view for a moment.
![west coast trail 149.JPG west coast trail 149.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37520-6959d75e7a5541d27a8147511147f47c.jpg)
![west coast trail 156.JPG west coast trail 156.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37521-c94fcb84ad2d39401b5222e25cb10f15.jpg)
This was one of my favorite little gems.
![west coast trail 159.JPG west coast trail 159.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37636-f883bf66c8fb105812880ed1cb3534de.jpg)
Ladders for days.
![west coast trail 162.JPG west coast trail 162.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37522-27cd87a2ac33437a64fbdbb73d0276a9.jpg)
See three descending in succession here.
![west coast trail 166.JPG west coast trail 166.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37523-ec67ab61b5bd66fb887c71f7cc0e700e.jpg)
The first cable car, i think at Camper Creek.
![west coast trail 168.JPG west coast trail 168.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37524-ab3085a9990c12bdc136470f2a4c31cf.jpg)
I don't believe that any of the cable cars were necessary given the water levels when i was there. I only used two, this and the next, for the novelty of it. Really it's more of a hassle than it's worth when you can just walk across.
![west coast trail 173.JPG west coast trail 173.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37525-065c981add0442713b788242d3e04d32.jpg)
![west coast trail 174.JPG west coast trail 174.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37526-9a7ccb9c957a797974dea329fe788ffc.jpg)
An other three ladders. I believe the longest single ladder i counted was at least sixty rungs, and the longest series was at least a couple hundred.
![west coast trail 177.JPG west coast trail 177.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37527-4daff1782ad0809f65b6a4511b4e9a40.jpg)
Up on top, between creeks, in the eastern third of the trail.
![west coast trail 184.JPG west coast trail 184.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37528-1f3bb33c4f1fac32623292f4efc4f804.jpg)
This is Logan Creek. I took a few pictures to capture how the trail makes it's way across. I loved it. I really love a nice bridge, especially in back country.
![west coast trail 189.JPG west coast trail 189.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37529-3c9ddee7aa71759de34ca3201f3d7526.jpg)
![west coast trail 190.JPG west coast trail 190.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37530-93a01d8751ce8801513db1446ff3371b.jpg)
![west coast trail 191.JPG west coast trail 191.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37531-bedb14ef5066c1b26007bf02fdf8e5f4.jpg)
The bridge.
![west coast trail 194.JPG west coast trail 194.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37532-da3fd7a56c6b27e1eb6350289b007a52.jpg)
![west coast trail 197.JPG west coast trail 197.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37533-3684fc5fe3fd450a8279f6762e6ccddf.jpg)
Looking back at the way down.
![west coast trail 199.JPG west coast trail 199.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37534-d90a908b2ee2a7e89853f3fe49231d60.jpg)
Looking out from the bridge. You can see the mainland, Washington state, across the straight.
![west coast trail 203.JPG west coast trail 203.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37535-f63717ec0cf7efc43b0db890c002d79d.jpg)
And on the other side of the bridge.
![west coast trail 206.JPG west coast trail 206.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37536-8d222d50d5ddce7b87f59dbdf33a0224.jpg)
Looking back down. I believe there was one other drainage that involved as much up and down to cross it as Logan Creek, one right next to it as i recall. Looking at the topo i believe it was Cullite.
![west coast trail 208.JPG west coast trail 208.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37537-1bafb8bf0b8c0766fc30eff381017e57.jpg)
Back on top, the sun getting lower.
![west coast trail 209.JPG west coast trail 209.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37538-18299f7cce07e5af78081b6b153b01aa.jpg)
My first night i camped at Walbran Creek. You can see some backpackers are already here. You might also note the cable care to the left of them. At many of these creeks the tide seems to push up a berm at their mouths that creates these pools. I don't know if this only happens when stream levels are lower as when i was there. I was able to walk on beach below this pool above low tide.
![west coast trail 214.JPG west coast trail 214.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37539-ec8ba9f06ebb54c0234a97bfefde4092.jpg)
The cable car.
![west coast trail 216.JPG west coast trail 216.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37637-3c1db2a468106ba7d24688e228d73447.jpg)
The best sun set i got on this trip. The beach faces South all along the island here, and this far North, this time of summer, the sun sets North of West, so i never actually saw it. This in stark contrast to my previous trip in Olympic National Park.
![west coast trail 225.JPG west coast trail 225.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37540-c0bca02683d9ecc93b61c13f02d5d5ac.jpg)
There were these strange rock formations in the water near the mouth of Walbran Creek, and a lot of birds around too.
![west coast trail 229.JPG west coast trail 229.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37638-4fc2eca5481a3da472bc78af40f48898.jpg)
The moon, and Venus and Jupiter if had to guess.![west coast trail 238.JPG west coast trail 238.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37639-9025100c18bfd283a73febe0c7bd0376.jpg)
The next morning. many of the camp areas were marked with collections of buoys.![west coast trail 250.JPG west coast trail 250.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37640-815107063b099e9b01a0ce282f901b4d.jpg)
Sea urchin carcass.
![west coast trail 257.JPG west coast trail 257.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37541-135407a170cd6a471f22fc58a5713080.jpg)
An other skeleton farther down the beach.
![west coast trail 278.JPG west coast trail 278.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37546-9ff5c889b8ce8a0e415c2f7fbea2151d.jpg)
And the beach it's self. Finally i had some open shore to walk along, some thing to see, in stead of being tree bound like all of the first day.
![west coast trail 263.JPG west coast trail 263.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37542-99f15e7174199d9214565f8dc2545430.jpg)
Strange rock line.
![west coast trail 266.JPG west coast trail 266.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37543-bdba2732d4fbf0aae9ec318fb7e628f5.jpg)
Old metal.
![west coast trail 269.JPG west coast trail 269.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37544-e69f13efe1ae320f3a23ac16199fefea.jpg)
Birds.
![west coast trail 273.JPG west coast trail 273.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37545-7500c770c21681552c898d0cd231602e.jpg)
![west coast trail 282.JPG west coast trail 282.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37547-d8440bfa3ae701363c03a916095d7381.jpg)
Carmanah Lighthouse sits on that point, white structures cut out of the trees.
![west coast trail 290.JPG west coast trail 290.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37548-50069afca7a5f95e6e9a55db62cf9726.jpg)
Carmanah Creek. I found a piece of drift wood to lay over it and cross rather than using the cable car, or getting my feet wet.
![west coast trail 291.JPG west coast trail 291.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37549-0c1284e41f5a5aba109347a4a32da587.jpg)
![west coast trail 292.JPG west coast trail 292.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37550-f9226934841b315ad5711f7207fa0cf4.jpg)
![west coast trail 297.JPG west coast trail 297.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37551-569c04abf87a33b6c5d19966ceaefb81.jpg)
Here you can buy a burger from the First Nations people who still liver here. It was 9am when i walked by so i passed. But they had a dog there, and i liked that. Nice people.
![west coast trail 304.JPG west coast trail 304.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37552-3339fb5191d8eeef9c87eb22e2b61c45.jpg)
From the light house you can look down on a sea lion haul out rock. The keeper had a telescope pointed to it you could look through.
![west coast trail 317.JPG west coast trail 317.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37553-c4da30a1d14f01ea3b4d0933f0fe7202.jpg)
Carmanah Lighthouse.
![west coast trail 319.JPG west coast trail 319.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37554-4f294dd05a2a969237bd2de886440a29.jpg)
Classic fungus.
![west coast trail 322.JPG west coast trail 322.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37555-27111063c9b96cc326125bf94bf32d58.jpg)
Most of the bridges are labeled like this, numbered and bilingual. They count down from East to West. The ladders are numbered in identical fashion, but there are more of them. 80 passerelles to go.
![west coast trail 324.JPG west coast trail 324.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37556-ed1af9907c75e24ce78024e231bc693d.jpg)
Wild life. I love these guys. They present defensively at first, but if you just stand there taking pictures for a minute they switch to passive, lower their claws and wait for you to leave.
![west coast trail 326.JPG west coast trail 326.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37557-c353ec766989ec87262d7bd47536fceb.jpg)
Urchin. Some really cool tidal pools here just West of Carmanah Lighthouse.
![west coast trail 330.JPG west coast trail 330.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37558-90ebf411724985a30a46d3066b1b5ffe.jpg)
![west coast trail 331.JPG west coast trail 331.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37559-b60bb20f63e8a830f2e1417ae00ac84a.jpg)
Purple urchin, green anemone. Gray barnacles.
![west coast trail 334.JPG west coast trail 334.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37560-0a1fa5f85668502d8eca7aebf64ac973.jpg)
So many barnacles.
![west coast trail 335.JPG west coast trail 335.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37561-14a4477818a0e02eea12bf02d6666990.jpg)
I got a closer view of the sea lions from below the lighthouse. Pretty cool. You could hear them very well, noisy critters.
![west coast trail 340.JPG west coast trail 340.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37562-e8831184f38cca2e9753d96147d2e0fc.jpg)
At the same place as the previous handful of pictures.
![west coast trail 347.JPG west coast trail 347.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37563-04a8eb8b7e63c6685be7e17e752f221c.jpg)
And this guy.
![west coast trail 357.JPG west coast trail 357.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37564-2439e8e6586eade78e72296f92b292e2.jpg)
Contours.
![west coast trail 358.JPG west coast trail 358.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37565-8d92666375789381437e00db41fd8e48.jpg)
Crowds. There are a good number of people on this trail.
![west coast trail 359.JPG west coast trail 359.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37566-ee0298c82b5a4a8fafd1da05bdc5c6b4.jpg)
An other sea lion haul out.
![west coast trail 362.JPG west coast trail 362.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37567-08189952bf568cef47d7807f79d4463a.jpg)
A shelf one walks along.
![west coast trail 365.JPG west coast trail 365.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37568-a83fbbd7ff0103f38c9f2d0125ff598d.jpg)
A surge channel.
![west coast trail 369.JPG west coast trail 369.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37569-2a3b59dea944ea27cf3ecdbb0140900c.jpg)
Salt left from an evaporation pool.![west coast trail 371.JPG west coast trail 371.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37570-a3af8fb800464b997e7a1a75117c576c.jpg)
![west coast trail 373.JPG west coast trail 373.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37571-39b5d741a242ed5040dace4ed7caf8a3.jpg)
More buoys. Some times these marked where the trail switched from a beach route to inland trail through the forest, other times just camp sites.![west coast trail 376.JPG west coast trail 376.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37572-dba2a65b41430d5244b748de355a1660.jpg)
Wreckage.
![west coast trail 380.JPG west coast trail 380.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37573-45e92d21df7c95675b687b193ffe3b1a.jpg)
A very large evaporation pool.
![west coast trail 382.JPG west coast trail 382.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37574-84a278dcfe6c4354a0c45d4d2fac85b4.jpg)
A snake.
![west coast trail 383.JPG west coast trail 383.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37575-946da0e33157d2da704cba1230819692.jpg)
The trail runs above the beach here.
![west coast trail 385.JPG west coast trail 385.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37576-68c38f2aa7e527a2ca6d6c37c7c981e7.jpg)
Softball sized rocks, all rounded by the surf.
![west coast trail 389.JPG west coast trail 389.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37577-f0600590349d13724ebb5425bef4f310.jpg)
Bridge over the Cheewhat River.
![west coast trail 403.JPG west coast trail 403.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37578-60177fc77ea46f420123b3467e3c8ec2.jpg)
![west coast trail 407.JPG west coast trail 407.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37579-2e7220f739ab884af322021cf7c3059b.jpg)
![west coast trail 410.JPG west coast trail 410.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37580-796639f209a7b2b37a5bbd05fc06e316.jpg)
Old fungus.
![west coast trail 413.JPG west coast trail 413.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37581-6216d865cd4c2427d535fa5ad6b90037.jpg)
Some of the trees are thick.
![west coast trail 417.JPG west coast trail 417.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37582-cdcba7aa62610925a74c0edde69fae6a.jpg)
Roughly half way along the trail is the Nitinat Narrows, where a ferry is required. You can buy fresh cooked sea food here also. I should have taken some photos from the ride, it was beautiful, and cool and unique, but i had put my camera away.
![west coast trail 423.JPG west coast trail 423.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37583-b1721b1baa1fd2de851cb3ae1803ce85.jpg)
Looking down on a pocket beach.
![west coast trail 426.JPG west coast trail 426.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37584-61592f51532f0d82d7f2a4f11414de5d.jpg)
A very large ship on the horizon.
![west coast trail 428.JPG west coast trail 428.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37585-6ba3a405c68c19fd334d10b15c78ac99.jpg)
The trail.
![west coast trail 429.JPG west coast trail 429.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37586-829361fb235b4796cfd082c619431e98.jpg)
I believe this may have been the beach i climbed the ladder down to and took a nap on.
![west coast trail 431.JPG west coast trail 431.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37587-2d15b561910d8a2e1b2828b41adf16b0.jpg)
In the distance, left of center, you can see the snow capped Olympic Mountains in Washington.
![west coast trail 435.JPG west coast trail 435.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37588-c6ba989c44a7071436e075a25d020d51.jpg)
Tsustiat Arch.
![west coast trail 444.JPG west coast trail 444.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37589-2e4af8e1b50a0055f907032c1588eb0f.jpg)
buoy tangle in the drift wood.
![west coast trail 448.JPG west coast trail 448.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37590-3cafce5570dac6b0c6664d34c3bf66d8.jpg)
Tsusiat Arch from the back side.
![west coast trail 454.JPG west coast trail 454.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37591-14eadcac1817f8bbcd496afc4d30faf0.jpg)
The way up to the trail from the camp near Tsusiat Falls. The route transitions here from the beach.
![west coast trail 457.JPG west coast trail 457.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37593-8f3e59ebcb311627ea7493a35876d6d5.jpg)
Tsusiat Falls. A trickle.
![west coast trail 461.JPG west coast trail 461.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37594-dfaebc0ea05a08ab22f9679832f58771.jpg)
![west coast trail 467.JPG west coast trail 467.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37595-e9df9a1713f8532a8bc3bea3db38c54f.jpg)
![west coast trail 470.JPG west coast trail 470.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37596-172242db12fdace9305a2832b069464c.jpg)
The tent city near Tsusiat Falls. Crowded place. The next camp site was much more low key.
![west coast trail 471.JPG west coast trail 471.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37597-d3ce38df3fa8821538601362457fdc44.jpg)
More ladders.
![west coast trail 474.JPG west coast trail 474.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37598-de258df54b010802779124d8810f1c93.jpg)
This bridge is over Tsusiat Creek above the falls.
![west coast trail 475.JPG west coast trail 475.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37599-e8106424da6a42aaabd47a8f041a9052.jpg)
Looking out the creek over the brink of the falls.
![west coast trail 476.JPG west coast trail 476.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37600-14cce1eb6ccf4896d1d0414ab68a5a1c.jpg)
![west coast trail 478.JPG west coast trail 478.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37601-ee8fb071ffc79aa667301bbd530bc8c5.jpg)
Looking back, Tsusiat Arch at the point.
![west coast trail 483.JPG west coast trail 483.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37602-935538933048ab400b51f0290d532f1e.jpg)
![west coast trail 487.JPG west coast trail 487.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37603-3fe0c491dd0388f242767c56b81218ad.jpg)
I camped here my second night, at Klanawa River. In spite of this large pool, again i was able to walk on beach between it and the ocean. The stream goes under the sand, just as many others did.
![west coast trail 489.JPG west coast trail 489.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37604-35d8af60b68f6d622bf52f1657f6effb.jpg)
A couple of girls arrived here at the same time i did, and they were kind enough to let me join them for a little conversation as i was hiking by my self. One of the nice things about a well traveled trail. Both of them were originally from Ottawa. One was now living in the Yukon, working at Kluane National Park.
![west coast trail 505.JPG west coast trail 505.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37605-97be9f79686f3377ef9dda33ed652e3b.jpg)
Hiking out the next morning. a nice rocky beach.
![west coast trail 511.JPG west coast trail 511.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37606-d82d3bd537fffc09585cf76f7d38ae42.jpg)
![west coast trail 519.JPG west coast trail 519.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37607-580b7b794f4170259303cb9dad097523.jpg)
Marking access to the inland route.
![west coast trail 520.JPG west coast trail 520.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37608-182353fa488681a9e7d59bfcb636cd87.jpg)
Channels cut in the rock.
![west coast trail 524.JPG west coast trail 524.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37609-5e6bcf1828e0a7114f0d663fb3f8f1ce.jpg)
A second old donkey engine, slightly smaller than the other.
![west coast trail 527.JPG west coast trail 527.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37610-c71bb143e931138877815340a8eef1bc.jpg)
![west coast trail 529.JPG west coast trail 529.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37611-7d909581376a6b61cb902cdd01af575c.jpg)
![west coast trail 531.JPG west coast trail 531.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37612-d8f30c83aa3eed636dbb70909275c462.jpg)
An old grader.
![west coast trail 532.JPG west coast trail 532.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37613-90ccba29b2b58aea92e47720522133ea.jpg)
The blade of the grader, and the apparatus for setting it's angle.
![west coast trail 537.JPG west coast trail 537.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37614-2a5c3649580bf57671d5c9496d2ba9d7.jpg)
![west coast trail 544.JPG west coast trail 544.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37615-3a5b554570da94e5f06ab9a94ab2a15c.jpg)
![west coast trail 546.JPG west coast trail 546.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37616-4586a3fbbfb0626237acac047d6e5be5.jpg)
![west coast trail 560.JPG west coast trail 560.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37617-89a8751c3e3117d5c50eb5c548faa677.jpg)
I stopped at this beach for a while and watched some whales for about half an hour or more. I think there were three or four of them. They'd surface in succession, then there would be an interval of a couple minutes or more, and then repeat, always surfacing only one at a time. Or one whale was surfacing three or four times quickly, and then waiting to do it again.
![west coast trail 611.JPG west coast trail 611.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37618-e57c3d502e5678cd86f2a03c2c733c37.jpg)
![west coast trail 629.JPG west coast trail 629.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37619-edd85612f832e263d8530aecbf5b1fa4.jpg)
They also did this thing where they would stick a flipper up and spin it in a circle. I took more than a hundred pictures of these things, in bursts hoping to get some good ones.
![west coast trail 646.JPG west coast trail 646.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37620-e3808878f03663a699142f669efd277c.jpg)
More wreckage.
![west coast trail 769.JPG west coast trail 769.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37621-1abad977e15880c1d4d707436aeef212.jpg)
More beach.
![west coast trail 780.JPG west coast trail 780.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37622-60210aed402c644e33f0df95b288b2b2.jpg)
![west coast trail 785.JPG west coast trail 785.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37623-de84c98c245c090bb6cc56d6d1953a9e.jpg)
Some green.
![west coast trail 791.JPG west coast trail 791.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37624-6240698af38895973d1ef4ac1df0bfff.jpg)
![west coast trail 796.JPG west coast trail 796.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37625-14a635c1dfe3d9505e924c0b360ef42d.jpg)
At Pachena Lighthouse.
![west coast trail 800.JPG west coast trail 800.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37626-34afce19f63d9ec0750aa32693c5c697.jpg)
Also at Pachena Lighthouse. Canada's a funny place. In spite of all the kilometers, miles still show up in random places.
![west coast trail 803.JPG west coast trail 803.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37627-6493cdf9dda784bb2ad056a36b365bb8.jpg)
Pachena Lighthouse.
![west coast trail 807.JPG west coast trail 807.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37628-30bfea5ac4c013b4a5ae9f00860cda9e.jpg)
![west coast trail 812.JPG west coast trail 812.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37629-81445ed7970794cd2bcc724a3bd0b819.jpg)
Not my bike. A few surprising miles from the West trailhead.
![west coast trail 817.JPG west coast trail 817.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37630-f7c54482bd3d96f8e0fd7106b5ed8ad7.jpg)
Getting close.
![west coast trail 821.JPG west coast trail 821.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37631-dc79751528c3a5c4efca280b747b6ab4.jpg)
![west coast trail 822.JPG west coast trail 822.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37632-a8059810e0cfe7cc1342b9411aaa4236.jpg)
A view out over Pachena Bay, about a mile from the trailhead.
![west coast trail 823.JPG west coast trail 823.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37633-bb3daf22326c9f52c010bdf4b4bc0339.jpg)
And of course, one last ladder.
![west coast trail 825.JPG west coast trail 825.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37634-ff54553da7b9a3d8da68ff5eed04b08e.jpg)
For any one who did not get enough, i believe i have a couple hundred more pictures of ladders that did not make the cut.
Some thoughts on this trip and this trail. My biggest take away was that, while similar, i did not enjoy this hike nearly as much as i had my hike on the coast of Olympic National Park immediately previous to this. There are a few reasons for this. The most glaring is the price difference. While at the most basic level they deliver the same thing, a (semi) wilderness beach/shore hike, a permit in Olympic National Park costs $5/night, while a permit for the West Coast Trail costs ~$150US, including fees for both of the ferries. Part of the reason for the high price is that it covers the rescues for those injured on the trail. Any way. I also preferred the sea stacks and other formations on the Olympic coast. They were bigger, more impressive, more numerous. I preferred the sunsets as well, and i believe a lot of the has to do with the orientation of the coast lines. The Olympic coast also felt more wild. FAR less developed, far fewer people. No where to buy food cooked for you along the way, a lot less boat traffic (i didn't see any in Olympic NP, and i saw it, and heard it, every day from Vancouver Island), and about the closest you got to trail construction in Olympic was a rope tied to a tree to help you make it over a headland. And i felt that the West Coast Trail felt more time than it needed in the trees looking at no thing (i've seen trees before) while basically all the Olympic route is on the beach. It wasn't all one sided. The coolest tide pools i found were on the West Coast Trail, and there were good views of the sea lions, though i'd heard them on the Olympic too. The lighthouses were cool, but again, took away from the wild feel. I probably would have enjoyed the West Coast Trail more if i had taken a little more time with it, soaked it in, and if i'd had some one to soak it in with. I did the hike in three days, many people spend as much as a week doing it. I was rushing on to other places. But regardless of all the redeeming values, i still enjoyed the Olympic better, and there wasn't a single thing that made the West Coast Trail worth the cost. Given the price tags, i would choose the Olympic coast every time.
And finally, for those of you who care for a story, i have one from the day before i began my hike. On that day, when i first approached the park office at Port Renfrew, there were three girls sitting on the steps in front of it. I'd actually ridden past it when i first saw them there. I'd read them as locals hanging out on the porch of a house, and hadn't imagined that it was actually the office i was looking for. Any way, once i figured it out and was walking up the steps past these girls, one of them asked me an odd question. "Can we borrow your motorcycle?". I said "What?". It turned out these girls had hiked the trail from the other end and come out a day earlier than planned. They had reservations for the shuttle bus to take them back to their car the next day, but it had been full this day, so they were stranded in Port Renfrew, and just wanted to go home. They asked if i'd give one of them a ride to their car. They offered to pay me a hundred dollars. I could do it, but i didn't like the idea. They didn't have any gear for it. No helmet, no gloves, no thing even so sturdy as jeans. I'd have to take the ammo cans off of the bike just to make it possible for one of them to ride with me. Further complicating things, the car they needed to go get was a stick shift, and only one of the girls knew how to drive it, and she happened to be the least interested in riding passenger on a motorcycle. Eventually she thought of some thing no one else had for some reason. She asked if i could drive a stick shift. So we settled on them paying me a hundred dollars to ride out to the other end of the trail, leave my bike there, and drive their car back to them. This would take at least six hours to do, but i didn't have a reservation for the hike, or a job at that time, so i could just as easily start my hike the next day. And this way my bike would be at the far trailhead waiting for me when i finished the hike. I wouldn't need any shuttle. And i'd get some dollars out of it. So after i got every thing i needed off my bike and left my pack with them i spent the rest of the day mostly on poorly signed unpaved logging roads making my way along Vancouver Island. This is where my chain first started slipping off the rear sprocket. At the time i assumed it had to do with the quality of the roads, or the new chain that had just been put on, since it had never happened before. But i made it to their car, and with only minimal route confusion made it back to them in the middle of the evening. They were very excited when i showed up since it had taken even longer than we'd thought it would, and there's not really any cell service on that backwoods part of the island, so there was no way for me to let them know any thing. The girl who's keys i'd taken was particularly relieved. It looked like they should just make the last ferry back to mainland BC and be able to drive home by about four am. They were kind enough to give me a ride to a small campground a few minutes away, and we crammed four people and four backpacks into their Saturn. Every one left happy.
I started from the East end at Port Renfrew and hiked West. From the park office at Port Renfrew it is is necessary to take a very short ferry across the Gordon River estuary to access the start of the trail. Looking back upon disembarking. The last i'd see of the group i rode across with.
![west coast trail 031.JPG west coast trail 031.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37499-8777970fcaa52ed663e19f28f9f4f93e.jpg)
The way is well signed, and rather vegetated. Coming from the East the first several miles are wooded like this.
![west coast trail 040.JPG west coast trail 040.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37500-c1c85b0a9ce4e7531a5c20cb141d7cf1.jpg)
It's not long before the ladders begin. Up and down we go.
![west coast trail 050.JPG west coast trail 050.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37501-21df4aaaa7d5e741d9569e6c4b088a11.jpg)
![west coast trail 056.JPG west coast trail 056.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37502-2e864f3a209c98a15b118af4496dba92.jpg)
Even before the original trail was finished a telegraph line was strung along the route, also to aid in life saving efforts on account of the ship wrecks. Remnants of it can still be seen along some portions of the trail.
![west coast trail 059.JPG west coast trail 059.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37503-adb5d82f880a32cd338308ac4858ffe0.jpg)
![west coast trail 060.JPG west coast trail 060.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37504-1e652386a69e07fba338b49dea5d0f49.jpg)
This picture is a close up from the previous, a glass insulator grown into the tree.
![west coast trail 061.JPG west coast trail 061.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37505-cb2a318803efdc0ca0b57a58f2badf1e.jpg)
A not insignificant amount of the far eastern end of the trail looks like this. Right up the rocks.
![west coast trail 069.JPG west coast trail 069.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37506-ce0c39efed4fabffb76c93cfcc261a89.jpg)
An old donkey engine from old trail construction. The two logs it sits on are held together at both ends with timbers, and bolts two or three feet long running through them.
![west coast trail 075.JPG west coast trail 075.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37507-3e183a02481151369f27558dc40209fc.jpg)
An old, from old trail construction. There are more of these.
![west coast trail 083.JPG west coast trail 083.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37508-fe1cbbea26f92d1f01a63fa33ce17817.jpg)
![west coast trail 088.JPG west coast trail 088.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37635-8fc66227ef3c0f729dfbf60b82916d4a.jpg)
This was not the only place i had to more than hunch over to get under a tree across teh trail. You might note this one has been here long enough for an other tree to start growing off of it.
![west coast trail 102.JPG west coast trail 102.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37509-0b654d3f69cc77c1bb8c792056a767e7.jpg)
Many sections of the trail have board walk in various states, some better than others.
![west coast trail 106.JPG west coast trail 106.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37510-be25012db7c6b2617ad5a19cd880f721.jpg)
![west coast trail 113.JPG west coast trail 113.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37511-d6297bf8cc04f8e3a53bcb1641e042d5.jpg)
![west coast trail 115.JPG west coast trail 115.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37512-68b679d778a2bd5dd1a9301056dc6feb.jpg)
One of the aspects of the trail that most impressed me was some of the innovative construction along it. The best parts did not picture well. But there were places where the route passed along a downed tree that had been planed, to an other downed tree that had been planed, lying at a different angle, perhaps to an other. And this would all start and end with steps cut into the log to be able to get on top of and off of it.
![west coast trail 123.JPG west coast trail 123.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37513-6abafaed2f3be7b33bb4ec8e6631bfe0.jpg)
In some places there was mud. When i went it was fairly dry, i did not see any rain, which was fortuitous.
![west coast trail 126.JPG west coast trail 126.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37514-d686f9249cae5fb5be60b3e3477fcf0c.jpg)
![west coast trail 132.JPG west coast trail 132.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37515-bde959d9701d4acb29ea258be4d4684b.jpg)
In some places whole rounds from a log have been sunk into the mire in attempt to make a path across it. At times it was difficult to find solid surface to walk around it on.
![west coast trail 133.JPG west coast trail 133.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37516-b811575847b90643c04a9fedcf288c46.jpg)
Old board walk.
![west coast trail 137.JPG west coast trail 137.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37517-a83df52a61f4333c82dde80b8052fae6.jpg)
One of the creeks, finally with a view out to the ocean.
![west coast trail 144.JPG west coast trail 144.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37518-b10454d275b0771283146212a6206851.jpg)
Trail.
![west coast trail 148.JPG west coast trail 148.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37519-c5525a29434a7e71dbe554d18b63cc2e.jpg)
And finally a view for a moment.
![west coast trail 149.JPG west coast trail 149.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37520-6959d75e7a5541d27a8147511147f47c.jpg)
![west coast trail 156.JPG west coast trail 156.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37521-c94fcb84ad2d39401b5222e25cb10f15.jpg)
This was one of my favorite little gems.
![west coast trail 159.JPG west coast trail 159.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37636-f883bf66c8fb105812880ed1cb3534de.jpg)
Ladders for days.
![west coast trail 162.JPG west coast trail 162.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37522-27cd87a2ac33437a64fbdbb73d0276a9.jpg)
See three descending in succession here.
![west coast trail 166.JPG west coast trail 166.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37523-ec67ab61b5bd66fb887c71f7cc0e700e.jpg)
The first cable car, i think at Camper Creek.
![west coast trail 168.JPG west coast trail 168.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37524-ab3085a9990c12bdc136470f2a4c31cf.jpg)
I don't believe that any of the cable cars were necessary given the water levels when i was there. I only used two, this and the next, for the novelty of it. Really it's more of a hassle than it's worth when you can just walk across.
![west coast trail 173.JPG west coast trail 173.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37525-065c981add0442713b788242d3e04d32.jpg)
![west coast trail 174.JPG west coast trail 174.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37526-9a7ccb9c957a797974dea329fe788ffc.jpg)
An other three ladders. I believe the longest single ladder i counted was at least sixty rungs, and the longest series was at least a couple hundred.
![west coast trail 177.JPG west coast trail 177.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37527-4daff1782ad0809f65b6a4511b4e9a40.jpg)
Up on top, between creeks, in the eastern third of the trail.
![west coast trail 184.JPG west coast trail 184.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37528-1f3bb33c4f1fac32623292f4efc4f804.jpg)
This is Logan Creek. I took a few pictures to capture how the trail makes it's way across. I loved it. I really love a nice bridge, especially in back country.
![west coast trail 189.JPG west coast trail 189.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37529-3c9ddee7aa71759de34ca3201f3d7526.jpg)
![west coast trail 190.JPG west coast trail 190.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37530-93a01d8751ce8801513db1446ff3371b.jpg)
![west coast trail 191.JPG west coast trail 191.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37531-bedb14ef5066c1b26007bf02fdf8e5f4.jpg)
The bridge.
![west coast trail 194.JPG west coast trail 194.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37532-da3fd7a56c6b27e1eb6350289b007a52.jpg)
![west coast trail 197.JPG west coast trail 197.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37533-3684fc5fe3fd450a8279f6762e6ccddf.jpg)
Looking back at the way down.
![west coast trail 199.JPG west coast trail 199.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37534-d90a908b2ee2a7e89853f3fe49231d60.jpg)
Looking out from the bridge. You can see the mainland, Washington state, across the straight.
![west coast trail 203.JPG west coast trail 203.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37535-f63717ec0cf7efc43b0db890c002d79d.jpg)
And on the other side of the bridge.
![west coast trail 206.JPG west coast trail 206.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37536-8d222d50d5ddce7b87f59dbdf33a0224.jpg)
Looking back down. I believe there was one other drainage that involved as much up and down to cross it as Logan Creek, one right next to it as i recall. Looking at the topo i believe it was Cullite.
![west coast trail 208.JPG west coast trail 208.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37537-1bafb8bf0b8c0766fc30eff381017e57.jpg)
Back on top, the sun getting lower.
![west coast trail 209.JPG west coast trail 209.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37538-18299f7cce07e5af78081b6b153b01aa.jpg)
My first night i camped at Walbran Creek. You can see some backpackers are already here. You might also note the cable care to the left of them. At many of these creeks the tide seems to push up a berm at their mouths that creates these pools. I don't know if this only happens when stream levels are lower as when i was there. I was able to walk on beach below this pool above low tide.
![west coast trail 214.JPG west coast trail 214.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37539-ec8ba9f06ebb54c0234a97bfefde4092.jpg)
The cable car.
![west coast trail 216.JPG west coast trail 216.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37637-3c1db2a468106ba7d24688e228d73447.jpg)
The best sun set i got on this trip. The beach faces South all along the island here, and this far North, this time of summer, the sun sets North of West, so i never actually saw it. This in stark contrast to my previous trip in Olympic National Park.
![west coast trail 225.JPG west coast trail 225.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37540-c0bca02683d9ecc93b61c13f02d5d5ac.jpg)
There were these strange rock formations in the water near the mouth of Walbran Creek, and a lot of birds around too.
![west coast trail 229.JPG west coast trail 229.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37638-4fc2eca5481a3da472bc78af40f48898.jpg)
The moon, and Venus and Jupiter if had to guess.
![west coast trail 238.JPG west coast trail 238.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37639-9025100c18bfd283a73febe0c7bd0376.jpg)
The next morning. many of the camp areas were marked with collections of buoys.
![west coast trail 250.JPG west coast trail 250.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37640-815107063b099e9b01a0ce282f901b4d.jpg)
Sea urchin carcass.
![west coast trail 257.JPG west coast trail 257.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37541-135407a170cd6a471f22fc58a5713080.jpg)
An other skeleton farther down the beach.
![west coast trail 278.JPG west coast trail 278.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37546-9ff5c889b8ce8a0e415c2f7fbea2151d.jpg)
And the beach it's self. Finally i had some open shore to walk along, some thing to see, in stead of being tree bound like all of the first day.
![west coast trail 263.JPG west coast trail 263.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37542-99f15e7174199d9214565f8dc2545430.jpg)
Strange rock line.
![west coast trail 266.JPG west coast trail 266.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37543-bdba2732d4fbf0aae9ec318fb7e628f5.jpg)
Old metal.
![west coast trail 269.JPG west coast trail 269.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37544-e69f13efe1ae320f3a23ac16199fefea.jpg)
Birds.
![west coast trail 273.JPG west coast trail 273.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37545-7500c770c21681552c898d0cd231602e.jpg)
![west coast trail 282.JPG west coast trail 282.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37547-d8440bfa3ae701363c03a916095d7381.jpg)
Carmanah Lighthouse sits on that point, white structures cut out of the trees.
![west coast trail 290.JPG west coast trail 290.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37548-50069afca7a5f95e6e9a55db62cf9726.jpg)
Carmanah Creek. I found a piece of drift wood to lay over it and cross rather than using the cable car, or getting my feet wet.
![west coast trail 291.JPG west coast trail 291.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37549-0c1284e41f5a5aba109347a4a32da587.jpg)
![west coast trail 292.JPG west coast trail 292.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37550-f9226934841b315ad5711f7207fa0cf4.jpg)
![west coast trail 297.JPG west coast trail 297.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37551-569c04abf87a33b6c5d19966ceaefb81.jpg)
Here you can buy a burger from the First Nations people who still liver here. It was 9am when i walked by so i passed. But they had a dog there, and i liked that. Nice people.
![west coast trail 304.JPG west coast trail 304.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37552-3339fb5191d8eeef9c87eb22e2b61c45.jpg)
From the light house you can look down on a sea lion haul out rock. The keeper had a telescope pointed to it you could look through.
![west coast trail 317.JPG west coast trail 317.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37553-c4da30a1d14f01ea3b4d0933f0fe7202.jpg)
Carmanah Lighthouse.
![west coast trail 319.JPG west coast trail 319.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37554-4f294dd05a2a969237bd2de886440a29.jpg)
Classic fungus.
![west coast trail 322.JPG west coast trail 322.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37555-27111063c9b96cc326125bf94bf32d58.jpg)
Most of the bridges are labeled like this, numbered and bilingual. They count down from East to West. The ladders are numbered in identical fashion, but there are more of them. 80 passerelles to go.
![west coast trail 324.JPG west coast trail 324.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37556-ed1af9907c75e24ce78024e231bc693d.jpg)
Wild life. I love these guys. They present defensively at first, but if you just stand there taking pictures for a minute they switch to passive, lower their claws and wait for you to leave.
![west coast trail 326.JPG west coast trail 326.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37557-c353ec766989ec87262d7bd47536fceb.jpg)
Urchin. Some really cool tidal pools here just West of Carmanah Lighthouse.
![west coast trail 330.JPG west coast trail 330.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37558-90ebf411724985a30a46d3066b1b5ffe.jpg)
![west coast trail 331.JPG west coast trail 331.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37559-b60bb20f63e8a830f2e1417ae00ac84a.jpg)
Purple urchin, green anemone. Gray barnacles.
![west coast trail 334.JPG west coast trail 334.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37560-0a1fa5f85668502d8eca7aebf64ac973.jpg)
So many barnacles.
![west coast trail 335.JPG west coast trail 335.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37561-14a4477818a0e02eea12bf02d6666990.jpg)
I got a closer view of the sea lions from below the lighthouse. Pretty cool. You could hear them very well, noisy critters.
![west coast trail 340.JPG west coast trail 340.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37562-e8831184f38cca2e9753d96147d2e0fc.jpg)
At the same place as the previous handful of pictures.
![west coast trail 347.JPG west coast trail 347.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37563-04a8eb8b7e63c6685be7e17e752f221c.jpg)
And this guy.
![west coast trail 357.JPG west coast trail 357.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37564-2439e8e6586eade78e72296f92b292e2.jpg)
Contours.
![west coast trail 358.JPG west coast trail 358.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37565-8d92666375789381437e00db41fd8e48.jpg)
Crowds. There are a good number of people on this trail.
![west coast trail 359.JPG west coast trail 359.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37566-ee0298c82b5a4a8fafd1da05bdc5c6b4.jpg)
An other sea lion haul out.
![west coast trail 362.JPG west coast trail 362.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37567-08189952bf568cef47d7807f79d4463a.jpg)
A shelf one walks along.
![west coast trail 365.JPG west coast trail 365.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37568-a83fbbd7ff0103f38c9f2d0125ff598d.jpg)
A surge channel.
![west coast trail 369.JPG west coast trail 369.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37569-2a3b59dea944ea27cf3ecdbb0140900c.jpg)
Salt left from an evaporation pool.
![west coast trail 371.JPG west coast trail 371.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37570-a3af8fb800464b997e7a1a75117c576c.jpg)
![west coast trail 373.JPG west coast trail 373.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37571-39b5d741a242ed5040dace4ed7caf8a3.jpg)
More buoys. Some times these marked where the trail switched from a beach route to inland trail through the forest, other times just camp sites.
![west coast trail 376.JPG west coast trail 376.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37572-dba2a65b41430d5244b748de355a1660.jpg)
Wreckage.
![west coast trail 380.JPG west coast trail 380.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37573-45e92d21df7c95675b687b193ffe3b1a.jpg)
A very large evaporation pool.
![west coast trail 382.JPG west coast trail 382.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37574-84a278dcfe6c4354a0c45d4d2fac85b4.jpg)
A snake.
![west coast trail 383.JPG west coast trail 383.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37575-946da0e33157d2da704cba1230819692.jpg)
The trail runs above the beach here.
![west coast trail 385.JPG west coast trail 385.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37576-68c38f2aa7e527a2ca6d6c37c7c981e7.jpg)
Softball sized rocks, all rounded by the surf.
![west coast trail 389.JPG west coast trail 389.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37577-f0600590349d13724ebb5425bef4f310.jpg)
Bridge over the Cheewhat River.
![west coast trail 403.JPG west coast trail 403.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37578-60177fc77ea46f420123b3467e3c8ec2.jpg)
![west coast trail 407.JPG west coast trail 407.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37579-2e7220f739ab884af322021cf7c3059b.jpg)
![west coast trail 410.JPG west coast trail 410.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37580-796639f209a7b2b37a5bbd05fc06e316.jpg)
Old fungus.
![west coast trail 413.JPG west coast trail 413.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37581-6216d865cd4c2427d535fa5ad6b90037.jpg)
Some of the trees are thick.
![west coast trail 417.JPG west coast trail 417.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37582-cdcba7aa62610925a74c0edde69fae6a.jpg)
Roughly half way along the trail is the Nitinat Narrows, where a ferry is required. You can buy fresh cooked sea food here also. I should have taken some photos from the ride, it was beautiful, and cool and unique, but i had put my camera away.
![west coast trail 423.JPG west coast trail 423.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37583-b1721b1baa1fd2de851cb3ae1803ce85.jpg)
Looking down on a pocket beach.
![west coast trail 426.JPG west coast trail 426.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37584-61592f51532f0d82d7f2a4f11414de5d.jpg)
A very large ship on the horizon.
![west coast trail 428.JPG west coast trail 428.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37585-6ba3a405c68c19fd334d10b15c78ac99.jpg)
The trail.
![west coast trail 429.JPG west coast trail 429.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37586-829361fb235b4796cfd082c619431e98.jpg)
I believe this may have been the beach i climbed the ladder down to and took a nap on.
![west coast trail 431.JPG west coast trail 431.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37587-2d15b561910d8a2e1b2828b41adf16b0.jpg)
In the distance, left of center, you can see the snow capped Olympic Mountains in Washington.
![west coast trail 435.JPG west coast trail 435.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37588-c6ba989c44a7071436e075a25d020d51.jpg)
Tsustiat Arch.
![west coast trail 444.JPG west coast trail 444.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37589-2e4af8e1b50a0055f907032c1588eb0f.jpg)
buoy tangle in the drift wood.
![west coast trail 448.JPG west coast trail 448.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37590-3cafce5570dac6b0c6664d34c3bf66d8.jpg)
Tsusiat Arch from the back side.
![west coast trail 454.JPG west coast trail 454.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37591-14eadcac1817f8bbcd496afc4d30faf0.jpg)
The way up to the trail from the camp near Tsusiat Falls. The route transitions here from the beach.
![west coast trail 457.JPG west coast trail 457.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37593-8f3e59ebcb311627ea7493a35876d6d5.jpg)
Tsusiat Falls. A trickle.
![west coast trail 461.JPG west coast trail 461.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37594-dfaebc0ea05a08ab22f9679832f58771.jpg)
![west coast trail 467.JPG west coast trail 467.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37595-e9df9a1713f8532a8bc3bea3db38c54f.jpg)
![west coast trail 470.JPG west coast trail 470.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37596-172242db12fdace9305a2832b069464c.jpg)
The tent city near Tsusiat Falls. Crowded place. The next camp site was much more low key.
![west coast trail 471.JPG west coast trail 471.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37597-d3ce38df3fa8821538601362457fdc44.jpg)
More ladders.
![west coast trail 474.JPG west coast trail 474.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37598-de258df54b010802779124d8810f1c93.jpg)
This bridge is over Tsusiat Creek above the falls.
![west coast trail 475.JPG west coast trail 475.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37599-e8106424da6a42aaabd47a8f041a9052.jpg)
Looking out the creek over the brink of the falls.
![west coast trail 476.JPG west coast trail 476.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37600-14cce1eb6ccf4896d1d0414ab68a5a1c.jpg)
![west coast trail 478.JPG west coast trail 478.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37601-ee8fb071ffc79aa667301bbd530bc8c5.jpg)
Looking back, Tsusiat Arch at the point.
![west coast trail 483.JPG west coast trail 483.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37602-935538933048ab400b51f0290d532f1e.jpg)
![west coast trail 487.JPG west coast trail 487.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37603-3fe0c491dd0388f242767c56b81218ad.jpg)
I camped here my second night, at Klanawa River. In spite of this large pool, again i was able to walk on beach between it and the ocean. The stream goes under the sand, just as many others did.
![west coast trail 489.JPG west coast trail 489.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37604-35d8af60b68f6d622bf52f1657f6effb.jpg)
A couple of girls arrived here at the same time i did, and they were kind enough to let me join them for a little conversation as i was hiking by my self. One of the nice things about a well traveled trail. Both of them were originally from Ottawa. One was now living in the Yukon, working at Kluane National Park.
![west coast trail 505.JPG west coast trail 505.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37605-97be9f79686f3377ef9dda33ed652e3b.jpg)
Hiking out the next morning. a nice rocky beach.
![west coast trail 511.JPG west coast trail 511.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37606-d82d3bd537fffc09585cf76f7d38ae42.jpg)
![west coast trail 519.JPG west coast trail 519.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37607-580b7b794f4170259303cb9dad097523.jpg)
Marking access to the inland route.
![west coast trail 520.JPG west coast trail 520.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37608-182353fa488681a9e7d59bfcb636cd87.jpg)
Channels cut in the rock.
![west coast trail 524.JPG west coast trail 524.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37609-5e6bcf1828e0a7114f0d663fb3f8f1ce.jpg)
A second old donkey engine, slightly smaller than the other.
![west coast trail 527.JPG west coast trail 527.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37610-c71bb143e931138877815340a8eef1bc.jpg)
![west coast trail 529.JPG west coast trail 529.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37611-7d909581376a6b61cb902cdd01af575c.jpg)
![west coast trail 531.JPG west coast trail 531.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37612-d8f30c83aa3eed636dbb70909275c462.jpg)
An old grader.
![west coast trail 532.JPG west coast trail 532.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37613-90ccba29b2b58aea92e47720522133ea.jpg)
The blade of the grader, and the apparatus for setting it's angle.
![west coast trail 537.JPG west coast trail 537.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37614-2a5c3649580bf57671d5c9496d2ba9d7.jpg)
![west coast trail 544.JPG west coast trail 544.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37615-3a5b554570da94e5f06ab9a94ab2a15c.jpg)
![west coast trail 546.JPG west coast trail 546.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37616-4586a3fbbfb0626237acac047d6e5be5.jpg)
![west coast trail 560.JPG west coast trail 560.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37617-89a8751c3e3117d5c50eb5c548faa677.jpg)
I stopped at this beach for a while and watched some whales for about half an hour or more. I think there were three or four of them. They'd surface in succession, then there would be an interval of a couple minutes or more, and then repeat, always surfacing only one at a time. Or one whale was surfacing three or four times quickly, and then waiting to do it again.
![west coast trail 611.JPG west coast trail 611.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37618-e57c3d502e5678cd86f2a03c2c733c37.jpg)
![west coast trail 629.JPG west coast trail 629.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37619-edd85612f832e263d8530aecbf5b1fa4.jpg)
They also did this thing where they would stick a flipper up and spin it in a circle. I took more than a hundred pictures of these things, in bursts hoping to get some good ones.
![west coast trail 646.JPG west coast trail 646.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37620-e3808878f03663a699142f669efd277c.jpg)
More wreckage.
![west coast trail 769.JPG west coast trail 769.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37621-1abad977e15880c1d4d707436aeef212.jpg)
More beach.
![west coast trail 780.JPG west coast trail 780.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37622-60210aed402c644e33f0df95b288b2b2.jpg)
![west coast trail 785.JPG west coast trail 785.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37623-de84c98c245c090bb6cc56d6d1953a9e.jpg)
Some green.
![west coast trail 791.JPG west coast trail 791.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37624-6240698af38895973d1ef4ac1df0bfff.jpg)
![west coast trail 796.JPG west coast trail 796.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37625-14a635c1dfe3d9505e924c0b360ef42d.jpg)
At Pachena Lighthouse.
![west coast trail 800.JPG west coast trail 800.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37626-34afce19f63d9ec0750aa32693c5c697.jpg)
Also at Pachena Lighthouse. Canada's a funny place. In spite of all the kilometers, miles still show up in random places.
![west coast trail 803.JPG west coast trail 803.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37627-6493cdf9dda784bb2ad056a36b365bb8.jpg)
Pachena Lighthouse.
![west coast trail 807.JPG west coast trail 807.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37628-30bfea5ac4c013b4a5ae9f00860cda9e.jpg)
![west coast trail 812.JPG west coast trail 812.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37629-81445ed7970794cd2bcc724a3bd0b819.jpg)
Not my bike. A few surprising miles from the West trailhead.
![west coast trail 817.JPG west coast trail 817.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37630-f7c54482bd3d96f8e0fd7106b5ed8ad7.jpg)
Getting close.
![west coast trail 821.JPG west coast trail 821.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37631-dc79751528c3a5c4efca280b747b6ab4.jpg)
![west coast trail 822.JPG west coast trail 822.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37632-a8059810e0cfe7cc1342b9411aaa4236.jpg)
A view out over Pachena Bay, about a mile from the trailhead.
![west coast trail 823.JPG west coast trail 823.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37633-bb3daf22326c9f52c010bdf4b4bc0339.jpg)
And of course, one last ladder.
![west coast trail 825.JPG west coast trail 825.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/37/37634-ff54553da7b9a3d8da68ff5eed04b08e.jpg)
For any one who did not get enough, i believe i have a couple hundred more pictures of ladders that did not make the cut.
Some thoughts on this trip and this trail. My biggest take away was that, while similar, i did not enjoy this hike nearly as much as i had my hike on the coast of Olympic National Park immediately previous to this. There are a few reasons for this. The most glaring is the price difference. While at the most basic level they deliver the same thing, a (semi) wilderness beach/shore hike, a permit in Olympic National Park costs $5/night, while a permit for the West Coast Trail costs ~$150US, including fees for both of the ferries. Part of the reason for the high price is that it covers the rescues for those injured on the trail. Any way. I also preferred the sea stacks and other formations on the Olympic coast. They were bigger, more impressive, more numerous. I preferred the sunsets as well, and i believe a lot of the has to do with the orientation of the coast lines. The Olympic coast also felt more wild. FAR less developed, far fewer people. No where to buy food cooked for you along the way, a lot less boat traffic (i didn't see any in Olympic NP, and i saw it, and heard it, every day from Vancouver Island), and about the closest you got to trail construction in Olympic was a rope tied to a tree to help you make it over a headland. And i felt that the West Coast Trail felt more time than it needed in the trees looking at no thing (i've seen trees before) while basically all the Olympic route is on the beach. It wasn't all one sided. The coolest tide pools i found were on the West Coast Trail, and there were good views of the sea lions, though i'd heard them on the Olympic too. The lighthouses were cool, but again, took away from the wild feel. I probably would have enjoyed the West Coast Trail more if i had taken a little more time with it, soaked it in, and if i'd had some one to soak it in with. I did the hike in three days, many people spend as much as a week doing it. I was rushing on to other places. But regardless of all the redeeming values, i still enjoyed the Olympic better, and there wasn't a single thing that made the West Coast Trail worth the cost. Given the price tags, i would choose the Olympic coast every time.
And finally, for those of you who care for a story, i have one from the day before i began my hike. On that day, when i first approached the park office at Port Renfrew, there were three girls sitting on the steps in front of it. I'd actually ridden past it when i first saw them there. I'd read them as locals hanging out on the porch of a house, and hadn't imagined that it was actually the office i was looking for. Any way, once i figured it out and was walking up the steps past these girls, one of them asked me an odd question. "Can we borrow your motorcycle?". I said "What?". It turned out these girls had hiked the trail from the other end and come out a day earlier than planned. They had reservations for the shuttle bus to take them back to their car the next day, but it had been full this day, so they were stranded in Port Renfrew, and just wanted to go home. They asked if i'd give one of them a ride to their car. They offered to pay me a hundred dollars. I could do it, but i didn't like the idea. They didn't have any gear for it. No helmet, no gloves, no thing even so sturdy as jeans. I'd have to take the ammo cans off of the bike just to make it possible for one of them to ride with me. Further complicating things, the car they needed to go get was a stick shift, and only one of the girls knew how to drive it, and she happened to be the least interested in riding passenger on a motorcycle. Eventually she thought of some thing no one else had for some reason. She asked if i could drive a stick shift. So we settled on them paying me a hundred dollars to ride out to the other end of the trail, leave my bike there, and drive their car back to them. This would take at least six hours to do, but i didn't have a reservation for the hike, or a job at that time, so i could just as easily start my hike the next day. And this way my bike would be at the far trailhead waiting for me when i finished the hike. I wouldn't need any shuttle. And i'd get some dollars out of it. So after i got every thing i needed off my bike and left my pack with them i spent the rest of the day mostly on poorly signed unpaved logging roads making my way along Vancouver Island. This is where my chain first started slipping off the rear sprocket. At the time i assumed it had to do with the quality of the roads, or the new chain that had just been put on, since it had never happened before. But i made it to their car, and with only minimal route confusion made it back to them in the middle of the evening. They were very excited when i showed up since it had taken even longer than we'd thought it would, and there's not really any cell service on that backwoods part of the island, so there was no way for me to let them know any thing. The girl who's keys i'd taken was particularly relieved. It looked like they should just make the last ferry back to mainland BC and be able to drive home by about four am. They were kind enough to give me a ride to a small campground a few minutes away, and we crammed four people and four backpacks into their Saturn. Every one left happy.
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