West Coast Trail - May, 2017

My son, Josh, and his backpacking buddy, Richard, recently hiked the West Coast Trail in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve in British Columbia, Canada. It's a coastal trail and only for experienced, fit hikers and backpackers. It's not a long trail, only 47 miles, but "has the reputation of being one of the most grueling treks in North America. It is isolated, strenuous, physically challenging and potentially hazardous." It is considered one of the top ten hikes in the world and "was built in 1907 to facilitate the rescue of shipwrecked survivors along the coast, part of the treacherous Graveyard of the Pacific."

Josh and Richard hiked north to south. They met a solo hiker, Michael from Canada, who joined them for the entire hike.

Below are some short, fun video clips and a few photos. Josh's trail name is Sponge, which he was christened with on his 52-day backpack trip of Iceland in 2015. Josh wears the orange backpack.

I just love this stuff. And continue to live vicariously...

~*~

Crossing one of the suspension bridges. That's Richard's vocals. Hilarious!





Josh riding a hand pulled 'cable car' across a river/ravine.

Michael (Bronty) and Josh (Sponge) bouldering

Just one suspension bridge

 Richard on a bridge. Look at those ladders behind him!

Sponge and Bronty ascending

Sea lions

To see over 100 more pics, click here.