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travel / adventure zone
| The Adventure Zone |
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Get a taste of Vancouver Island's rocky trail
By Christopher Mason
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| Photo courtesy of Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre |
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Hiking the famous West Coast Trail is a rite of passage for anyone
living on Vancouver Island. Its winding path through rain forest and
patches of sandy beaches and rocky shores represent everything that
makes the island such a coveted place to live and visit. Trouble is, the trail is 77 kilometres long,
a distance that looms large over a recreational hiker or family wanting to get a taste of the trail's
decadent views and glimpses into untouched wildlife.
That is why guides at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre at the
northern end of the trail have decided to offer tours of a shorter
stretch of the trail for those who want an in-depth look at a more
manageable hiking distance. On July 15, 2006, they are offering a day-long, 11 kilometre round trip, guided tour beginning at Bamfield. The stretch is
known as the "Stanley Park" part of the trail, referring to the easy
hiking in Vancouver's large urban park.
"That's what makes it so good for anyone who wants to see what the
West Coast Trail has to offer," says Anne Stewart, public education
coordinator at the centre.
The group will set out at 8:30 in the morning and spend the day
exploring the forest and coastline along the trail, before reaching
Mabens Beach. Along the way hikers will be treated to old growth spruce,
hemlock and cedar and sweeping views of the coastline.
The West Coast Trail connects Bamfield to Port Renfrew and was built a
century ago to help rescue shipwrecked mariners along a stretch of
coast known as the graveyard of the Pacific. Today, it is a
recreational trail that attracts thousands of hikers each year.
Because of Bamfield's relatively remote location the trip there can become part of the adventure. A bus leaves daily from Victoria, making the scenic drive to Bamfield. Further up-island travelers can take a passenger ferry from Port
Alberni to Bamfield three days a week. The Huu-ay-aht First Nations
run a campground on a sandy beach near Bamfield overlooking the
Pacific Ocean where many visitors choose to stay. While there, hikers
can explore the village, which is connected by boardwalks and its
residents enjoy their peaceful connection with the ocean and
surrounding thick rain forests.
"Commuter traffic in the morning here is people paddling across the inlet,"
Stewart says.
The hike costs $25 per adult, $10 for children under 12 and $50 for a family of four.
Call 205-728-3301 ext. 226 to reserve a spot.
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| Photos courtesy of Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre |
Links:
Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
The Huu-ay-aht
First Nations Pachena Bay Campground
The West Coast
Trail Express (bus from Victoria to Bamfield)
The ferry from Port Alberni to Bamfield
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