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Taking a trip on the West Coast Trail means some planning and organization. There are a few basic, but essential things that need to be worked out before you go on this world class hiking adventure. This article looks at the considerations for deciding when to hike the trail. It is article two in the series of five. Deciding when to go on a wilderness backpacking hike can involve a number of crucial factors. The factors may relate to how well prepared you are with fitness, equipment, or skill; or they may relate to the number of other people you will encounter; or the factors may relate to weather or other conditions. Choosing the time to go to some destinations is more difficult than just when you are off work, and can involve a fairly complex set of choices. For the West Coast Trail, all of these factors may influence the decision making process. When is the park open? The most obvious factor for choosing when to take a hiking adventure on the West Coast Trail will be doing it when the park is open. Although there have been a few hardy hikers travel the trail in January, most people do not want to have to swim the channel at Nitinat Narrows and across the bay at Port Renfrew. The ferries for these crossings are open from about May 1 through September 30, which are the dates that the park is open. Within these five months there are other factors to consider. How many other people are on the trail? The peak season for hikers on the trail is between June 15 and September 15. During this time Parks Canada has a reservation and quota system in place. A maximum of 30 hikers are allowed to start from each end of the trail each day, with a maximum group size of 10. If you have a group of more than 10, you may have to split your group and start on different days. Commercial tour operators are limited to a maximum number of places during the season and can only begin hiking from Port Renfrew on odd numbered days, and from Bamfield on even numbered days. Of course, a commercial group fits within the 30 hiker maximum per day. The busiest times are between July 1 and September 6, when there can easily be 350 people along the 75 km of trail, which may mean 60 to 100 people in a campsite. The practical shoulder seasons, May 1 to June 30 and September 7 to 30, see significantly less people on the trail, for some very good reasons. If you want to go in the peak season, the reservations do book up, so you will want to reserve early in the year for your July to August hike. Why should I go in the peak season? The peak season usually has drier weather. This can have a big impact on the difficulty of the trail. Later in the season usually means a drier trail. The drier weather allows the muddy areas of the trail to dry out somewhat. Earlier in the season, there is more mud, adding considerably more effort to each step, so someone who is just on the edge of being fit enough to make it through the trail under the best conditions will be overwhelmed on a muddy trail. The boardwalks, ladders, and exposed roots will also be considerably more slippery due to the 7 months of algae growth on the wood, so the footing is more dangerous. The other factor to consider with the peak season is the length of day. Earlier in the peak season gives the longest daylight period. The length of the day begins to shorten rapidly in September. Shorter days mean being in camp earlier to get set up before dark, which in turn means a shorter hiking day. July 1 has sun between about 5:30 am and 9:30 pm, while August 31 has sun between 6:30 am and 8:00 pm. This may seem like a long time, but a group can easily arrive at a camp after 6:30 pm and still be setting up, cooking, and cleaning up after dark. Which is better in the peak season, July or August? August is usually know as "Fogust" on the west coast. Morning fog is common and even all-day fog can happen. The weather is usually quite warm, but the views out onto the ocean may be limited by the fog. July usually has the best weather and the clearest air. Otherwise, the previous discussions apply. What are the advantages and disadvantages of going in the shoulder seasons? The early shoulder season has long days and less people, but the weather is usually still more changeable and the trail still muddy and slippery from the winter and spring. If you and your group are experienced hikers and "know the ropes," then the early shoulder season may be an option. The only other consideration is that the Nitinat ferry runs may be less often during this time because of less demand from hikers. The late shoulder season is usually drier and less crowded with people, while there may still be fog and the rains may also be starting. The days in September start shortening dramatically the later it gets: sunrise around 7:15 am and sunset around 7:00 pm by September 30. Late September can be a real treat, or it can be a washout. What effects do the tides have on when to hike the trail? Some of the easiest and most stunning parts of this hiking trip are around tide-dependent areas. Owen Point is one area that is remarkable, but is impassable at higher tides. Check the map and tide charts to see when the best tides occur to make it around the point. Camper Bay to Sandstone Creek is another tide dependent area, if you take the shore and not the inland trail. It is a beautiful area, but check the tides for this also. Tsusiat Point, with its Hole-in-the-Wall sea arch, is yet another tide dependent spot. By checking the tide tables or a tide calculation website, these areas can be accessible with proper planning. As "they" say, timing is everything. With the West Coast Trail, timing certainly makes a difference, and planning can help get that timing right for the hiking tour that you want. To learn more about hiking trips on the West Coast Trail, visit www.coastalbliss.ca where you will find this and much more about adventure tours and BC coastal hiking.
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