Hiking the WCT. Heavyweight style.

Thanks for posting that link. That was awesome! What an introduction to backpacking for him, he's kicking his huge heavy pack on day one :-)

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how much do you eat while hiking?
can't be a lot at all.

anyways they have some really heavy packs, and that with a resupply.

What do they have in those packs?! I certainly carried my share of ridiculous loads in a pack when I first started backpacking but those things on their backs are HUGE. To look at them you'd think they weigh 50 or 60 lbs. I'm really surprised there wasn't even one person sporting a Gorilla or somethin and blazing by everyone else.

It does look like an amazing stretch of trail though. I really liked that setup they were using to cross the river with the pod and the pulley system. Looks like fun. Thanks for the heads up on the video.

Guys – there is Part 2 and Part 3 on You Tube. The trail gets decidedly more challenging (mud, roots, rain). Brings back memories (fond?).

I just checked out the rest of it on Youtube, good stuff. From the looks of it he almost has a fresh set of clothing everyday! I love the part where he questions the boat captain as to why he would live out there in the middle of nowhere…priceless

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Oh I see, that works of course though.

But you gained weight, that must have been an unexpected experience :)

"Never in my life have I wished more for less." – Part 2 at 6:44

Ha!

This trail is really one of the most challenging that exist. Fun in dry weather, quite distinctly dangerous in wet (which is more often that not).

You would be amazed at how many heavy pack users you see. I mean really heavy. Like pots and pans heavy. Given the over 100 ladder systems (two that are 30 stories high), one can understand why there are, on average, over 100 evacuations in a season. I suspect with lighter packing this number would fall!!

I always liked this trip report – funny stuff.

http://www.sentai.com/mudhounds/index.htm

Their packs are not so big. My 95 liter pack gets pretty full for the WCT. There are some bulky things, but it usually ends up between 50 and 55 pounds for 8 days of hiking. I am a guide,though. I was a sherpa on one trip (third guide to do the heavy lifting for two smaller guides-and I'm not that big). My pack was more like 70 pounds for that trip. That was too much. You wouldn't want to hear what my knees were saying to me in the tent around Carmanah Creek.

If you are reminiscing about the West Coast Trail and want another challenge that is even harder, let me take you on the North Coast Trail. No burgers, no crab, you really do have to carry it all with you. If you have a load of extra cash, you can spend a grand for a food drop, but…it's a chunk of change. Great trip, however.

But hey, why do we do this stuff? I know why I do…I LOVE IT!

…deep sigh…

…..slowly turns and walks away…

Gary, you're not quite getting it. I just did a 7-day trip on the Teton Crest in Wyoming, mostly off trail. Not sure how it compares to the WCT, but it certainly wasn't any walk in the park (well, we were in National parks part of the time, but I digress….). And we certainly had to 'carry it all' with us. My pack started somewhere between 25-30 pounds including food and water (not sure because I didn't weigh it after I left the house and took my share of group food and gear). And I had some stuff I didn't need (had never hiked in Wyoming or thereabouts before and was prepared for about any weather – we only had sunshine!). Our 'guide' probably was carrying around 25-30 pounds too, and he had the Sat phone and a few other incidentals. And, of course, generally the packs got lighter after each group meal was consumed (two per day).

50-55 pounds is way heavy by the standards of most BPL readers. Your pack doesn't have to be that heavy if you only stop thinking like the 'traditional' backpacker, guide or not. Because if you think 50-55 pounds is an acceptable weight for a week, not too many people on this site are interested in letting you take them anywhere….

FWIW

sounds great for everest … lol

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I'm thinking yo-yo-ing the northern half of the WCT (Bamfield to Nitinat Narrows) during the off-season (ie. this winter) would be one heck of an adventure. No fees, no people, no costly taxi back to the start. If anyone wants to go, let me know.

"I'm thinking yo-yo-ing the northern half of the WCT (Bamfield to Nitinat Narrows) during the off-season (ie. this winter) would be one heck of an adventure. No fees, no people, no costly taxi back to the start. If anyone wants to go, let me know."

Oh gee oh gee oh gee oh gee oh gee! How long/how many days? And when exactly?

I doubt I can make it happen, but gosh this would be fabulous!

I live in the area with a pretty flexible job, so I'd do it anytime. They usually don't have snow on the trail during the winter months, but they do get a lot more foul weather (storms).

Here is a video of 3 people doing it in January:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4arKRhUV8gY

They brought wet suits and swam the river in the middle, but it's a pretty dangerous river (fast currents) and wet suits are heavy, so I'd be more inclined just to yo-you the northern half.

Dan, I am going to Yo Yo the whole thing again next year (160 km). There will be 3 of us – you should come along. May time frame.

Regarding doing the WCT in the winter. I have thought about this and a packraft would work great from Port Renfrew to Gordan and across Nitnat……

The May WCT Yo-Yo sounds awesome. I'm not sure if I'll be around (lease is up end of April and I might move to Ontario then) but let me know when it's closer and we'll see. I'd love to do it.

A packraft would be perfect for a full WCT winter hike (winter yo-yo?). A trip this awesome would perhaps be reason enough to buy one.

Definitely will let you know as the planning process goes forward for the Yo Yo.

Yeah, WCT in winter makes me want to buy a packraft and ULA Epic…..HA!

Ontario? For work? You may miss the mountains….

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Yeah Ontario would be a big step down recreationally. My wife and I have all our family out there though so we're not sure what we're doing. I might do a 2 year M.Sc in Northern Ontario/Cottage Country so we're sorta closer to them.

Regarding the WCT, I'm not familar with all the places you're mentioning Mike W cause I've never hiked the WCT (I have done the JDF x 2) but I would be in for any sort of winter adventure on the WCT.