Safety & Staying Healthy
Will it rain?
Are you kidding? Of course. Average annual rainfall is 300 cm (120 inches).
They don't call it the Wet Coast Trail for nothing. The west coast of Vancouver Island is wild & undeveloped mainly because the weather is so miserable. Anticipate storm-of-the-century winds!
Be certain your tent is waterproof. Test it in advance.
Bring rain gear & proper footwear. We have not had as much success as we expected from Goretex clothing. We recommend you additionally cover yourself & your pack with a cheap plastic poncho. (You may need a piece of string to fix it around your waist in howling sea winds. Some of our ponchos were shredded by the wind in 2001.)
One of our hikers advocates wearing fleece in the rain. It gets wet immediately — then keeps you warm, insulated by warm water.
Wardens told us a tall tale — 2 weeks without rain! We’ve twice hiked without a drop of rain over 7 days. But you should plan on getting drenched every day. Even the good days are usually foggy in the morning. When the sun comes out, grab your camera & hang the wet clothes to dry.
A sample trip report of hikers who got a lot of rain:
Fuel fire?
Don't make this classic campfire mistake ... trying to light a fire by dousing it with stove fuel. One of our contributors tried to encourage a wet fire by splashing a little fuel on it — he was left standing holding a Molotov Cocktail. He instinctively pitched the fuel canister like a grenade, lighting the surrounding foliage & nearly his tent!
Liquid fuel (e.g. white gas) is smelly, dirty & dangerous. Most hikers have flamed their faces trying to light cantankerous stoves on the Trail.
Keep the fuel double or triple bagged in outside pockets of your pack.
How can I check on the weather?
They call this a marine temperate climate, a far too generous description.
Summer high temperatures average around 14 degrees Celsius (57 Fahrenheit). Winter days are often horrible with high winds & frequent, heavy rains.
Our advice is that you hike, if you can, sometime midsummer through September. The West Coast Trail is glorious in the sunshine!
It’s not unlikely you’ll experience a howling sea gale and bright sunshine on the same day
For a pre-recorded marine weather report, just before you hike, call local (604) 724-1333.
For an online weather forecast try the Environment Canada Weather Office web site.
