Safety & Staying Healthy

Cable Cars?

A bit intimidating at first, cable cars are a lot of fun once you learn how to ride them. Wear gloves to protect your hands.

There are 5 cable cars on the WCT:

• Camper
• Cullite
• Walbran
• Carmanah
• Klanawa

You are unlikely to cross all 5 as one or more is usually out of service at any given time. Depending on your route & the height of the river, it's sometimes more convenient to wade any but Klanawa. You have no choice there — you must take the cable car.

If you are hiking alone, good luck. It’s possible to cross alone but you need to be quick & agile. You could, instead, wait until the next hiker arrives.

If you cross with another hiker, rehearse how you will work together. The stronger hiker holds the car in place, while the other loads the packs into the centre of the car, then climbs in. Finally, the person inside the car holds it steady, while the other climbs aboard.

Of course it's easier if you have a larger group of people to assist you steadying the car. Never tie-up a cable car.

Gravity will take you half way across. From there you must haul yourself the rest of the way by pulling on the cable.

Be very cautious to grab the correct cable, correctly. Some have mangled and even lost fingers. Others have tangled hair into the pulley.

Don’t worry about the cable car falling into the river. But we’ve heard that hikers sometimes fall off the landing platform in the excitement of helping others with boarding or unloading. Minimize the number of people on the platform to reduce the risk of someone being bumped off.

Don't bounce the car as it might disengage from the cable (but not fall).

Walbran cable car.
Photo Bill Wallace / Joan Bobyn

Rope pulls

You may come upon ropes left behind by previous hikers to help scramble up steep embankments & cliffs. Use these ropes cautiously. Parks Canada does not place any ropes! We've had ropes like this fail on the coast — a serious injury is possible.

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Mud pits?

We’ve seen hikers who have landed face first in the mud.

Do not wear white pants!

To avoid a mud bath yourself, the best strategy is to dress properly, put a smile on your face, then stomp right through the middle. Most falls occur when people try to skirt the deepest mud. It is safest to choose the best foot placements regardless of how muddy your boots get. Probe the depth of the mud & water with a stick if need be.

River crossings?

With bridges, boat & cable cars, there are only a few required river crossings on the West Coast Trail. The challenge varies with the tide, rain and the time of the year. We've never had a major problem but others have been unable to cross flooded rivers (i.e. Darling, Michigan, Logan & Camper) after rain storms.

When there is a chance of falling into water, unbuckle the waist and chest straps on your pack.

Bring 1 pair of footwear which you can use to wade. Old light running shoes are best but most hikers use TEVA-style sandals. Cross first without your pack to check the route. A walking stick or hiking pole is useful for balance.

Plant each foot carefully. If you are nervous, ask a more confident hiker to carry your pack. A group is safest walking across together, elbows linked. The strongest / heaviest person is upstream.

Stay alert. You usually slip in the shallowest water when your attention is diverted. (One of our hikers slipped in about 2 inches of water at Michigan. We're still chuckling about that one.)

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Do the creeks flood?

Yes.

Flash floods can turn mild creeks into raging rivers, making crossings dangerous. You may have to wait until waters recede. Poor weather or incoming tide can halt your progress, as well. Better safe than sorry.

Remember — always camp on the FAR side of the creek (closer to your destination) if there is any chance the water will rise overnight.

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