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Old 03-24-2014, 12:59 AM   #21
Wormius
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I'd love to do some fishing there. Is it advisable to? Just going to be a hassle carrying the rod?

Also what does a "normal" day look like? Is it typically go go go trying to get to the next site or pretty relaxed?

Wake up at seven, have breakfast then hike have lunch and stop and set up tent for dinner?
I think you would be better off stopping off in Tofino after and going fishing from there. You could probably dig for clams though along the trail if you get the license.
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Old 03-24-2014, 07:10 AM   #22
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I'd love to do some fishing there. Is it advisable to? Just going to be a hassle carrying the rod?

Also what does a "normal" day look like? Is it typically go go go trying to get to the next site or pretty relaxed?

Wake up at seven, have breakfast then hike have lunch and stop and set up tent for dinner?
We brought our fly rods with us and saw 1 trout the whole route.
I wouldn't bother. You could try some surf fishing with a hand line though.
Your normal day would depend on how many days you decide to take to complete. We took 5 days and it was great. We weren't rushed and had time to take in the sights, sounds and "smells"
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Old 03-24-2014, 07:22 AM   #23
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A common rate of travel incuding breaks is 1.5km per hour for inexperienced group is 1.5 to 2 km per hour including lunch and breaks depending on trail condition and section. If the trail is dry, it is relatively flat so you can hike at 3+km per hour. So you say 1.5 km for the tough early section and 2 for the rest you will be conservative.

This means you have about 40-60 hrs of hiking to get done so on a 6 day plan you hike around 8 hrs a day. Again this is conservative assuming heavy packs and bad trail.
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Old 03-24-2014, 08:27 AM   #24
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i think this has already been mentioned, but to me it would be well worth it to spend money on proper water repelling/dri-fit clothes and a top quality rain jacket and rain pants.

and get use to gettng 4 days use out of your underwear.....
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Old 03-24-2014, 08:37 AM   #25
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i think this has already been mentioned, but to me it would be well worth it to spend money on proper water repelling/dri-fit clothes and a top quality rain jacket and rain pants.

and get use to gettng 4 days use out of your underwear.....
4? It is a six day trip in a public park. I don't think it is appropriate to run free the last two days.
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Old 03-24-2014, 09:56 AM   #26
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I did it a couple years ago in 4 days. We didn't get any rain at all and it was beautiful weather for hiking, but that doesn't mean the trails are dry. If you're really good on your feet you can get through relatively unscathed. I think I fell 9 times on the trail in different places. The rocks covered with gale are really slippery, be careful. You will have to do a lot of jumping over giant mud puddles. One miscalculation and you will be in it. Gaiters are required. It's not a difficult hike, but it requires stamina and a bit of mental toughness to keep pushing yourself. Anyone can do parts of this trail for a couple hours, but you will have to do it for 8 hours straight for multiple days. Just be prepared for that.
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Old 03-24-2014, 12:12 PM   #27
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Thanks everyone for the advice, it's really helpful.

Lastly, what type of hiking boots do you guys recommend? I might buy these Salomon Cosmic. I tried on a few pairs but this seemed to fit the best.

http://www.amazon.com/SALOMON-Cosmic...osmic+4d+2+gtx
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Old 03-24-2014, 12:15 PM   #28
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I'm thinking of doing the trail in a few years when my youngest kid is 8 or 9. I wonder if that might be too early. My daughter summited Mount Todd at the Sun Peaks resort (about 5 hours round trip) when she was 8, and had no issues, but I wonder if the shear length of the trip might be a little long for that age.
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Old 03-24-2014, 01:01 PM   #29
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I'm thinking of doing the trail in a few years when my youngest kid is 8 or 9. I wonder if that might be too early. My daughter summited Mount Todd at the Sun Peaks resort (about 5 hours round trip) when she was 8, and had no issues, but I wonder if the shear length of the trip might be a little long for that age.
Have you taken them on overnight hikes now? Don't make it there first one. I am assuming you are local to Calgary if so go on a few weekend overnight hikes. If they can do 3 8 hour days in a row with packs then they are probably ready. My thought for that hike is 12.

The objective hazards on the WCT hike are greater than say a mountain hikes. The water crossings along the beaches, the logs, the ladders, the general slipperyness makes this hike more dangerous than say a hike through the rockies. It also has more misery potential as the degree of difficulty of the trail varies greatly with weather. The right 8 year old could do it. Every 8 year old can't

Doing weekend trips in general with kids is easy if you play Sherpa. My 5 and 3 year old went out for a weekend last summer weekend to the Forks Campground in K-Country about 7k each way. So if you get them used to it early then going longer or mudier isn't that bad. Just don't go from a 5 hr day hike to a week long backpack trip.
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Old 03-24-2014, 01:11 PM   #30
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I'm thinking of doing the trail in a few years when my youngest kid is 8 or 9. I wonder if that might be too early. My daughter summited Mount Todd at the Sun Peaks resort (about 5 hours round trip) when she was 8, and had no issues, but I wonder if the shear length of the trip might be a little long for that age.
i am sure that parks canada has an age limit of something around 12 - chcek the website, i am somewha sure it is there.
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Old 03-24-2014, 01:17 PM   #31
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I'm thinking of doing the trail in a few years when my youngest kid is 8 or 9. I wonder if that might be too early. My daughter summited Mount Todd at the Sun Peaks resort (about 5 hours round trip) when she was 8, and had no issues, but I wonder if the shear length of the trip might be a little long for that age.
No, no, no, no, no. The risks with the trip are way to great for someone that age, the river crossings and the ladders in particular. Take a few of the trips around Alberta and the Interior of BC first. The risks are just too great, particularly if the weather turns.
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Old 03-24-2014, 03:23 PM   #32
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I saw 10 year old kids on the trail that looked fine.
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Old 03-24-2014, 03:57 PM   #33
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I would be hesitant on putting a kid on some of the ladders, mostly due to strength and coordination issues, that is where I would be awfully hesitant. I would say that 12-13 would be a good age range for the trail, 9 to 10 is just pushing it a bit to far. Honest, if you get good weather, then it could be great, if there is miserable weather then it is a whole different ball of wax and that is where I would have trepidations.
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Old 03-24-2014, 04:22 PM   #34
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i am sure that parks canada has an age limit of something around 12 - chcek the website, i am somewha sure it is there.
The website says they won't register anyone under 6 years of age. That's why I ask.

Good suggestion from GGG, though. I'd do the 4 day trip through Kananaskis with the Forks campground first. I haven't done that trip since Grade 12.
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Old 03-24-2014, 10:56 PM   #35
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I too am doing the WCT this year, be aware that the sign up started today. If your planning on going during a long weekend or another busy weekend in the middle of the summer, you may be too late.

I have done it previously and marveled at a few things on the trail:
- The "easiness" of the hike – Everyday was thoroughly enjoyable
- The visual beauty of the hike
- The amount of rain that can fall in one day
- The absolute incompetence of some people who had absolutely no idea what overnight camping/hiking and the equipment needed and how to use that equipment if you have never opened it before.

I am not in the best of shape (I hike a lot), but we succeeded in hiking the trail with relative ease. The weather was ok, 2 days of record rains and warm (15-20) and muggy the other 3 days of hiking. We spoke to people who were absolutely miserable, had zero clue as to what the trail was going to be like. Be prepared mentally as much as you are physically. Plan the group you are going with carefully. Go hiking overnight as a group before and mind over matter, just enjoy it.

It is also nice to have a little sack of wine or whiskey to have on a beach one night.
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Old 03-25-2014, 11:32 AM   #36
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Just signed up for the trail for this August. I've been meaning to hike this one for a few years and I am finally going to get it done. Really looking forward to it.

Thanks GomerPile for letting me know about the sign up. For some reason I thought it opened on April 17, so I probably would have been out of luck if I waited until then.

I booked the trail for 4 nights (5 days) starting from the south end. I do quite a bit of hiking/backpacking, so I figured that would be the right length. If we decide we want to take more time is it possible to extend the trip to 5 nights or are you pretty locked in once you book it?
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Old 03-25-2014, 12:48 PM   #37
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6 days of hiking with a crabby pre-teen would make it seem like a 1,000 day journey.....
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