TR - Hiking the Nootka Trail

This page is only meant to help Philipp and Rueben colaboratively write the following article. It will be removed once the article is complete.

Nootka Trail VOC Journal

Rueben Schulz Philipp Winter

Intro - Philipp

Discuss the trip location and other general information. Transportation and costs. Info on the planning. Philipp did trip with family a few years before.

At the end of August Rueben and I hiked the Nootka Trail, a five day, 35 km hike off the west coast of Vancouver Island. The Trail is located on the west coast of Nootka Island, which is located pretty much straight across Vancouver Island from Campbell River.The trailhead is only accessible by float plane or water taxi, float plane being the prefered choice. The preferred choice for getting back to Gold River (float plane launch) is a tourist ferry/supply boat (MV Uchuck III) which stops at Friendly Cove (the end of the trail) twice weekly. After a while of message board postings and e-mails going back and forth, Rueben and I were left as the only two willing and able to go on the hike. Originally we had no way of getting to Gold River. I researched taking the bus to Campbell River or Tofino and taking a float plane from there, but those options always came out very expensive. In the end I was able to borrow my parents car and the total cost from Vancouver to the trailhead, and back to Vancouver totaled $350 per person (for 2 people). This included gas, BC ferries to/from Nanaimo, float plane to trailhead (Louie Lagoon), MV Uchuck back to Gold River, and the “trail user fee” imposed by the natives to cross their land at the end of the trail.

Day 1 (Monday) - Philipp

To third beach and our northern excursion (wrecked ship) AND ATTEMPTED FURTHER NORTH. Cool beaver.

Day 2 (Tues) - Rueben

To Calvin Falls. Our late start did not allow us to enjoy the sun. Half forest half beach? SAW BEAR, SPENT QUITE A WHILE FILTERING WATER

Day 3 (Wed) - Philipp

To Beano Creek. ALL beach walk? Rained all day. FUN BOULDER-BOULDER WALKING, CROSSIN BEANO, CAMP BUILT BEHIND LOG

Day 4 (Thurs) - Rueben

To the point. One of our longest, most tiring days. Mostly through forest, over headland. BIG CLIFF NEAR BEGINNING, WHALE CARCASS, IN AND OUT OF COVES

Day 5 (Fri) - ???

To Tidal Lagoon (30 min from Friendly Cove). Short (due to tide time). Set up camp by lunch and got to dry stuff in the nice sun. Did some laundry and took a bath. I had some pretty sore feet by this time. DECIDING WHICH HEADLAND TO GO AROUND AND WHICH TO GO OVER, NICE PRE SET-UP CAMP

Day 6 (Sat) - ???

30min hike to Friendly Cove. Sight seeing, ferry out, crazy drive to Nanimo for late night ferry back to vancouver. LIGHTHOUSE (TALL BRIDGE), LAST LUNCH ON THE BEACH, LUNA

Coastal hiking tidbits - Philipp

Floats mark trails, STICKS GOOD FOR HELPING CROSS STREAMS, WATCH TIDES, Shitput and sea launch

Misc.

Other families traveling with us.

Luna the crazy whale

Note: our wakeup times got earlier as the trip went on, because of consideration for the tides.