Training

Training for the expedition began at the end of 2011.

So far I have completed three training weekends, two on the Dorset coast path and one on the Devon/Cornwall border.  All have tried to mimic the conditions we will be encountering; the Dorset coast path has been great in terms of the undulating landscape.  Days two and three of our trek in Vancouver island will be very similar.

It has also been a good opportunity for Jenny Boyce my trekking buddy and I to make plans for the trek. It is hard when you are working during the day to find time for expedition planning, but our hike from Ringstead to Durdle door this weekend, gave us time together where we could make some progress.

Forest walks



In February I headed down to the Devon-Cornwall boarder to trek in Forestry Commission woodland and alongside the River Tamar.  While there was some broadleaf woodland, most was conifer and so similar to what we will trek through on the Juan de Fuca trail.

Equipment



The other purpose of training has been to try out some new kit.  I am not buying lots of new equipment but there are a few items that I did not own that are essential.  Probably the most important is my rucksack.  I asked for a lot of advice on which was best and borrowed other people's packs to get an idea of what was comfortable and fitted.

The company I settled for was Aiguille who are based in Sheffield.  They sent me packs through the post to try out as I am a bit on the small side at 5'3! I fitted the ladies pack and they made it for me.  The best things about the pack is that it is no frills, so nothing to go wrong.  It is very lightweight, which helps for the trek and it has an expandable lid, which is extrememly useful for cramming stuff in! It is 60 + 25 litres capacity. See it online http://www.aiguillealpine.co.uk/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_R110

My other investment has been trousers, which again are a problem if you are on the small side as many of the big outdoor clothing names only cater to size 10 in ladies clothing.  I asked around again for advice and was recommended by an ecologist friend of mine to get some Rohans, which go down to size 8. They are perfect and I got both warmer winter pairs and lightweight pairs. They dry very quickly and take up very little rucksack space.

Cooking and wild camping

In December 2011 I spent a blustery night under canvas, having trekked along part of the Dorset coastal path. This was a great opportunity to test out the cooking skills using a jet boil and pocket rocket and wayfarer and mountain house, which is a freeze dried food. My choices on the trek will be to have mountain house (as they don't sell Wayfarer in Canada) or to take pasta/cous cous etc. Cooking will have to be carefully done as the trek is also home to bears and cougars, who will come and investigate any spilt food. For this reason it is important to use bear barrels or caches and store and cook food well away from the tent.

Bowron lakes map and info

Bowron Lake Park is a large wilderness area situated on the western slopes of the Cariboo Mountain Range. The world-renowned Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit encompasses a 116 km chain of lakes, waterways and connecting portages. This wilderness canoe trip takes from 6 to 10 days to complete, depending on your time frame and skill level. For those looking for a shorter trip, the west side of the circuit can be paddled in 2 to 4 days. It is recommended that those who attempt the circuit have some wilderness canoeing experience.
The park has tremendous diversity in topography and vegetation. The rounded hilltops of the Quesnel Highlands on the west side of the circuit have a unique character quite different from the imposing Cariboo Mountains on the eastern and southern sections of the circuit. The park is a place of many moods, from bright sunshine and placid blue lakes to angry gray waters and torrential rains.

Map and info on the Juan de Fuca trail

The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is on the south west coast of Vancouver island. The following map shows where we will be walking.

It is a stretch of 47km and should take us 4-5 days to complete.  The terrain especially in the mid section is tough going.

There are four trailheads to the Juan de Fuca Trail at Juan de Fuca East (China Beach), Sombrio Beach, Parkinson Creek and Botanical Beach. Although most of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is designed for strenuous day or multi-day hiking/camping in this rugged and isolated area, some easy to moderate day hiking opportunities to the beach or along the trail are available starting from the trailheads.

At the east end of the park you’ll find the vehicle accessible China Beach Campground and the China Beach day-use area. The campground is located in a forested area with open understory, about 1 km east of the China Beach day-use area and the Juan de Fuca East (China Beach) Trailhead. Trails connect the campground to China Beach and the adjacent smaller Second Beach, located east of the larger China Beach day-use.

At the west end of Juan de Fuca Park is Botanical Beach, one of the richest tidal areas along the west coast. Botanical Beach also has a unique shoreline framed by ridges of shale and quartz, which jut up through the black basalt to form huge tableaus. Botanical Beach is the western terminus for the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail and a popular day trip destination for visitors wishing to observe this sensitive and unique ecosystem. Wildlife viewing is best done at low tide, when visitors can walk out across the flat sandstone and granite outcroppings to view tide pools filled with brightly coloured marine life.

The BC Park authority recommends the following information:

The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is designed as a wilderness hiking trail. Hiking conditions are always changing and hikers should get up-to-date information before hiking. Additional advisories may be posted at the trailhead information shelters. Your fitness, knowledge, skills and equipment must meet the challenges of the area. All hikers in your group must be prepared for at least the following:

• rugged, uneven ground and slippery conditions on muddy trails, wooden surfaces, boulders and rocky shorelines.
• wading creeks, negotiate steep slopes, climb embankments, and follow an irregular trail.
• damaged structures, wear and tear, storms and other factors may quickly change their condition.
• be prepared for rain & damp mists - Incidents of hypothermia and physical injury increase significantly during prolonged wet period.
• accidents and injuries. It may take hours before help arrives if an accident occurs.