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The Citizen, 2002-10-02, Page 7Through rugged terrain Lavern Clark of Blyth, along with his children Erica and Shawn and two of his daughter's friends spent six days hiking the 75-kilometre West Coast Trail in the Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island. "October" is vitamin bottle bonus month. Your empty vitamin bottle equals $1.00 off your next vitamin purchase value over $3.00 T APOTBEEARY + IVES INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. "All Classes of Insurance" DOUG GOUGH, Broker 184 Dinsley St. W., Blyth Tel.: (519) 523-9655 Fax: (519) 523-9793 Visit us at: WWW.IVESINSURANCE.COM • Colour Printing • Posters • Letterheads • Envelopes • Business Cards • Business Forms • Brochures • Flyers • Carbonless Forms THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2002. PAGE 7. Clarks take hiking tour of rugged West Coast Trail By Janice Becker Citizen staff It was a six-day hiking adventure through a remote district of Canada's west coast and Lavern Clark of Blyth said it all came to be because of one question. "My daughter Erica asked, `Do you want to go?' " Clark, Erica, his son Shawn and two of Erica's friends, headed to Vancouver Island at the end of August to undertake what some might call a gruelling hike around the southern tip of the island, trekking the West Coast Trail. In 1890, the trail was a pathway through the bush when a telegraph line was installed. However. as the years passed, and numerous sailing vessels met their demise along the rugged shoreline of Juan de Fuca Strait, calls came for a rescue route. After one wreck in particular, the Valencia, early in the 1900s, the push for a trail was renewed. When the oceanliner struck the rocks in 1906, more than 130 people lost their lives. several while waiting to be rescued. The rescue trail was developed, but fell into disrepair as sailing technology improved and shipwrecks became less frequent. In more recent years, the Pacific Rim National Park took over the trail, opening it to hikers, with consideration for safety. People indigenous to the area, known as trail guardians. regularly hike sections of the trail. All hikers must also register on and off the trail. There are also two manned lighthouses where help can be procured. Before endeavoring such a hike, Clark said one of the most important elements is to have well broken-in hiking boots. "Do not go with new boots." It is also important to get used to carrying weight as the backpacks carry all the supplies for the trek. Clark said his pack weighed . approximately 70 lbs. at the outset. Aside from carrying warm clothes. rain gear, a first-aid kit and a tent, Clark said they took along a lightweight cooking stove, minimal cooking utensils and dried food which they had prepared themselves. Though many fresh water springs cross the trail, all hikers are advised to take along purification equipment. It is recommended that backpacks weigh approximately one-third the body weight of the hiker. Experience with such an activity is also recommended. "This is not for first-time hikers," said Clark. His family has hiked frequently and gone wilderness canoeing. As the Clarks began to plan their excursion, they had to take into consideration the climate of Vancouver Island. Being a temperate rainforest, precipitation was expected, but the late August date might be somewhat drier than earlier in the summer. "The first two and a half days were drizzle," said Clark, " and that was the hardest part of the trail." Hikers must plan not only for the wet weather, difficult climbing and walking conditions, but critical timing of the tides. Poor timing could result in being trapped in specific locations or blocked from proceeding thereby affecting Queen St., Blyth L progress for the day and camping site. Clark's group began the hike from Port Renfrew, whith is considered the more rugged end, There was a lot of climbing ladders in wet conditions. "We would have to climb down 100 metres to cross a creek the size of the Blyth Creek then climb 100 metres back up to the trail again." When asked if it was better to get the difficult part over with first, he said it depends. Some might prefer to start off easier and allow their body time to adjust to the activity, he said. Aside from a lot of ladder climbing the group had to traverse fallen trees that had either been sliced to allow passage between the halves or steps were cut into the log for hikers to walk the length. Bogs were crossed on boardwalks, but they were often very slippery, said Clark. Creeks could be crossed at low tide by simply wading across or cable cars (a large basket on a cable) could be used at other times. Suspension bridges provided passage at other locations. Some areas of the trail, particularly when heading to the beach for overnight camping, were strewn with boulders and rocks, some more than three times the height of an adult. Descent to the beach might include jumping down to a rock, then sliding into the ,water before getting to dry land. Timing of the waves was important so as not to get drenched to the waist. As the group progressed along the trail, though trials such as blisters and a malfunctioning stove occurred, the spectacular views of nature and social interaction with other hikers was well worth the inconveniences, he said. The Clark five met up with nine hikers from Calgary, two brothers from the eastern United States and visitors from Colorado. The group regularly met at the campsites each evening for conversation and light- hearted teasing, said Clark. At one campsite, the group spotted a bald eagle and fresh cougar prints in the sand of a sea cave. Other hikers had been warned that the cougar had been seen that day. With the tides ebbing, rich marine life was viewed in the tidal pools left behind., Clark said they scared off a mink that had come to feast on the bounty. While enjoying a lunch upon Valencia Bluffs, the group saw an 523-4210 -J Orca adult and juvenile just off the shore. "You will always seen something. It just depends on what opportunity is given you," he said of the abundance of nature along the trail. One of the funniest spots along the trail was Chez Monique's. Near the mid-way point, a Mohawk woman, originally from the Montreal area, had created quite a business for herself. Beneath plastic affixed to poles stuck in the sand, she barbecued hamburgers and sold beer, fruit drinks and candy bars to the hikers. Though the respite from dried foods was appreciated, the prices could be shocking. A hamburger cost $7; a cheeseburger, $8; - a halibut burger, $11; a beer, $4 and a fruit drink or candy bar for $2.50. According to Clark, the hamburger and fruit drink "tasted good". One handy feature of Monique's was the food exchange. Hikers who found they had too much food could deposit it there, for use by other hikers who thought they were running short. Apparently, oatmeal and rice were common deposits. As they neared the end of the hike, the group snapped a few commemorative photos of those they had met along the way and prepared for the bus ride back to Victoria. "We thoroughly enjoyed it and would do it again. Maybe next time we would go in June when there are more flowers but also there would be more rain." The West Coast Trail is open from May to September and pre-booking is required as only 25 people are allowed on the trail, at each end, each clay. Ministry steps up monitoring Continued from page 1 registering at half the summer average. Some small tributaries had dried up by early September. The Ministry of the Environment and Energy abatement staff have stepped up monitoring of water taking activities. There is concern that the water - shed could move into a Level HI advisor if there is no significant rainfall soon. Water Response Team member for the ABCA Bill Dowson said, "The situation is getting serious. There will be impacts on the wetlands and forests and continued dry weather will have consequences for next year." At the MVCA, there is the belief that the drought conditions of 2002 may indicate a shift in weather patterns as 50 years of data show a trend towards warmer and drier summers. The warm temperatures lead to greater evaporation, particularly when the intense precipitation occurs over short periods of time. These trends are also apparent in the winter with less snowfall, higher temperatures and less infiltration of early spring melt waters.