Juan de Fuca

[james]

Hi all!

I plan on doing the Juan de Fuca trail mid-April. I believe from what people have told me that this is a 3 day hike (easy pace) and that you can camp along the way. This is my first time multi-day hiking on the island and I know that the tides also affect the hike.

Just wondering if anyone here has done this hike and if there are major things that need to be known before I go. Both of us going are used to hiking good distances but there is just not enough info on the internet for my liking about this particular one.

Apparently there is a way to get driven to Port Renfrew so you can leave your car at Botanical beach, this way you can drive out when you are done.

Thank all!!

[white ri0t]

we did it in three. first day was hard, we went from Mystic to Bear to the next beach. In fact it was really hard. Climb up 200 metres, climb down 200 metres. do that 13 times. It was a whore, others agree. Either way it was an epic hike! you'll have a lot of fun.

[Adam West]

dont leave anythign valuable in your car.

[Sorbet]

This bus might help you...
http://www.trailbus.com/wctrailbus.htm

I hope to do this trail some time in the future, so after you do it post info please

[Usul]

I did it in two, with a heavy pack as I planned to do it in four but changed my mind. Don't do this, it was super hard. Was very hot when I did on the August long weekend. Wouldn't suggest that either.

Would be a great hike if you don't turn it into an adventure race.

Worst part was my buds and I decided to get a hotel room end of the second night as a reward. Sooke was fully booked. There was an aircraft carrier in Vic so there were no rooms there. We said fuck it and drove all the way home to Courtenay. Got in around 2:30 AM after hiking that damned trail.

[northern]

It's a fantastic trail. 3 days would be 15km per day, very doable. I managed to do the same and turn into a fitness test and do it in 2 days which was quite hard on the knees. In regards to transportation, we hitchhiked back to the car which eventually worked and it turns out not many people like to pick up extremely muddy hikers with large bags. But there is a bus system meant for hikers on these trails. Some tips would be: really don't leave anything in your car, take lots of food for snacking on while you hike (dried fruit, jerky, chocolate, energy bars etc) and watch out for bears. Seriously, use the caches. Hiking out onto the beach after sombrio we got charged by a small black bear but scared it away with large rocks and sticks. Be cautious and when you see fresh dung there's probably a bear somewhere near. And otherwise enjoy! Nice spots to camp and even the luxury of (smelly) bathrooms.

[PhotoFyffer]

never did it bug have done the west coast trail

[Bowen]

I've never done it, but I do know a guy Juan. You want me to put you in touch with him?

[Woodro]

I did it a few yrs back. Thought it'd be a cruisy 'seashore' hike but even tho there's no huge climbs, it seemed like it was a good long hike with plenty of ups & downs. I think we did it in 4 days. Great beach camping and walking along the shore.
Next step is to hit the West Coast Trail which I've never done yet!
Enjoy!

[kperras]

I've ran it in 1. More like 18ish hours.

[james]

I don't feel like running for 18 hours. Walking and enjoying the beaches and the ocean is more of what we had in mind.

[kperras]

Originally Posted by james

I don't feel like running for 18 hours. Walking and enjoying the beaches and the ocean is more of what we had in mind.

Of course. It was a challenge, definitely not fun. I might go back one day and hike it over 3 days.

[Deckard]

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/exp.../juan_de_fuca/

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/exp...ca/jdf_map.pdf

Superb trail. Some people argue the west coast trail is better, due to the length and isolation. Others say the Juan de Fuca is like the wct used to be before the wct become a high traffic causeway.

Straight forward as far as a multi-day hike, except for being aware of the tides (I liked walking on the beach as much as possible, even though it can be slower than on the trail) and as others have mentioned, going down and up each creek gully can make it harder than elevation change stats would indicate. Get's muddy in the rain. Being next to the ocean tends to be windy & cooler, even when sunny.

++ on bear awareness

It's not really far from Victoria, if possible don't plan for a long weekend: unlike the west coast trail there's multiple access points, including Sombrio beach campground. That said it's still a ways from help, if need be - be prepared accordingly.

Check on current trail conditions before you leave. Oh yeah, Juan de Fuca doesn't have a proper park office ...

Don't expect much services in Port Renfrew. Last time the gas station and store were closed cuz the road was in bad shape due to slides. (I won't get started on how many roads are, imo, more in need of upgrade than the whistler hwy was ...)

Friends have done it in two or two and a halfish days, most say in retrospect next time they would go a bit slower. Except if it's nonstop raining ...

Doing a dayhike from China beach one time, noticed lots of light parallel scratches on the trail, looking as if had been swept by a rake except that would be absurd for a trail classified as "wilderness". Sure enough, 10 min later came across two maintenance workers, one actually raking the trail tidy, the other with a chainsaw "to scare the bears away" ...

When you're done and want more, check out the Cape Scott trail. Other end of the island, other end of the easy/difficult scale. One day I'd like to get up to the north end of the island.

[james]

Thanks Deckard.

I'll look into that shuttle service too! Seems like a good deal

[Adam West]

wct is dope for isolation, and theres some awesome beaches. but yeah its pretty easy.