Some Ways to Stay Dry and Warm on the North Coast Trail
If you are hiking on the coast of BC, you are going to have to plan for wet weather. The North Coast Trail in Cape Scott Provincial Park is one hike that is subject to wild weather and lots of rain.
When hiking, the system you have for clothes is very important. The clothes need to be the right fabrics for staying dry and warm. Cotton gets wet easily, is difficult to dry, and cools your body off very rapidly. Cotton needs to be completely off the list. Some good modern fabrics are polyester (fleece), polypropylene or merino wool.
The layer system needs to be well established in your pack. Your base layer that wicks moisture away from your body is critical, and on top of that base, a mid layer of insulation comes next, and the outer layer that sheds water tops off the system. Keeping these layers handay while hiking is important and you stop for breaks or if the weather changes.
Your bagging system works to maintain dryness. Plastic garbage bags inside stuff sacks works, but extremely lightweight dry sacks have arrived in the last few years. Dealing with larger bulky items, such as a sleeping bag, is made easier with compression bags.
The most bomb proof sleeping bags are synthetic fill bags that retain their insulating capabilities even when wet. Down bags can work, but you have to take extra care to maintain them in a dry condition so that they work properly.
Gaiters that connect to the top and bottom of hiking boots can prevent wetness inside of boots, especially in muddy environments. Of course, they do not prevent water from getting in if the water is above the top of the boot.
At the camp level, the type and quality of gear make a huge difference in keeping things dry. Just like with clothing, tents and tarps have become lighter and more flexible over the past few years. The balance between function and weight is extremely important for hiking trips. Most tents these days are built to be dry and handle strong winds.
Operating your tent with ease is very important. Details are important. Knowing how to set it up, take it down, stake it against moisture and wind are essential to ensuring your dryness and warmth.
Modern lightweight tarps are a great way to help prevent moisture from invading your clothes and gear. Setting up a lightweight tarp can provide shelter over cooking and eating areas, and help keep you dry when getting in and out of your tent.
Keeping dry and warm is very important for enjoying coastal hiking on the North Coast Trail. You now have some basic ideas of how to achieve a dry, warm hike, from Coastal Bliss Adventures. To view the full article, with more detail, go to Warm and Dry on the North Coast Trail.
Amazing Beaches on the West Coast Trail
Five unforgettable beaches lie along the West Coast Trail. Some remarkable feature allows them to give each visitor a special experience to the camping on this incredible trail. Anyone who claims to be an outdoor person in BC simply has to do The West Coast Trail. The experience kind of defines us. The beauty and power of Camper Bay, Walbran Creek, Dare Beach, Klanawa River, and Tsusiat Falls have left indelible memories in many who have traveled the trail.
The campsite at Camper Bay, just behind a large gravel bar, is like a huge amphitheater. The sand and cobble area up near the forest edge is bounded by a vertical cliff and a steep forest edge next to the creek. It is a place for rest along the trail.
Walbran Creek also has a large gravel bar at the end of a creek, but it is dammed up into a small lake. This is a good place for swimming and cleaning along the way.
Dare Beach is a long sand beach with surf crashing up, giving it a wild and umpredictable feel. On calm days, it is a tropical paradise; on blustery days, it is a surfer's dream.
The beach at Klanawa River also has an extensive log jam and dammed creek, making a nice swimming hole. This is a solitary beach, often skipped over by the hikers along the trail, trying to get further along.
The beach at Tsusiat Falls is a long and popular camping area, and a cleaning and swimming hole at the bottom of the falls. After leavomg this beach, an amazing view comes in sight from the bridge at Tsusiat Creek. The water just disappears over an edge of sky and sea.
The power and influence of the Pacific Ocean on every small speck of this trail is apparent as any hiker makes it through the West Coast Trail. These are some of ht reasons that Coastal Bliss Adventures offers this trip. for more detail, see the full article at Beaches of the West Coast Trail.
Hiking Boot Considerations
As I was browsing around the net looking for the newest technologies applied to hiking boots, I came across the following short article. Madison goes into some really basic considerations to do with hiking boots. And even if you don't know that much about them, you should be able to do a good search on the net or ask at your nearest outdoor store to get the latest trends. But beyond the latest, many of the old standard practices are still in order. Chief among these is BREAK IN THOSE BOOTS!! It is a major mistake 99.99% of the time to go out on a multi-day hike in new, unbroken boots. Backpacking with a load just exacerbates the problem with the extra weight slamming down on your feet. The West Coast Trail and the North Coast Trail are both rugged and needing great hiking boots. Anyway, I will turn it over to Madison and let him inform you.How To Find The Best Hiking Boots
By: Madison GreeneThere is nothing more enjoyable to get outdoors and go hiking. I like to hike as often as I can so it is important that I have the right hiking boots on my feet so I can go whereever anytime I want without worrying about my feet getting sore. However, there is more to buying hiking boots than going to the store and buying what looks best on the rack.
Regardless of where or how often you plan to go hiking, having the best hiking boots you can find can make a difference in your safety and comfort. When you go to the sports store in search of boots, you will need to have in mind the type of hiking you plan to be doing.
There are different boots made for walking on smooth trails, for climbing mountain trails, and for climbing steep trails over tough terrain. There are also boots that are made especially for summer and those made to keep you feet warmer in winter. Believe me, you don't want to wear winter hiking boots in the summer and visa versa.
The best hiking boots are built with a sturdy sole, so they won't fall apart when you hike on uneven paths in the wilderness. A solid bottom can also prevent injury to the feet from any stones or thorns you may accidentally step on while hiking.
They should also have decent cushioning on the insole to reduce the possibility of blisters. The sides should offer sufficient support to help protect your ankles from being twisted to one side on uneven terrain.
Once you have determined the type of hiking you will be doing, consider the best hiking boots for that activity. Trail shoes, usually suggested for walking on smooth trails, are recommended for short hikes or day walks. These are less for protecting the feet and ankles from rocky terrain and more for providing protection to the bottom of the foot.
Heavier Trails Require Sturdier Hiking Boots
For those heading out for three or more days on rugged trails, trail hikers are the best hiking boots for that type. They have the tread on the bottom needed for rocky ground and can provide traction in the mud. Usually waterproof, they will be higher cut on the sides and provide protection from twisting the ankles as well as any branches that be encountered in the wild.
For those looking at the sport of mountain climbing, there are boots designed that may also accommodate attaching crampons for crossing glaciers and steep mountains. These are the best hiking boots for ankle protection in steep trails and also have a stiff sole to provide additional support while climbing steep mountains. While cushioned insoles can help prevent blisters, they may also bunch up under the feet, so insure they are cushioned but secured inside the boot.
Even if you buy the best hiking boots you can find, a proper fit is necessary to prevent foot problems while walking. While they need to be waterproof, they also need to be able to breath to allow them to dry out quickly at the end of the hiking day.
I hope I have helped you understand the importance of finding the best hiking boot for you. Whether you are going into the wilderness for an afternoon hike or to live there for three months in a tent, having the right boots is very important to your comfort and to avoid unnecessary injury. I also hope that you now know that when shopping for outdoor gear it is very important to think of where you are going and how often.
About the Author
Madison Greene loves the outdoors. There is nothing more enjoyable to her than grabbing her camera and heading off into the mountains to take some great nature shots. However, the weather in the Adirondacks can get frigid in the winter, making it difficult to shoot. Madison has found the solution by wearing outdoor gear that will keep anyone warm, anywhere. Visit: www.OnlineOutdoorGear.com
(ArticlesBase SC #241238)
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - How To Find The Best Hiking BootsEven though the links are broken, the topic is a good one to consider. I would hasten to add that the more rugged the hiking boots, the longer it takes to break them in. The really hefty, rugged mountaineering boots can take several weeks of day-in, day-out wear to get them ready. I hope this is helpful. For more information, go to the Coastal Bliss Hiking Information page.
Trip Planning
Before you go anywhere, you decide where to go. Even if you do no more than that, you are trip planning. At Coastal Bliss, we hope you are doing more that just deciding where you are going. So, we are going to give you a little essential advice on trip planning. First, we will just outline the basic principles. Next, we will give you some guidelines on making a written trip plan, and last, we will leave you with some links to some helpful sites on trip plans.
Principles
The following principles are good practice when planning for a trip:- Obtain adequate information about the area and route
- Ensure you have adequate and appropriate gear
- Know how you are getting there and returning
- Work out food and water requirements
- Meet the standards for travelling in groups with skills and communication
- Meet the standards for safety
- Tell and give a written plan to someone
Written Trip Plans
The Basic Questions
Writing a trip plan is very easy; it is the actual planning that takes time and effort. A trip plan needs to answer several key questions:
The written trip plan is an aid for organizing a trip. It is a checklist of things that need to be taken and in place. And it is a way to let others know where you are, how you got there, when you will return, and how to identify you if someone needs to come look for you. If you have planned your trip properly, writing the trip plan will be very easy.
The following links will help.
