West Coast Trail - June 2010 - Just an Update

Since I have not yet had the chance to put up an updated on WCT.. Let's just say it was breathtaking...A beautiful and challenging experience. Definitely recommend doing this at least once in your life, just make sure you are with the right team...

Be prepared for lots of ladders.. lots of rain... and lots of Mr. Noodles.
Here's just a few photos from the Coast:

Orientation Centre - The beginning

Ladders, ladders and more ladders

And more ladders...

The plant life is absolutely incredible...

The Coast at low tide...

Resting after having some burgers from the native burger place...
Packing up for the road.
Changes in scenery.Preparing Supper.

The guys trying to fly their McGyver Kite.

The first shower in four days was under this waterfall.

Beautifull Sunset ... and starfish below.

These bouyees signified the entrance and exit of trail onto beach route. People carved their names in them.

WCT - Preparation.. Struggles..

Time is flying and preparation is going slow... still need to get some key items hopefully this week;

- Shoes
- Tent
- Pack

Training; slow but better than nothing...
- Stairs - average 3 times a week
- Rock Climbing - Once at the Toronto Rock Climbing Academy
- Running - average 2 a week.

Time to pick up the pace!

WCT - Preparation Meeting #1

Ok, so last night took place our first group preparation meeting for our upcoming West Coast Trail venture. Attendance was successful with the exception of Mr. Misquith who let us down gravely.

The Agenda was as follows;
1. Research Discussion 2. Equipment (/ sharezies potential) 3. Agenda / What to expect on the trial (plan per day) 4. Tent Fitting (this will be an outdoor exercise where Raf, Rich,D and Adr play tetris to see if they will be able to fit into one 4-person tent.

I'm going to do some thinking out loud now, and combine some of the sources discussed to make a preliminary equipment list. Since we still have about two months we have time to be creative with this equipment and get some of these items used. Everyone should be as self sufficient as possible

Tent - still gotta figure that one out
Sleeping Bag - I think I already have a synthetic one
Sleeping Pad - more research required, could get a used one.
Hiking Boots - rubber soles preferred, water proof - $120
Gaiters - for your boots - only about $15 at MEC
Pack - need to do more research - probably looking into a 60 ltr for myself.
Stove - we have two stoves in the group
Fuel - have to look into situation closer to date
Food - need to do more research
Alcohol - mickey of spiced rum!! to keep me warm at night!
Water Canteen
Water Purifying tables - cheaper alternative than water purifiers
Head Lamp
Hiking Pole - getting more feedback that its a must for the trip, not willing to spend $70 on a stick, have to see other alternatives

Clothes - gotta stay dry
Options;
Rain jacket
Merino wool sweater
Sh-pants - unzippy ones
Wool Socks - many of them
Swim suits / sport undergarment for laaaadies

Other items;
Vaseline/Baby powder for feet
Tarp (for the group)
Rope (for the group)
Lighter
Garbage bags
Watch - required for tide tables
West Coast Trail Map -still to be provided
First Aid Kit - still need one more for the group
Degradable toilet paper ?

Other business on the Agenda;

• Camp Reservations - Matt to let us know closer to the date

• 4-Ppl Tent Trail - Attempted to pitch the tent in our living, but almost killed each other with the tent poles. Rich and Raf did a fitting using spooning position butt to butt, seems like there will be enough room, but a second trial is required.

Also, we all now know that Raf's pack can carry 90 pounds no proooblem!

Spring Time...A New Beginning

So... the last six months absolutely fleeeeew by. There's so many things I want to catch up on and talk about I don't even know where to start. It seems like my travel theme for the last year has been 'The West Coast'. Last summer we spent a week road ripping from Vancouver down to San Francisco. On the way climbing mountainous waterfalls in the BC-Rockies, driving by some out-of-this-world red woods and sandboarding down Oregon Sand Dunes. In January, we took a four day trip to Calgary - Banff, where we enjoyed some fresh powder in Lake Louise and Kicking Horse resort. And now, this June we are taking up a legendary journey, the changing mark of our lives, the behemoth of all missions, the trips of all trips.... drum roll.... the West Coast Trail! It is now April 29 and the training and preparation has began. I am hoping to keep you up to date with our step by step preparation. From equipment to getting into shape, we'll see how it goes! AAAAaaaadventure is out there!* (Source: Up)

And for now, here are some little reminders that Spring is in full gear..

Feels good to be back...

Alright.... from late Summer through Fall to Winter, the time has come for me to stop blog-hibernating. I've been away for way to long, it seems like I have never returned from my vacation. Its quite odd, that a person can think about something everyday, and yet not take one moment out of their day to allow themselves to partake in that one little activity they enjoy. I think the same occurs when people avoid making the time to invest in their 'future-self'. You can spend everyday occupied with all the little day to day activities that fill up your time, and never really move forward.

For the short time that I have dedicated myself to this blog in the past I felt a great satisfaction with it, so if nobody minds, I think I'm going to continue with it. I think my biggest deterrent until now, was to find one main direction that I want my writing to take, but I just can't decide on one direction. There is way too many things in this world I find interesting. So, just like with many other aspects of my life, I found that you cannot just sit around and wait to get an answer to your confusions and doubts, you have to continue trying anything you can to gain some inspiration. So here I am again...

... The self is not something one finds, it is something one creates. ~Thomas Szasz

Since today we welcome the first day of the last month of 2009, here's some precious moments I captured from the Winter early this year, throughout the precious months in between... still anxiously awaiting the first snowfall of this year.

Away from the Office

A Mr. Bean Holiday

Ladies and gentleman,

It's that time of year again... Vacation Time! After working for 51 weeks, I get my 1 - week off. I could expand plentiful about the topic of slavery in today's society, but instead I choose to show you my feelings of happiness. I must say there is no one better to demonstrate this ultimate feeling of absolute excitement than our favorite Mr. Bean! Mr. Bean's Holiday is actually one of my favorite movies, and I think what made me like it even more is that I watched it right after visiting Nice. I was going to post his dancing scene from the movie, but I think this one will portray what I want to say a little better. You think I'm kidding, but this is probably what I will be doing at the airport tomorrow evening.

Mr. Bean has been close to my heart since I was little. Every New Year's Eve we would watch the Mr. Bean Christmas special, and they would always play the one where he gets his head stuck on a turkey. Anyway, enough about that... tomorrow night, we're hitting up the west coast! Can't wait to tell you all about it when I come back!

Vancouver! San Francisco! Here I come!

Hasta Luego !