Bookings are Crazy Business - West Coast Trail.

I have to say am am very excited about the biggest adventure I have planned this year. A 6 night fully self supported hike along the rugged coastline of Vancouver Island on the West Coast Trail. I have heard from friends that have done it that it was one of the best, if not THE best hike or experience of their lives. That's a big call, so of course I decided I have to find out. Originally I was looking to use up some of my excess holidays that are building up (yes - thats right excess!) and to plan a trip that I could get away without involving my wife and having her feel left out. She always accuses me of having FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out... but I guess some of my planning and enthusiasm had rubbed off on her, because she has decided I cant leave her behind on this one-  after giving me her blessing to head off by myself a few months ago.

The rugged coastline of Vancouver Island..

Raw coastline..

.. waterfalls..

..blazing sunsets over the ocean..

.. terrain so steep it needs ladders..

.. and even cable cars for river crossings!

....

Yeah I guess you can say its probably my enthusiasm that rubbed off on Jo to come along! :)

I have been doing some research and planning about the trip, as it is not one for amateur hikers, and also the trail is restricted to only a certain number of hikers each year to preserve the rugged beauty of the trail. I knew that bookings were opening up for the year ahead and was determined to book on the first morning, after missing out on tickets for the Sasquatch festival earlier this year. I talked to a few friends I knew were interested and got dates and then on the morning the booking opened.. Our dates were already taken WITHIN THE FIRST HOUR?!

Grrrrrr.... WTF!

Deep breath, a few hurried calls, and we shifted by a couple of days, and still managed to accommodate us all. But seriously - the way that bookings are handled these days - I cant believe things book out within the first hour or two of them opening.. months in advance. I think the world must be getting seriously more organised, or at least adapting to the fact that things sell out in the blink of an eye..

So, the first hurdle of this little journey has been cleared. Now on to planning the days and sites each night, wrangling the most lightweight but prepared kit I can manage (and of course the SLR), and calculating the food.

Excitement is building... hi ho, hi ho, adventuring we go!

Perspective, Boston Marathon.

I was shocked, outraged, angry and sad all at once. Getting ready for the Vancouver BMO marathon in a few weeks, and I could identify with the months of discipline and focus everybody who participated would have put in. With the effort and pain they go through after running 42km, and then moments from the finish line, some of them lose both legs at the knees. Never to finish, never to run again. I am so sad for those people that were hurt.

I have read a lot of chatter on the net about the fact that people ran towards the smoke right away to help, and I totally agree that is an uplifting thing, and to focus on the positive in a negative situation is the best thing for the human spirit.
I read about people directing attention to attacks in the middle east recently where innocents and children were killed, and of course, that is unforgivable, and yes our media perspective is distorted. Things closer to home often feel more real, but it doesn't mean it is any less of a tragedy.

The thing I feel the most about, is the thing I identify with the most. For me that's the runners. I don't think I will have much else on my mind for most of those 4 or so hours I am running on the 5th May.

I hope those that lost limbs and the families of those who died, find the strength they had to push through the challenges of training and push through the challenges of life after this.