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Sunshine Coast Trail, BC, Canada

Two Week Trip

Jun 18 - Jul 3, 2018 -- $1950 ★★★★, Only 3 Spots Left

The Sunshine Coast Trail is a 111 mile backpacking trail near beautiful Powell River, British Columbia Canada. The relatively new trail boasts a Hut-to-Hut system that visits many of the remaining old growth forests in the region. Although we will only stay in or near about half of the first-come first-served huts, there is a Sunshine Coast Trail Passport
that you can get stamped at each hut you visit.


On our trek, we will hike the entire 180km route over a 2 week span. Our journey will begin at Sarah Point at the North end of the trail and end at Saltery Bay in the Southeast (like any of us know where these places are). At the end of the first week plus, we will go back to town and spend a day resting ... a so-called "zero day" where we can take showers, do laundry, eat guiltlessly and sleep, before heading back to finish off our thru-hike.


This is the first time Fitpacking is visting the trail so for those of you who like to live on the leading edge, this might be the trip for you.




Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 60s & 70s (about 20C) and nighttime temperatures in the 50s (about 15C). However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures in the 80s (high 20s C) and night temperatures in the 40s (7-10C). It's British Columbia so expect rain at any time. Here is the historical weather. As we're on the trail for almost 2 weeks, please be prepared for a variety of conditions.



Trip Leaders (2nd guide might change)

Rick Romine
Kellie Garrity


Cost

$1950 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a hotel/motel room with another participant during the 4 frontcountry nights. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Powell River (YPW), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 4 hotel nights, campground fees, 13 days of trail meals, ground transportation, insurance, and 2 awesome guides.



Difficulty


Although the trails are well groomed, there are several consecutive long-ish days with distance as much as 20KM (12.5 miles). There are not a lot of long climbs and long descents, but there are exceptions - Tin Man Mountain and Mt. Troubridge. Plus we are on the trail for almost 2 weeks so that adds to the difficulty (mentally anyway). Fortunately, there will be water almost everywhere so the won't be a need to carry more than 4 liters, and usually less.


We will be hiking during summer solstice so we will have as much as 16 hours of daylight to complete our daily treks.



Note


This is the second of two trips Fitpacking is planning to the Sunshine Coast Trail. If you would like to see the first, click here


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Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Monday, June 18, 2018

Drive, ferry or fly into Powell River Airport (YPW). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However, the airport is small and options may be limited.

Most people will want to fly into Vancouver (YVW) or possibly Victoria (YYJ) and then board a scenic 30 minute flight with Pacific Coastal Airlines. Popular booking sites don't seem to be able to figure out how to make the connection from the USA (or even Canadian cities like Calgary) so you will most likely have to pick up your baggage (you have to do this to go through customs anyway) and then re-check into your flight to Powell River. You might also take an alternate form of transportation to Powell River, such as the Sunshine Coast Connector but you're already at the airport.

Take the free airport shuttle to the Powell River Town Center Hotel 4660 Joyce Ave, Powell River, BC, V8A 3B6, Canada. Call hotel's number, 604-485-3000 for shuttle pickup.

Equipment shakedown

Trail mix distribution

"Before" measurements taken

Go to Powell River Outdoors (pro@proutdoors.com), 4466 Marine Ave, Powell River, BC, Canada, V8A 2K2 for last minute or forgotten equipment

Go out to welcome dinner at a local restaurant (Dinner not included in trip cost)



Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Second set of "before" measurements taken

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

Breakfast at hotel (included)

Shuttle to Sarah Point

Begin Hiking, at Sarah Point.

Hike 2.8 km (1.7 miles) to Feather Cove (outhouse here)

Hike 9.2 km (5.7 miles) to Wednesday Lake

Camp at Wednesday Lake, reliable water plus swimming, outhouse and picnic table here

Distance today: 12.0 km (7.4 miles). Total: 12.0 km (7.4 miles)

Possible bailout: Bliss Portage


Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Hike 4.0 km (2.5 miles) to Manzanita Bluff Hut

Hike 6.3 km (3.9 miles) to Fern Gully Creek (water and campsite here)

Hike 3.5 km (3.9 miles) to Plummer Creek Bridge

Camp at Plummer Creek Bridge Campsite, reliable water, outhouse and picnic table here

Distance today: 13.8 km (8.6 miles). Total: 25.8 km (16.0 miles)

Possible bailout: Malaspina Rd.


Thursday, June 21, 2018

Hike 3.1 km (1.9 miles) to Homestead Campsite

Hike 4.5 km (2.8 miles) to Rieveley Pond Campsite

Hike 2.1 km (1.3 miles) to Appleton Creek Bridge Campsite

Hike 4.5 km (2.8 miles) to Kokanee Creek Campsite

Camp at Kokanee Creek Campsite on Sliammon Lake, reliable water and swimming here

Distance today: 14.2 km (8.8 miles). Total: 40.0 km (24.9 miles)

Possible bailout: Theodosia FSR Br 01


Friday, June 22, 2018

Hike 3.1 km (1.9 miles) to Shangri-La Campsite

Hike 6.9 km (4.3 miles) past "Higgieland" climbing bluffs to Former Kinsman Park, swimming available

Hike 0.6 km (0.4 miles) to Powell River Bridge

Hike 2.0 km (1.2 miles) to Mowat Bay Municipal Park, swimming available

Hike 2.8 km (1.7 miles) to Tony's Point Campsite

Hike 2.5 km (1.6 miles) to Haywire Bay Campsite

Camp at Haywire Bay Campsite

Distance today: 17.9 km (11.1 miles). Total: 57.9 km (36.0 miles)

Possible bailout: Route 101


Saturday, June 23, 2018

Hike 6.1 km (3.8 miles) to Inland Lake Campsite

Hike 10.1 km (6.3 miles) to Confederation Lake Hut, reliable water, swimming, picnic table, outhouse here

Camp at Confederation Lake Hut, our first hut of the trip

Distance today: 16.2 km (10.1 miles). Total: 74.1 km (46.0 miles)

Possible bailout: Inland FSR Br 01


Sunday, June 24, 2018

Hike 15.2 km (9.4 miles) past vomit bluffs (yes, really) to Tin Hat Cabin / Hut

Camp at Tin Hat Cabin. Yay a cabin!

Distance today: 15.2 km (9.4 miles). Total: 89.3 km (55.5 miles)

Possible bailout: Rainbow Main Rd.


Monday, June 25, 2018

Wake up early. Today is the longest hiking day of the trip

Hike 15.9 km (3.8 miles) to a substantial patch of giant old growth Douglas Fir trees

Hike 4.1 km (6.3 miles) to Elk Lake Hut, dock, reliable water, swimming, picnic table, outhouse here

Camp at Elk Lake Hut

Distance today: 20.0 km (12.4 miles). Total: 109.3 km (67.9 miles)

Possible bailout: Spring Lake Main


Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Hike 6.7 km (4.2 miles) to Coyote Lake Campsite

Hike 7.0 km (4.3 miles) to Bridge of Doom cutoff. Get water here in anticipation of no water tonight.

Hike 0.4 km (0.2 miles) to Pentstemon Bluff / Walt Hill Hut, dock, reliable water, swimming, picnic table, outhouse here

Camp at Walt Hill Hut

Distance today: 14.1 km (8.8 miles). Total: 123.4 km (76.7 miles)

Possible bailout: No great options


Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Wake up early today to get an early pick-up. The goal is to meet Group 1 at the Dixon Rd. Trailhead as they are getting shuttle back to the trail.

Hike 11.3 km (7.0 miles) to Dixon Rd.

Distance today: 11.3 km (7.0 miles). Total: 134.7 km (83.7 miles)

Hotel Night. Get picked up at Dixon Rd. and stay at the Powell River Town Center Hotel 4660 Joyce Ave, Powell River, BC, V8A 3B6, Canada.

Note: Lodging is covered in trip cost but meals in Powell River are not

Resupply food and equipment. The stuff you set aside at the beginning of the trip will rejoin you here

Possible bailout: Dixon Rd.


Thursday, June 28, 2018

Zero Day / Day Off

Do absolutely nothing today

Hotel Night. Stay in Powell River

Note: Lodging is covered in trip cost but meals in Powell River are not


Friday, June 29, 2018

Check out of hotel. You can leave items here that you can pick up at the end of the trip.

Shuttle back to Dixon Rd.

Hike 6.8 km (4.2 miles) to Lois Point Campsite

Hike 3.5 km (2.2 miles) to Golden Stanley Hut

Camp at Golden Stanley Hut

Distance today: 10.3 km (6.4 miles). Total: 145.0 km (90.1 miles)

Possible bailout: Lois Main


Saturday, June 30, 2018

Note: We don't know if there is reliable water at Troubridge Hut, so we may have to carry it 3.4 km (2.1 miles) from Elephant Creek

Hike 9.5 km (5.9 miles) to OGMA trail intersection

Turn right and hike 3.0 km (1.9 miles) uphill to Rim Junction

Turn left and walk 100 meters to get to Mt. Troubridge Hut, which some consider the nicest hut in the system

Camp at Mt. Troubridge Hut

Distance today: 12.5 km (7.8 miles). Total: 157.5 km (97.9 miles)

Possible bailout: Lois Main Branch 2


Sunday, July 1, 2018

Hike 1.8 km (1.1 miles) to Troubridge Summit. At 1150 meters (3750+') this is the highest elevation on the trip

Hike 11.9 km (7.4 miles) to Fairview Bay Hut

Camp at Fairview Bay Hut, water, beach, outhouse, picnic table

Distance today: 13.7 km (8.5 miles). Total: 171.2 km (106.4 miles)

Possible bailout: Saltery Bay FSR


Monday, July 2, 2018

Hike 6.8 km (4.2 miles) along the coast to the Saltery Bay Trailhead

End of hiking

Distance today: 6.8 km (4.2 miles). Total: 178.0 km (111.0 miles)

Possible bailout: Saltery Bay FSR

Shuttle back to Powell River and check into Powell River Town Center Hotel 4660 Joyce Ave, Powell River, BC, V8A 3B6, Canada.

You will be reunited with your stuff

After measurements taken

Dinner and awards ceremony (Dinner not included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Free Hotel Breakfast

Take Free Airport Shuttle


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