This run takes place on the traditional and unceded territory of the Nuu-chah-nulth nation, specifically Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht, and Pacheedaht First Nations.
Hishuk ish tsawalk is a foundational Nuu-chah-nulth philosophy that means "everything is one, everything is connected". The route is named after this philosophy to decolonize the notion around Firsts in the outdoors. I was on Nuu-chah-nulth land to connect these trails, connect with friends, connect with the land, and connect with myself. Doing things for the first time should not have a sense of conquering around it, to conquer is to be a colonizer. So chill out with that language when it comes to exploring the outdoors. The mountain is not there to be a trophy, but it might be there to show a lesson if your ears, eyes, and heart are open to it.
The orientation on the 18th went super well. Andrea and I are like long term friends at this point. She knows I know whats ahead, but for the first time with me running this trail, she brought it up in orientation. Now people know there are some runners. If I was nervous, incoming questions could make me more nervous. I saw the trail a month ago with some unreal fitness, lets do it again with a little less fitness but more confidence.
Keith and I wake up at 1:30am, and we start running by 3am and we are off. This is Keiths first time on the West Coast Trail so I am game to let him just soak it all in. I was so lucky to slow down and see what he did. Staying focused on going forward can make the beauty in the peripheral disappear. We are out here to connect.
The first 35k go quickly to the Crab Shack. My favourite part of the trail. Chatting with others with whats ahead and behind is an awesome experience. To Mallory who said she'd check in to see if I did it..... Hi, I did, it took longer than expected! I hope your running aspirations work out
Board walk on Board walk after the shack. Keith and I are both kind of low on water but persisted. Cribs creek shows up and is gorgeous. Stunning as usual.
Beach on Beach, but we have to walk. The beach to Walbran does not want to be ran on. We get to Walbran as the sun is setting and embrace it. We sit at a fire with a group of strangers talking about the day, asking about theirs before we enter the hardest part of the WCT
Walbran to Cullite- Flirting with mud, spirits are high
Cullite to Camper- Silence, we are in a dark place, I am infuriated that I have to be back here doing this again
Camper to Thrasher via Owen Point- Seemed like a good idea, but the boulders are only a solid idea if they are dry during the day. Not wet during the night. This was one of the biggest mistakes I made for time. It was dangerous, and I think the forest would have been better. My apologies to Keith, I was the guide and I led us a stray here.
Thrasher to Finish- Just holding on. Then the sun rises. We finish. We did something great here but celebrations are low
Pacheedaht to Botanical- I nap for 90 minutes. Then im off warming up on the road
Botanical to Parkinson Creek- Absolute rip on the trail. 2 hours covered, I am alive, I am doing this again! Lets go!
I nap at Parkinson, then decide to go to the Kludahk
Mistake number 2. The elevation gain on a groomed FSR is much better than technical trail. I should have finished the JDF then gone to the Kludahk but my thinking was doing as much as i can on unfamiliar terrain in the day as I can
Kludahk trail- Absolute darkness. I lose my stomach and start throwing up. I violently shiver and can't stop. I make the decision to knock on a cabin door for help. No answer, I go in, I wrap myself in a bivvy and eat some hornby bars till I warm up again
I go cabin to cabin bivvying up, sleeping, then moving on. Its slow but necessary.
The last time I was on this trail, a bear and i had a fight. So I am on edge. I am scared of running in the dark.
My watch dies, but my inreach is still tracking.
I start the descent on the FSR and meet my mom to crew for me because I get cooked in the heat.
Bottom of the FSR from Kludahk to Parkinson Creek.
I was fortunate to have a roaming aid station and I got absolutely cooked on the descent down to the JDF. I ran out of water, and was able to receive support from my lovely mom. I napped, charged everything, and geared up for the JDF.
A quick call to Jono to let him know we are about to finish, and how he has inspired me immensly.
Now I ran as much as the JDF as possible before the night came. I got to Bear, and someone didnt put their fire out fully. So I stoked it and got it going again knowing I wanted nap. I approached a group of campers from Europe and asked them to sit with me while i sleep. I can't fall asleep outside in the dark alone (or so i thought). They sat with me for 15 minutes, my alarm went off, and rejuvenated, i got up and left. I was immediately cut off by a huge tide at Bear beach and thought of returning to the fire........ I really need to get this section done though. I braved the water, and with my feet the way the were. That was awful.
I climbed from Bear to Chin. Moving at the slowest pace you could imagine but knew I would sleep at the emergency shelter at Chin (foreshadowing). I do not remember the climbs being so steep. Did the JDF make them steeper? Every push of my balance led to me stumbling so i had to move slower. The pitch dark was terrifying, and even more so because I started hallucinating like crazy. It was almost always a bear in place of a tree. The lack of sleep was really the hardest variable. I can't run, if I can't balance.
I get to Chin, and the emergency shelter i made up is gone. What the heck? I was living in a dream world of a few years ago. So i slept in the only shelter available. I dare not say it out loud, but if you know, you know
I got my 15 minutes, off to Sombrio where my mom is going to meet me. I now really need 90 minutes of sleep. I can barely stand up. Slowly but surely, I make it. Not before that old FSR section to get to Sombrio took me through a nightmare. The hallucincation were violent, and scary.
What do you know, another sunrise
I get to the car, sleep, eat, sleep some more to digest
Then left
Parkinson creek is 7k away. I got this.
Im going to finish.
I finish. 2 days later than I expected but its done
Thank you for following along,
Thank you to Keith
Thank you to Jono
Thank you to Chase
Thank you to Tj
Most importantly, Thank you to my mom for helping so much and believing I could do this
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Start time: 3:32am September 19th
Finish time: 12:49pm September 22nd