The Boreal Forest

Keeping Dry on the North Coast Trail
By Gary Ward

If you are hiking or camping on the coast of BC, you are going to have to plan for wet weather, and probably, wet everything that you brought. Some of the coastal hikes in BC are wetter than others because of the Pacific exposure or more northern location. The North Coast Trail in Cape Scott Provincial Park on Vancouver Island and the Naikoon Trail in Naikoon Provincial Park in Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands) are two relatively well developed hikes that are prone to extremes of this type of exposure, but any other Vancouver Island or Washington State coastal trail would qualify. To be comfortable in this environment, you will need to figure out how to deal with the moisture. And that's just what we are going to do here.

First, let's look at hiking. The most important part of dry, warm hiking is the system you have for your clothes. The clothes need to be the right fabrics for staying dry and warm. Anything cotton is a big no-no on coastal trips. Cotton gets wet easily, is difficult to dry, and cools your body off very rapidly. Your mantra should be "No Cotton!" Better fabrics are polyester (fleece), polypropylene or merino wool. There are a number of high tech applications of all these materials for outdoor use. I won't name brands, but your outdoor store, work wear store, or ski shop can help you with lines of clothing and with fabrics.

The right fabrics need to be worn in the right layers. You need a base layer that wicks moisture away from your body, a mid layer of insulation, or two, or three, and an outer layer that sheds water. While hiking, you will want to keep the insulation layers light and keep the outer rain gear layer handy, but off if it is not raining. Heat loss can be dramatic and can be fast. When stopping for a break with packs off, immediately throw on some of your insulating layers, and especially a hat, to retain your warmth. There is some practice and skill in how to pack these things. But that is another article. You need a dry set of clothes just for camp, and this set needs to be in an absolutely waterproof bag inside your pack. This set of clothes may include another dry base layer, but at least needs to be enough insulating layer to keep you warm with little or no activity. I usually hike with two light and one mid-weight fleece tops, plus an extra base layer just in case, and a fairly heavy pair of fleece pants. I use my rain gear as a wind break and an extra heat retention layer.

Your bagging system is vital to maintaining dryness. The old standard of plastic garbage bags inside stuff sacks does work, but need some extra care and attention to maintain. The past few years have seen extremely lightweight dry sacks brought to the market. You can get these in various sizes, which is what you need. Again, this is where your outdoor store can help you tremendously. If you are dealing with larger bulky items, such as a sleeping bag, then you have some other issues and options.

Sleeping bags come in several varieties. The old Coleman cotton/wool bags are absolutely not appropriate for coastal areas. They are bulky, not really very warm, and extremely difficult to dry. The most bomb proof bags are synthetic fill bags because they retain their insulating capabilities even if wet. Of course, it is best to keep them dry because they add weight when wet, and just to be safe, dry is always best for warmth. Down bags can work, but they take extra care. Down bags lose their insulating ability if the feathers get wet. Both the down and synthetic fill bags can be bulky, but can be compressed easily. Very lightweight compression bags are available. A plastic bag can line the inside of the compression bag, or the whole compression bag/sleeping bag can be put into a lightweight dry bag in the end.

The North Coast Trail and the Naikoon involve some creek or river fords, so boot protection is important. Make sure your boots are completely waterproof before leaving. If they are leaking, try to repair the leaky areas and apply conditioning/waterproofing compounds to the leather and other upper materials. If water is above the boot top, there is no way to stop the water from getting in. Mud puddles are a different matter. Gaiters that connect to the top and bottom of hiking boots and run up the leg can prevent a lot of wetness inside of boots. For the North Coast Trail, gaiters are essential gear. Boggy upland trails are part of the whole length, and trying to go around them is next to impossible and very time consuming. Walking straight through muddy patches and puddles can save an hour a day or more. With a 20 to 25 kg pack on your back, that makes a difference. Inevitably, your feet get wet, if not from external moisture, from sweat. Take enough pairs of socks to try to have dry feet each day. This helps prevent blisters and other foot problems.

The next level of dryness is at the camp level. There are a number of things you can do to help prevent moisture from getting to you and your gear. The type and quality of gear make these methods more or less easy. Your tent is your main shelter against all elements. It needs to be appropriate and up to the task. An optional tarp is very helpful, and can even be a quick, emergency shelter when needed. As 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. Modern tents are built to keep out moisture and handle strong winds, both of which are common on the North Coast Trail and the Naikoon.

You must be familiar with the operation of your tent before you leave. Details are important. Know how to stake it out and tighten the fly to prevent water from entering. Pay attentions to how far out the fly is staked because rain spatter from the ground can enter the tent under the fly. Understand how to place the ground sheet to prevent water from collecting under the tent. Know how to use the ventilating systems to prevent condensation inside the tent as well. Tents collect moisture by being the barrier between the moist environment and you. When you pack up the tent, know how to fold it and roll it to minimize water transfer to other objects. Make sure you have plastic garbage bags for the tent and the fly to prevent the moisture from getting other things inside your pack wet.

Modern lightweight tarps are a great way to help prevent moisture from invading everything you have. They provide an important shelter for cooking and eating areas, and can be placed to cover the door of your tent so you can enter and exit without getting wet. This is really helpful when having to shed wet outer layers before entering the tent or having a dry place to put on rain gear and boots before breaking camp. Make sure you have some knowledge about how to set up a tarp to provide protection and for shedding water. It's not rocket science, but a little knowledge and practice make it much easier when having to do it in the field with rain coming down and with cold hands.

Last, there are a few things that add extra comfort when a trip is cold and wet. A Nalgene, or other drinking bottle, can be used as a hot water bottle inside clothing layers while finishing set up or cooking and eating dinner. These are also very nice inside sleeping bags at night. Small chemical hand warmers can also help keep the digits warm, especially when having to do some fiddly, detailed work with hands, like repairing equipment, or even cooking. Camp towels, made to be extra light and absorbent can be used to extract water from clothing or boots, or just to wipe down the inside of a wet tent or sleeping pad. If you are lucky enough to get a night in a good shelter or can build a fire, you may be able to dry out some things, giving them and extra use or lessening the weight of your pack a bit.

Keeping dry and warm is essential for really enjoying coastal hiking on the rel=nofollow North Coast Trail and other coastal trails. What you bring to do those jobs is paramount. Modern materials and equipment make it much easier than in the past, being both good for warmth and moisture protection, as well as being light in weight. Simple techniques and a little knowledge and planning go a long way to make sure you stay warm and dry. Starting with your self, then moving out to your camp equipment and practices, it is possible to do a really good job of staying dry, and certainly of staying warm. On your next coastal hike, put these principles to action and have a warm and dry trip.

About the Author:
Gary Ward has been leading trips and teaching in wilderness areas for 20 years. Having traveled from desert to sea, he spends most of his time now in coastal areas, exploring the boundary between land and sea, land and sky, and sea and sky. He can be found leading tours, teaching, and writing for his business, Coastal Bliss Adventures.