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331 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2006 : 7:03 PM
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Hi all, just organizing a Juan De Fuca backpacking trip for late April with some friends and I'm trying to figure out the logistics of it and could use your advice.
Is it good to bring a car or is it more trouble than it's worth? I keep reading stuff about vandalism.
Can we take public transit to Sooke and then walk/hitch to the South end of the trail and then hitch back to Sooke after the trip from the North end and take the bus to Victoria?
Does anyone have a link to the average rainfall on Vancouver Island by month or week or whatever?
Thanks for your help
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http://www.jackielbolen.blogspot.com/ |
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victoria, b.c.
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2006 : 8:03 PM
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I have done the JDF and had friends drop off and pick up. I have also left my vehicle overnight at China/Mystic Beach overnight. People do hitch hike. I have given them rides. Personally I would rather leave a vehicle at China beach than at Botanical. I think there would be more partiers closer to Port Renfrew. I think your best bet is the "West Coast Trail Express". It does an in and out every day. I don't know if they are running in April but it is worth checking out.
Another poster said that as recently as a few weeks ago there were a lot of blown down trees across the trail. There is more rain as you head up the coast. Often you will just get a fog that burns off by noon. It is so unpredictable. I did the trail in August and it was quite dry but the parts that are well used (around Sombrio)were really slick and muddy. I also went in at Christmas one year, it was rainy wet but the trail was in pretty good shape.
Check out the link for the bus.
http://www.trailbus.com/ |
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 Fleece thong wearin, Buntzen Lurkin, mystic poet mountain man and international spokesman of the friends of the white squirrel society
Port Moody, B.C.
Canada
5910 Posts |
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South Surrey, BC
Canada
628 Posts |
Posted - 02/27/2006 : 07:57 AM
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Jackie,
I did the Juan de Fuca a year and a half or so ago... and my buddy and I hitch hiked to Sooke and a little beyond to get to the trail head. We also hitch hiked back to the ferry terminal at the end of the trail. We had no problems finding rides. Vancouver Island is made for hitch hiking!! it may be a problem coordinating if you have a group though. I would suggest against having a car. It's a pain in the buttocks to get back to or coordinate. |
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331 Posts |
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victoria, b.c.
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 03/01/2006 : 7:43 PM
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It is 34 km from Sooke to China Beach and an additional 42 km to the Botanical Beach Trail head.
Have you read "Giant Cedars, White Sands: Juan de Fuca Marine Trail Guidebook"? It is less than 100 pages, costs less than $20.00 and is full of information. |
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331 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2006 : 2:46 PM
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I'm much too cheap to get the guidebook and would rather pump ya'll for information! If I spent money on all the guidebooks I wouldn't have enough left to go hiking 
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http://www.jackielbolen.blogspot.com/ |
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victoria, b.c.
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2006 : 3:04 PM
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| You can just ask the questions and I'll refer to the book (and a little bit of experience)to find the info |
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112 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2006 : 7:12 PM
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you can take the city bus transit to Sooke and then take a Taxi to China beach. Cost like 20 -30 bucks. Then you can hitch hike back from he surfers or arange with the taxi cap driver.
Or... take your canand risk it. Lots of people there.
I HIKED THE JDF before, just up and down. IT was okay. Bets part of this hike is that it is prety accessible. No need for reservation. Lots of rain. |
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Calgary, alberta
Canada
670 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2006 : 07:33 AM
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I did the JDF in Aug/Sept 2005, We left our van at a friends cabin in port renfrew, then my son and his girlfriend (the least smelly, and most attractive of the 4 hikers) hitched a ride back to Port Renfrew. It worked well and didn't take long. The only bad part, we had run out of food so were pretty dang hungry. The best coke and eatmore in my life was bought in Port Renfrew!
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The unaware are unaware that they are unaware.
M. Lipkin |
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 Big pack hiker who sleeps with bears in tent and falls on slippery logs
Langley, BC
Canada
7647 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2006 : 09:11 AM
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| I left my car there and had no issue. We parked at Botanical Beach. At the other side, we took the trailbus back to BB trailhead. |
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331 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2006 : 1:17 PM
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You guys rock! Keep the good info. coming
I am leaning more towards the hitch-hiking/taxi option.
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http://www.jackielbolen.blogspot.com/ |
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112 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2006 : 9:24 PM
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That's funny.
IT was in 99 when I was teaching in North Alberta. My friends drove from Edmontchuk, and got on the trail WED. Two days before that, I went to the dentist (Coverage for teachers), I pulled 3 wishdom teeth out and took the days after that off. I used the wishdom teeth for sick excuse so I can go on this trip. I got on the plane and flew out to Vitoria. Took the Transit bus to Sook. Then the Taxi to China beach, then I ran the trail to catch up with my friends. Good old days when I was fit. Those guys were one day ahead of me but I caught up to them. Oh good memories. Hope you have fun.
P.S I have heard if you calculate the elevation of gong up and down on this trail, the result would be larger than the elevation of Everest. LOL. You will know what I mean.
cheek |
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Victoria, BC
Canada
348 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2006 : 12:01 AM
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Hey there,
I live in Victoria and have the done the trail many many times. Yes you can take the bus, once your in sooke, taxi to china, and take a bus from port renfrew. The vandalisms not as bad as it sounds, i don't drive anything special but I've never been broken into. Had some bears checking out the jeep a couple times but thats it. The book they are talking about can be purchased in victoria at island blue printers on Yates. The map inside is invaluble for this trail. 52 km tip to tip, 4 days or so, theres some great trail at the end near the mouth of the san juan in port renfrew. The seal grotto's my fav, i have posted pics of it somewhere on here. Might be fav van isle hikes. Good luck and have fun, its a wicked time. Make sure you have a shower at the sombrio waterfall, east end, big tree going from forest into the ocean, 40 feet to the left, there a creek, follow it and see what there, it's totally worth it. As for the rain, well we get much less than the lower mainland. Take ur easy.
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A smile is a curve to help straighten things. |
Edited by - Scottmojowright on 03/08/2006 12:07 AM |
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331 Posts |
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Victoria, BC
Canada
348 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 5:28 PM
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Not sure about exact delails on the bus. I've stopped at the tourist kiosk in Port Renfrew and rememeber seeing bus info. I'm sure if you called them, they can give you details. I will do some research and get back to you.
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A smile is a curve to help straighten things. |
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Manitoba's misadventurin' bushwhackin', dog sloggin', dehydratin', beer drinkin' biggie - who's eager to peak bag Mt Currie in a dress
Squamish
5048 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 6:41 PM
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| Jackie, I did the JDF a few years ago when I flew in from Winnipeg. I don't remember the names of everything, but we took a bus from downtown Vicoria, linked to another bus, and then took it to the end of the line, and then we hitchhiked to the trailhead. Hitching is easy, I would do it again |
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map hatin', coffee perc totin', garbage collectin', backpacking, action hero wannabe, who loves to hide out in Garibaldi park and will have his scouts sing if you keep him awake at night
2466 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2006 : 11:46 AM
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Piika and I leave tomorrow to do the JDF. I'll post a TR when I get back with some up-to-date details of the trip.
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www.shiftlessbum.com |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
2660 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2006 : 11:50 AM
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Awesome Marc, you should see some good waves.  |
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Victoria, B.C.
Canada
110 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2006 : 8:02 PM
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Evan is the name of the guy in Port Renfrew who will drive people. His number is 1-250-647-0071. I am doing the jdf this week and this was the best I could find other than hitchhiking or cabbing (I don't have a vehicle). Good luck!
I also talked to a park maintenance guy today who said a crew might be going in this week to clear up some of the fallen trees. On the little bit by SOmbrio we did today there weren't many trees down although they would be a pain with a heavy bag! |
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map hatin', coffee perc totin', garbage collectin', backpacking, action hero wannabe, who loves to hide out in Garibaldi park and will have his scouts sing if you keep him awake at night
2466 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2006 : 2:07 PM
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Just got back from the JDF on Saturday. Well, we actually finished the trail on Thursday. I'm working on a TR, but here are some of the things to be aware of....
Not a trail I'd night hike. There isn't any flagging tape, just markers at every km. While it was an easy trail to follow during the day, I think it'd be really hard at night.
Pay attention to the tides, especially on leaving Chin Beach. The only way up to the trail is at low tide, or as we did a short wade into thigh deep water at a medium tide. At high tide, this would probably be impassable.
There was a lot of deadfall down, especially between Bear Beach and Chin Beach, with the largest one just as you come off Bear Beach on your way to Chin. We had to take our packs off, crawl under and then drag our packs through.
When leaving West, West Sombrio Beach. The trail washed out in like 2002, but was never reflagged properly. Pay attention to where the trail goes back up into the woods or you'll have to do a bit of bushwacking to get back on the trail.
Beyond that, it gets muddy when wet. All the bridges and boardwalks turn darn near frictionless when wet as well, so be careful.
It's a FANTASTIC hike and I'd really love to do this one again sometime!!!!
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www.shiftlessbum.com |
Edited by - Marc on 03/20/2006 2:16 PM |
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Juan De Fuca
