| If you are hiking or camping on the coast of BC, you | | | | wetness inside of boots. For the North Coast Trail, |
| are going to have to plan for wet weather, and | | | | gaiters are essential gear. Boggy upland trails are part |
| probably, wet everything that you brought. Some of | | | | of the whole length, and trying to go around them is |
| the coastal hikes in BC are wetter than others | | | | next to impossible and very time consuming. Walking |
| because of the Pacific exposure or more northern | | | | straight through muddy patches and puddles can save |
| location. The North Coast Trail in Cape Scott Provincial | | | | an hour a day or more. With a 20 to 25 kg pack on |
| Park on Vancouver Island and the Naikoon Trail in | | | | your back, that makes a difference. Inevitably, your |
| Naikoon Provincial Park in Haida Gwaii (the Queen | | | | feet get wet, if not from external moisture, from |
| Charlotte Islands) are two relatively well developed | | | | sweat. Take enough pairs of socks to try to have dry |
| hikes that are prone to extremes of this type of | | | | feet each day. This helps prevent blisters and other |
| exposure, but any other Vancouver Island or | | | | foot problems. |
| Washington State coastal trail would qualify. To be | | | | The next level of dryness is at the camp level. There |
| comfortable in this environment, you will need to figure | | | | are a number of things you can do to help prevent |
| out how to deal with the moisture. And that's just what | | | | moisture from getting to you and your gear. The type |
| we are going to do here. | | | | and quality of gear make these methods more or less |
| First, let's look at hiking. The most important part of dry, | | | | easy. Your tent is your main shelter against all |
| warm hiking is the system you have for your clothes. | | | | elements. It needs to be appropriate and up to the |
| The clothes need to be the right fabrics for staying dry | | | | task. An optional tarp is very helpful, and can even be |
| and warm. Anything cotton is a big no-no on coastal | | | | a quick, emergency shelter when needed. As with |
| trips. Cotton gets wet easily, is difficult to dry, and cools | | | | clothing, tents and tarps have become lighter and more |
| your body off very rapidly. Your mantra should be "No | | | | flexible over the past few years. The balance |
| Cotton!" Better fabrics are polyester (fleece), | | | | between function and weight is extremely important |
| polypropylene or merino wool. There are a number of | | | | for hiking trips. Modern tents are built to keep out |
| high tech applications of all these materials for outdoor | | | | moisture and handle strong winds, both of which are |
| use. I won't name brands, but your outdoor store, work | | | | common on the North Coast Trail and the Naikoon. |
| wear store, or ski shop can help you with lines of | | | | You must be familiar with the operation of your tent |
| clothing and with fabrics. | | | | before you leave. Details are important. Know how to |
| The right fabrics need to be worn in the right layers. | | | | stake it out and tighten the fly to prevent water from |
| You need a base layer that wicks moisture away | | | | entering. Pay attentions to how far out the fly is |
| from your body, a mid layer of insulation, or two, or | | | | staked because rain spatter from the ground can |
| three, and an outer layer that sheds water. While hiking, | | | | enter the tent under the fly. Understand how to place |
| you will want to keep the insulation layers light and | | | | the ground sheet to prevent water from collecting |
| keep the outer rain gear layer handy, but off if it is not | | | | under the tent. Know how to use the ventilating |
| raining. Heat loss can be dramatic and can be fast. | | | | systems to prevent condensation inside the tent as |
| When stopping for a break with packs off, immediately | | | | well. Tents collect moisture by being the barrier |
| throw on some of your insulating layers, and especially | | | | between the moist environment and you. When you |
| a hat, to retain your warmth. There is some practice | | | | pack up the tent, know how to fold it and roll it to |
| and skill in how to pack these things. But that is another | | | | minimize water transfer to other objects. Make sure |
| article. You need a dry set of clothes just for camp, | | | | you have plastic garbage bags for the tent and the fly |
| and this set needs to be in an absolutely waterproof | | | | to prevent the moisture from getting other things inside |
| bag inside your pack. This set of clothes may include | | | | your pack wet. |
| another dry base layer, but at least needs to be | | | | Modern lightweight tarps are a great way to help |
| enough insulating layer to keep you warm with little or | | | | prevent moisture from invading everything you have. |
| no activity. I usually hike with two light and one | | | | They provide an important shelter for cooking and |
| mid-weight fleece tops, plus an extra base layer just in | | | | eating areas, and can be placed to cover the door of |
| case, and a fairly heavy pair of fleece pants. I use my | | | | your tent so you can enter and exit without getting |
| rain gear as a wind break and an extra heat retention | | | | wet. This is really helpful when having to shed wet |
| layer. | | | | outer layers before entering the tent or having a dry |
| Your bagging system is vital to maintaining dryness. | | | | place to put on rain gear and boots before breaking |
| The old standard of plastic garbage bags inside stuff | | | | camp. Make sure you have some knowledge about |
| sacks does work, but need some extra care and | | | | how to set up a tarp to provide protection and for |
| attention to maintain. The past few years have seen | | | | shedding water. It's not rocket science, but a little |
| extremely lightweight dry sacks brought to the market. | | | | knowledge and practice make it much easier when |
| You can get these in various sizes, which is what you | | | | having to do it in the field with rain coming down and |
| need. Again, this is where your outdoor store can help | | | | with cold hands. |
| you tremendously. If you are dealing with larger bulky | | | | Last, there are a few things that add extra comfort |
| items, such as a sleeping bag, then you have some | | | | when a trip is cold and wet. A Nalgene, or other |
| other issues and options. | | | | drinking bottle, can be used as a hot water bottle inside |
| Sleeping bags come in several varieties. The old | | | | clothing layers while finishing set up or cooking and |
| Coleman cotton/wool bags are absolutely not | | | | eating dinner. These are also very nice inside sleeping |
| appropriate for coastal areas. They are bulky, not | | | | bags at night. Small chemical hand warmers can also |
| really very warm, and extremely difficult to dry. The | | | | help keep the digits warm, especially when having to |
| most bomb proof bags are synthetic fill bags because | | | | do some fiddly, detailed work with hands, like repairing |
| they retain their insulating capabilities even if wet. Of | | | | equipment, or even cooking. Camp towels, made to be |
| course, it is best to keep them dry because they add | | | | extra light and absorbent can be used to extract |
| weight when wet, and just to be safe, dry is always | | | | water from clothing or boots, or just to wipe down the |
| best for warmth. Down bags can work, but they take | | | | inside of a wet tent or sleeping pad. If you are lucky |
| extra care. Down bags lose their insulating ability if the | | | | enough to get a night in a good shelter or can build a |
| feathers get wet. Both the down and synthetic fill bags | | | | fire, you may be able to dry out some things, giving |
| can be bulky, but can be compressed easily. Very | | | | them and extra use or lessening the weight of your |
| lightweight compression bags are available. A plastic | | | | pack a bit. |
| bag can line the inside of the compression bag, or the | | | | Keeping dry and warm is essential for really enjoying |
| whole compression bag/sleeping bag can be put into a | | | | coastal hiking on the North Coast Trail and other |
| lightweight dry bag in the end. | | | | coastal trails. What you bring to do those jobs is |
| The North Coast Trail and the Naikoon involve some | | | | paramount. Modern materials and equipment make it |
| creek or river fords, so boot protection is important. | | | | much easier than in the past, being both good for |
| Make sure your boots are completely waterproof | | | | warmth and moisture protection, as well as being light |
| before leaving. If they are leaking, try to repair the | | | | in weight. Simple techniques and a little knowledge and |
| leaky areas and apply conditioning/waterproofing | | | | planning go a long way to make sure you stay warm |
| compounds to the leather and other upper materials. If | | | | and dry. Starting with your self, then moving out to |
| water is above the boot top, there is no way to stop | | | | your camp equipment and practices, it is possible to do |
| the water from getting in. Mud puddles are a different | | | | a really good job of staying dry, and certainly of |
| matter. Gaiters that connect to the top and bottom of | | | | staying warm. On your next coastal hike, put these |
| hiking boots and run up the leg can prevent a lot of | | | | principles to action and have a warm and dry trip. |