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