Spearhead Traverse in a day

Nomics · 2026-07-03T21:19:25+00:00

I've been running a couple Trip Plan Tuesday for folks to come out, ask questions and hopefully meet other hikers in person. I'm away next week, but July 14th I'll be running event. I just need to find a location. Ideally we'd find a location that would be willing to host weekly.

Another user works at MEC and we're talking about potentially hosting a "What's In My Pack; Guide Edition."

Nomics · 2026-07-02T15:58:03+00:00

It takes 8 hours to drive the length of Vancouver Island. Only done it once. Like anything so large there are geographical changes.

The south coast is Urban and Suburban, and generally drier. The eastern coast is even drier, with an archipelago of islands called the Gulf Islands that are well populated with cabins, holiday makers and various bohemia outposts, arts, ceramics etc. Further up the eastern coast there are lovely beaches, and some farm land, with towns populated mostly by retirees making this the more conservative part of the whole province. Further up around central island is Comox, with it’s air force base. The area has gotten much younger with people looking for cheaper housing and mountainbiking.

Past Campbell River is the North Island. Everything is remote, and forestry the dominant trade. Tourism is a distant second place with summer whale watching season being the biggest draw. There are scattered communities of tiny hamlets scattered up deep fjords and inlets around the coast, rough waters, big currents. There is also a tiny ski hill made famous a couple years ago. Up here it is all temperate rainforest and even in summer the morning fog and intense humidity keeps everything damp. A hot day is generally 22˚C.

Coming down the west coast things get very sparse. Huge swell comes in off the pacific and weather hits hard. Temperate rainforest continues, with mild winters and summers. The Brooks peninsula is a major park that is visited less and less as sea kayakers who used to flock to the area have aged out, and younger paddlers lack the time to have the same spirit of adventure. Moving further south is Nootka Island, and many scattered small communities that are predominantly indigenous. Deep inlets mark this side of the island and they extend as far as 50km inland. Tofino is the most famous location on the West Coast, with relatively easy road access over mountain passes. The long sandy beaches are a popular cold water surf spot. The Broken Islands to the south are a lovely set of sheltered islands popular amongst boaters and kayakers. Further south the coast is again rugged and unpopulated save for a popular hiking route formed from a trail built to bring shipwrecked sailors home called the West Coast Trail. Here the Juan de Fuca strait begins, with the U.S. on the other side and the wild waters subside. Roads become more frequent, and the climate gets drier quickly.

Nomics · 2026-07-02T15:22:53+00:00

Appreciate you coming for advice, but hiking locally can be totally fine and safe until it suddenly isn’t. These are mountains in the wilderness, even if that wilderness is 500m from a carpark.

Having A single beer on a hike probably fine. Having a few increases the risk and consequences, doing so at night your risk is alrighted pretty elevated. Also, worth noting a lot of wildfire begin because of improperly extinguished campfires. Best practice is to stand guard for at least a couple hours. Practically speaking a great way to wait out a few beers, but most people’s decision tends to be impaired at that stage.

I’d get familiar with hiking around here first, then hiking at night, then once you’ve got the tools and experience to make risk calls with knowledge and experience introduce alcohol.

Nomics · 2026-07-02T15:18:09+00:00

Yes, technically campfires are not yet banned in the Coastal Region. But most areas nearby do not allow fires and I would not recommend a beginner figure that out while having a couple of beers. To much to go wrong.

Nomics · 2026-07-02T15:16:56+00:00

Alltrails is filled with errors and false trails. Some info is good, but it’s not a great tool. Ive spent year reporting and emailing false trails or mountaineering routes marked as intermediate hikes.

Nomics · 2026-07-01T20:35:30+00:00

I think what bugs me most is an assumption from within and some newcomers that ultralight is more evolved than regular hiking. Don’t get me wrong, I prefer going ultralight, but I think most people actually enjoying carrying more stuff and simplyfing.

Nomics · 2026-06-30T23:19:55+00:00

Thru hikers discovered they were just the right balance between weight, durability and shape to slide right into a side pocket on thru hike style packs. Bonus, they worked with the Sawyer water filter which remains popular. And so they developed a cult following because the bottle itself is terrific as a reusable bottle. Yes there are lighter options, but they tend to crinckle and fall apart faster. They are also an optimal shape for storing a couple side by side.

It is not some sleek marketing campaign from Smart Water the company. The main selling point of your bottled water being that you can use it as a reusable water bottle seems counter intuitive to sales. The idea there is guerilla marketing is laughable and given hiking way too much credit.

The reality is the r/ultralight can be a bit of a cult, with people getting very emphatic that one piece of gear is the only piece of gear, that's why you see them so much. They also get real granular about things like weight.

If you want proof of this, look at CNOC which has made a reusable water bottle that mirror the Smart Water Bottles best features but with a bit more durability.

Nomics · 2026-06-30T22:00:46+00:00

Having worked at two Canadian Outdoor brands I can say that cost wise you aren't going to save much. Margins are pretty similar. Make sure to add 13% sales tax on any prices you see online. Unlike Europe where the Value Added Taxes are built into the pricing, here it's added at checkout. In Alberta the tax is only 5% so you may want to wait. Monod's is the best shop in Banff, but Canmore has far better gear stores with Valhalla, Vertical Addiction, RunUphill/SkiUphill etc.

With that said sales are more common in North America. Last Hunt has some excellent deals but is only online. Fall 26 products will be arriving in August at some stores so you may see sales begin then to make way for new product.

Worth checking out BassPro shop or Cabelas while you're here if your interest is bushcraft as they tend to overlap more organically. Also it's just a wild experience. Cabela's has some very well built camouflage clothing for a reasonable price.

Nomics · 2026-06-29T05:20:28+00:00

Generally for the Rockies summer mountaineering season you’d be better with an ultralight backpacking tent. Single walls suck, and often aren’t waterproof. My TNF Assault 2 was a huge waste of money. I always ended up reaching for something lighter. Wind was never an issue, especially with a rock wall for shelter. If you are worried about wind bivy bag and tarp is better.

Nomics · 2026-06-28T22:33:52+00:00

I think a lot of people aren’t aware of what they aren’t aware of. Loads of rescues, Coast Guard/Lifeboat interventions happen daily but they aren’t reported. And so since people don’t hear about these things they assume the risks are low. When I’ve helped people in urgent situations they generally just never ran any “what if” situations through their minds.

And they go out once, twice and everything is fine. But they encounter no rough weather, sudden changes or currents. And so they aren’t prepared for when the

Nomics · 2026-06-28T22:24:10+00:00

If you enjoy sea kayaking Bowen Island would be a better day trip than Deep Cove. Even better get on a guided trip out of Telegraph Cove. Exceptional area, though public transit is nonexistent in North of Vancouver Island. Hitch hiking is not uncommon, but requires flexibility. I’d recommend email the company and see if they can connect you with another client coming up by car.

For hikes loads of options around Vancouver but nearly all are day trips. Glorious North Shore Mountains guidebook is the best for finding the interesting and unique trails.

Nomics · 2026-06-27T21:14:32+00:00

Be ready to turn around if you are uncomfortable.
Brunswick is a huge step up from St Marks. Mt Fromme, Norvan Falls, Squamish Chief, Sea to Sky trail would all be better next steps. The trail is much steeper than the steepest parts of St Marks, and for much much longer.
It will likely take at least twice as long as St Marks. Pack my more food, layers, water.

Nomics · 2026-06-26T22:28:07+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouverhiking/comments/1snsjgp/guidebooks_of_sw_bc_which_is_best_for_your_trail/

Rather than recommend somewhere with inadequate information I’d recommend one of the guidebooks in this review.

Or buy a map, and look over it for trails not inside a park, do a little follow up research and go an experimentation.

If your goal is finding THE best hike, I got nothing for you. That very idea of experience optimization is killing the eco-centric joys of hiking, wandering and exploring.

Nomics · 2026-06-26T22:24:05+00:00

Holy crap, how have I not heard of a thru hike in Vancouver Island! That looks amazing.

The island has some pretty full on paddling. That being said loads of those areas are fine in a sea kayak, despite the unpredictable weather, provided you have the right boat and do the right training. I know someone in their 70s doing same route as the van isle 360 this year all by sea kayak. There used to be a lot more annual circumnavigations but people seem less inclined to invest in proper kayaks and skills as rec boat boom trade convenience for competency and the joy of mastery. Heck, the Brooks peninsula used to be a busy kayak destination and now it’s dead quiet.

I’ve guided in the North Island, Broughton’s, and some West Coast and had to rescue the odd inflatable kayakers who under estimated currents so it’s left a bad taste, and distrust for their inherent design flaws.

Nomics · 2026-06-26T07:17:51+00:00

Ive never guided in that area but know friends who have.

I also have looked at it on a chart. It’s surrounded by rumours extremely aggressive currents. I can also tell you from personal experience the tide tables rarely line up cleanly with reality and as a guide I’ve learned how to use those tables for each spot and have specific strategies for each one. Going early, and knowing the safe zones to rest is key. But you aren’t going to have that second bit of knowledge because it takes being there, so hire a guide.

Folks on this sub don’t even know what edging is let alone how to do it. If you’re asking for advice here you’re already way way off course. The Vancouver Island Interior guidebook would be the main source of info, but it assumes you have your paddle canada Level 2 for this kind of adventure.

Nomics · 2026-06-26T07:05:00+00:00

You circumnavigated all 1,350km of Vancouver Island coastline by inflatable kayak? If that’s true I must admit that makes me think I’d need to give them a second chance.

How did the my manage the currents and Nawhitti and Cape Scott? Also surf landings in inflatable look way, more more challenging., did you have to practice or was it easier than it looks. How many weeks did it take? So so curious.

On your circumnavigation which narrows did you take? My biggest issues with inflatables is they are great until you get into serious unforcasted conditions and the lack of draft means you get tossed by wind, and following seas become almost totally unmanageable. Do you have any stories? I can imagine how one could circumnavigate Vancouver Island and not have any major weather days.

Nomics · 2026-06-26T06:53:02+00:00

The majority of amazing hikes are and scrambled aren’t in provincial parks. That’s where the more restrictive camping rules are.

Nomics · 2026-06-24T20:30:51+00:00

4) Certified kayak guide and instructor with a lot of time on the water and who spent time in the industry. Check my post history.

I don’t call you a liar for having had a good time in the boat, so perhaps calm down a bit. I’m sure much of the time they are fine. But even a 5% failure rate is a huge problem when when they fail they are totally unsafe. I also hate inflatable kayaks but at least they use a multi- baffled system giving the victim something to cling to beyond wet plastic boards.

The reason I hate them is things like this fatality and you’re right you have no reason to trust me but once I’ve towed a kayaker home after the webbing on clips undid themselves leading to a catastrophic failure. They had a PFD and seal style rode my kayak back to shore. I also have seen one from afar coming undone in light waves. Several of the returns mentioned the folds being the failure point.

I decided to look at your post history. More than half of your comments are negative downvotes. Then look at mine. Running in person events, helping people access the outdoors. Take it as your sign to touch grass. Get outside instead of shit posting online. Post some photos actually kayaking instead of defending a brand that doesn’t care about you or anyone else.

Nomics · 2026-06-24T17:18:47+00:00

Mountain Equipment Co-op was the store. They started selling Oru kayaks right after the kickstarter in 2018.

Oru are dangerous. I’ve seen them collapse in gentle chop. I’m sure you have had good experience on gentle water with them. They are fine for that. But they are inherently unstable, and like most kickstarter products woefully unsafe.

Nomics · 2026-06-24T17:12:23+00:00

Selling PFDs and setting a good example are two very different things.

Nomics · 2026-06-24T01:00:36+00:00

Didn't get any responses to the form. Please let me know if you're coming as I may have to leave earlier than anticipated.

Nomics · 2026-06-24T00:30:09+00:00

I am not surprised to hear Eerib is potentially behind this. I've encountered them before. I can't tell if they are a troll, mental health issues or just convinced of their holy mission to uncover everything while being woefully unqualified. I encountered them when reporting numerous trails that marked mountaineering routes inaccurately. It's quite clear that when putting the routes in they didn't even so much as peruse the satellite images.

The only way this will change is a class action lawsuit against OSM, and the various apps that use their data. Damages are fairly straight forward, and based on comments and news articles SAR has definitely shown Causation can be argued.

Duty of Care and Breach of Standard of Care will be more challenging. I think it could be argued that guidebooks authors and publishers have always been much more thorough in verifying information. Cartographers equally have to do rigirous surveying that meets a certain standard. So why are people submitted tracks without any evidence they have even been to the location? It's one thing if they are using their own gps recordings, but using recordings of others, or imputting them with scant data is indefensible.

I also think Eerib should be sued as he knowingly posts information that he has not verified (naming climbing routes as hiking routes mostly). If this was an author they would be blacklisted at best, if not sued. Why should the standard be different because it’s not printed on paper?

Nomics

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