AdvenQuest.com

Wilderness Backpacking Trails in British Columbia - Lesson 6 - The Three S's
By Robert Bannon

This list may be different than the one you are expecting. Forget about shaving and showering and I have already mentioned that there are rustic, but adequate facilities at most of the campsites for that other S. The wilderness areas of BC present many backpacking opportunities through pristine forests and primal headlands that capture everyone of our senses and present them with a smorgasbord of unforgettable experiences and none more so than the West Coast Trail.

SIGHTS: I suppose it depends on where you are from and whether or not you see crashing waves, miles of sand, trees that reach to the clouds, whales playing, eagles soaring, star fish lying in tide pools, seals clamouring up rocks, shipwrecks, storm carved caves, surge channels, spectacular sunsets, waterfalls you can swim under, lighthouses, suspension bridges, self propelled cable cars, skies blanketed with stars and paths that wind through one of the most beautiful spot on earth but you can expect this and much more as you spend 7 days and nights on the West Coast Trail.

SOUNDS: The sounds of nature include a lot of silence, something that takes some getting use to for us city dwellers. Part of this wilderness trail follows through the rain forest and it seems that the vegetation soaks up the noise that makes up the background near the ocean. It take a few minutes to realize that you can't hear anything because there is nothing to hear. If you are tuned into your senses, you will discover that the sight and smell receptors become heightened. Contrast this church-like experience with a night that I wrote about in my book, in which we were lying in our tent listening to the 4 foot waves smash into the shoreline creating a sound and power like a locomotive. In between these two extremes exist the sounds of birds, seals, seagulls, laughter, moans and grunts from yourself and other hikers. A cautionary note here: bears and other wild animals that make these forests their home, are most often encountered because they cannot hear a hiker approaching due to the sound of rushing water. They are surprised and then revert to fear and this may cause them to attack. If you are in an area with a lot of natural noise, consider making a little unnatural noise like a whistle, bear bell or my singing.

SMELLS: For us landlubbers there is something very special about the smell of the ocean and when it is combined with the odours from cedar trees, Douglas firs, vegetation that rapidly decays in the rainforest and the absolutely clean and unpolluted air itself, the whole experience becomes very special. The West Coast Trail will awaken all 8 of your senses in a way that no other 7 day experience possibly can. No that's not a typo, there are 8, but you may need to check out my blog or book to find out.

I am Robert J. Bannon a published author, keen observer of the human condition and I recounted the entire story of our wilderness backpacking trail in my book The West Coast Trail: One Step at a Time. You can read an excerpt here: http://RobertJBannon.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Bannon
http://EzineArticles.com/?Wilderness- ... --The-Three-Ss&id=2094134