Did You Know? Hiking

Since we began publishing Island Times Magazine almost two years ago, we’ve made it our goal to feature one of the Island’s many provincial parks in every issue. This time around, we are still featuring a great park, (see Rosewall Creek, pg. 20), but we’re also including a few facts and practical safety tips for getting the most out of your next hiking adventure. There are many beautiful places to explore on the Island, especially now with the weather getting better. If you find yourself outside the comforts of a designated provincial park, remember to follow a few of the tips below to ensure a great trip.

Packing For Success

Because hikes are longer than a walk around the block, it is recommended that you pack the essentials, which may vary depending on the weather. The essentials include extra food (dried fruit and nuts – “Trail Mix” is ideal) and water, a utility (Swiss Army) knife, a first aid kit, water proof fire starters, a flashlight, rain gear, a foil emergency blanket, sunscreen, and a navigational system (whether it be a map, compass, GPS smart phone, or all three). Don’t forget to consider adding a wolf whistle or bear bangers to thwart off wildlife.

Power In Numbers

Whenever possible, hike with a friend or in a group for better safety. If this isn’t possible, tell a friend or family member where your hike is and how long it’s going to last so that it will be easier to search for your whereabouts should something go wrong. It is also a good idea to pack a whistle to help draw attention to your group if you’re lost.

You're Lost?

If you find yourself lost, remember to S.T.O.P – Stop, Think, Observe, and Plan. Although it’s tempting to keep going, the best thing to do when you realize you are lost is to stop, think about what path you’ve taken to get where you currently are, observe your current surroundings, and plan your way out using your navigational equipment.

Hiker's Code of Ethics

Remember to park your car a ways from the main road and a good distance from private driveways. b) If meeting a horseback rider, step off to the right of the trail and stand still until the rider passes, so as not to frighten the horse. Don’t feed the wildlife. Avoid picking the flowers. It’s better to keep these things as they are to let others enjoy them too. Make sure the area you're hiking is considered dog-friendly if you plan on bringing Fido along.

Follow the Path

Staying on the trail is always recommended, and not just for safety reasons. Taking a cut-off on a switchback trail can cause increased erosion of the soil. Similarly, creating a detour around a muddy patch destroys vegetation.

Don't eat that

Unless someone in your group knows what they are talking about, think twice before consuming any wild fruits or mushrooms that you find on your trail. The Amanita ocreata is a highly toxic fungus found around the Pacific Northwest area and is associated with oak trees. It has been responsible for a number of mushroom poisonings in western North America, particularly in the spring.

Record Breaking Trail

T

he Pacific Crest Trail is the longest trail in the world and spans approximately 2,600 miles from the Canada-US border down through Washington, Oregon, and California. That is the equivalent of hiking from Port Hardy to Victoria and back again (the length of Vancouver Island) almost five times.

Here on the Island

The 43.1 km The North Coast Trail in Cape Scott Provincial Park was completed in spring 2008 and runs along beaches and in forests around the northern tip of Vancouver Island from Shushartie Bay to Nissen Bight. Check with BC Government's Ministry of Environment website before planning a trip in this area as it is known to be flooded and dangerous in the off-season, and actually had to close for awhile back in Oct. 2010.

Word Origin & History

The verb “hike” first entered into the English dialect as early as 1809, and was spelled “hyke,” according to historian Douglas Harper and the Online Etymology Dictionary. The noun didn’t come until later in 1865. The word hike can also mean a sense of “pulling up” and the word may also be a variant of the word “hitch,” and an extended sense of “raise,” as in a wage increase.

Famous Phrase

The expression “take a hike” is a commonly known rude way to tell someone to go away. Clint Eastwood is known for using it quite eloquently, and once said in an interview, “I've always had the ability to say to the audience, watch this if you like, and if you don't – take a hike.”

Sing-Along

The song “Happy Trails” by Dale Evans Rogers is sung at the end of the Roy Rogers show, which was popular in the 50s and 60s. Roy Rogers was a cowboy singer and movie hero whose popularity led to the term “Happy Trails” (wishing someone well in their departure) becoming an iconic catch-phrase.