“No fuddy-duddies, authors Foster and Aitken provide solid information to hiking the West Coast Trail. Spiced with humorous anecdotes that only years of trail slogging could produce. The illustrations by Nelson Dewey are a delight.”—Backpacker Magazine

The bestselling Blisters and Bliss has been the trekker’s guide to the West Coast Trail since 1989. The seventy-five-kilometre trail on Vancouver Island is rated as one of the world’s top ten hikes. In this revised eighth edition of Blisters and Bliss, David Foster and Wayne Aitken once again provide a safe and practical guide for the thousands of hikers who trek the West Coast Trail every year. Current, accurate information about trail access, hiking conditions, and trek planning are combined with hundreds of tips for novices and experienced trekkers alike.

David Foster spent much of his trekking time checking out the flora and impressing others with his skill in building campsites and driftwood furniture (when not chasing mice out of his backpack). He was a retired school teacher-librarian, a master gardener, and an ardent nanny when in his award-winning Japanese shade garden. He passed away in 2019.

David Foster's profile page

Wayne Aitken is frequently seen with his face in campfire smoke, tearfully preparing his culinary delights. He shamelessly followed in Dave’s footprints, particularly on soft, sandy beaches. Between treks, he may be seen trying to keep is kayak upright and his mountain bike in some else’s slip stream. Wayne continues to strive to keep Blisters and Bliss topical and current.

Wayne Aitken's profile page

Nelson Dewey is an acclaimed cartoonist and illustrator. His work has appeared in numerous national magazines, comic books and movie story-boards. He has illustrated over 50 how-to books, but none as good as Blisters and Bliss. For more information, visit nelsondewey.com.

Nelson Dewey's profile page