Every year more than 8,000 people hike the West Coast Trail, a demanding route that traverses 80 kilometers (50 miles) of some of the most spectacular coastline found anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. Known as the Graveyard of the Pacific, this beautiful yet treacherous stretch of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve wilderness on the west coast of Vancouver Island has claimed sixty ships since 1854.

Author Tim Leadem has hiked this trail at least ten times, in both directions, and his pocket guide, Hiking the West Coast Trail, distills the knowledge he's gained. Whether you're hiking from north to south or south to north, this compact yet authoritative guide provides the essential details about the trail.

Use this guide to plan your trip, then take it with you on the trail. Up-to-date, thorough, and comprehensively written, Hiking the West Coast Trail will help you make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime hike.

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Tim Leadem is a lawyer by profession and a member of the bar in British Columbia. An avid hiker and climber for over 30 years, he has hiked in locations all over the globe, but espe-cially in British Columbia and on Vancouver Island. He also holds a master's degree in zoology.

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Tim Leadem's profile page

p class=review_text>He gets specific and detailed—this isn't a book for armchair travellers but for hikers who need to know. —Victoria Times Columnist