More than 70 hikers were evacuated from Vancouver Island's West Coast Trail after torrential rains flooded waterways and made sections impassable between Saturday and Tuesday.
Parks Canada reported that persistent heavy rainfall caused creeks and rivers to swell significantly along the 75-kilometer trail.
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Officials responded to a high volume of evacuation requests and advised hikers against attempting foot crossings over flooded waterways.
With additional rainfall forecasted through Wednesday, July 29, Parks Canada recommended that hikers with reservations between July 27 and August 1 delay their start dates until at least Thursday, July 30, or request a full refund.
Hikers Describe Treacherous Conditions
Hiker Patrick Laprise, who traveled from Montreal with his 15-year-old son, described the conditions between Bamfield and Nitinaht Narrows as catastrophic after enduring nearly 44 hours of continuous rain.
"It was hard to keep the essential stuff dry," said Laprise.
Laprise noted that his group faced swollen creeks, deep mud, and damaged infrastructure before choosing to evacuate when a charter boat arrived at Nitinaht Narrows.
"It's frightening kind of in those conditions, because we had to move fast, we were super cold, like there's nothing, nobody that can help us," said Laprise.
He added that multiple hikers gathered at the trail's midpoint seeking transport out of the area due to injuries and mechanical failures on the route.
"A teenager that was on the trail broke his wrist, my son turned his ankle, an adult at the Crabshack had ruined his knee.
