E21: Sweet Tooth and Three Hills hike the Nootka Trail

Located on the West Coast of Nootka Island in British Columbia, is a remote backpacking trail called, fittingly enough, the Nootka Trail. 

It’s 37 kilometres long, but before you sniff at the length, know this: it’s an intense slog through obstacle-filled forests and over many, many stretches of pea-gravel covered beaches. What it lacks in distance it more than makes up for in difficulty. 

It’s a linear trail, and getting to and from its trailheads requires hikers to charter a float plane and a water taxi. 

If you see it through, though, you're rewarded with unobstructed ocean views, magnificent sunsets, cool wildlife sightings, old shipwrecks and an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the Mowachaht/Muchalat First Nation, whose lands the trail passes through.

Friend of the pod Greg “Three Hills” Zolob recently hiked the trail with his hiking buddy Candice,  A.K.A. Sweet Tooth. 

For today’s episode, they give a rundown of their hike, including the highlights, the lowlights, getting caught unawares by the tide, forgetting trail runners at home, unforgettable views and wildlife encounters.

PS. I make a minor announcement at the end of the intro that states "September 1" when I really mean "October 1." 

Links and shoutouts

https://www.yuquot.ca/ 

https://www.yuquot.ca/nootka-crisis/

https://www.yuquot.ca/product-category/hiking/

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