The West Coast Trail is a world class hike on the far side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. This scenic journey is a wonderland of thick coastal forests, sweeping beaches and rugged headlands riddled with caves and sea stacks. Wildlife is abundant, and sightings of bears, cougars and whales are very common. A few thousand visitors challenge themselves on the 75-km trail each year and the varied surface and weather conditions provide a challenge when it comes to selecting gear. Upon returning from a five-day trek along the trail, I thought I'd share a few thoughts on gearing up.