Trip of a lifetime? You bet! Want to see one of the world’s most incredible places up close and personal? Oh, and up high too? Want to help IDEAS change attitudes with altitude? Join us in March 2012 as we trek up to Machu Pichu in the Peruvian Andes.

IBD Adventures Machu Picchu 2012

IDEAS’ IBD Adventures is a program to raise awareness of the issues people living with intestinal disease face every day of their lives. In our ongoing quest to carry our message world wide, we invite you to join us in trekking the renowned Inca trail in the land where gods became mountains, while raising funds to support IDEAS and its work in the gastrointestinal community.

Perfect for those looking to experience the region’s archaeological and cultural treasures in a short amount of time, this IBD Adventure includes the challenge of the four-day trek along the Inca Trail, where you can see it and feel it. This is one of the world’s best known hikes and will reward those willing to break a sweat with a stunning combination of mountains, spectacular landscapes, cloud forests, and jungles. Renshaw Travel, who will run our trek, ensures the fair treatment of our porters and quality equipment. Their knowledgeable staff will work hard to make certain the first glimpse of Machu Picchu will burn itself into your memory, for a lifetime.

Highlights include an informative City tour in Lima, taste delights of a wide variety of exciting restaurants, and superb shopping in Lima, exploring fascinating ruins and haggling at local markets in the Sacred Valley, and then the goal..conquering the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru! Highlights include Comfort Level hotels, sampling seafood in Lima, exploring ruins and haggling at local markets in the Sacred Valley, conquering the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

The Inca trail is 40 kilometers and our IBD Trekkers on this tour will be asked to try and raise funds on a per kilometer basis, starting at $50 per km, for a total minimum donation of $2,000.00. Those who raise more will be rewarded with some appropriate trekking gear. Your efforts will be going almost exclusively towards a number of tangible projects (only 3% of revenue at IDEAS goes towards administration). Specifically, funds raised will help send children and teens dealing with intestinal disease to one of two camps (Camp Horizon in Canada and Rally for Youth in the US), as well as sponsoring counselors in training through Easter Seals and towards funding the new IDEAS’s research lab in Kelowna, BC. To join IBD Adventures on this journey of a lifetime, please contact us today.

Tax receipts are available for all individual donations greater than $20.

Here are the team members! It’s not too late to join this awesome group of adventurers!

Here’s the tentative travel itinerary, details and information on how to register and some further details.

Here’s the trip packing list.

Trip dates: Cancelled for 2011. Please check back in 2012. 

I would think that after standing on the top of the World Everest and seeing Nepal in all its glory, reaching the peak of all the other seven summits, experiencing different cultures around the world, that a simple walk on the West Coast Trail, would be just that: a simple walk. I think we take for granted the beauty that surrounds us, since we see it every day, but the WCT opened my eyes to my own back yard forever and I am eternally grateful to all that shared that journey.

Mark – For as many times as you have done the WCT you carry an excitement level with you that carried us through the trip. You embody the guide spirit and taught us to embrace life and the mud!

Bill – PS, it was odd to come off a big climb and be taken care of: “watch your step, it is slippery.” Bill like most of my guide friends, soon realized just to let me be and focus on others as they needed it, which I soon would. Medic! Bill my go to first aid guy. Every morning Bill would patch me up for the day and save me from the pain of blisters. My feet are used to being cold, not wet, and they got bacon’d up pretty bad on the WCT. Bill kept me in the game!

Paul – From the roof of Africa, tea houses of the Kumbu, and the WCT, I wonder what adventures we will share in the future my friend. We have seen parts of this world that most will not and have shared in it and laughed together and at our selves.  I watch you take little pieces of each journey and experience and use them to help make you whole and then in turn watch you use that experience to help others.

Simone – Our only female trekker, poor girl, what a trooper to put up with all our male testosterone. No day on the trail was ever boring with you as a companion; I think you now know most of us better than we know ourselves. Thanks you for interest in IDEAS, we are looking forward to working with you in the future.

Sean – It is about time you got out on one of these adventures, buddy! So where are we off to next? Can Pinchy come? It was an honour to be with you as you knocked one off your bucket list.

Dave – The unknown factor, I laugh out loud at this now, for about 20min in the car. You took a thought to hike the WCT, found this group with a cause and made yourself a part of something bigger and made me better for knowing you.  Our biggest money raiser and you have taken it to another level with awareness for the IBD Adventures program as well as promoting my motivational talks.

Cal – City boy meets the wilds of the West Coast, you wouldn’t know that you had been taken out of your element, you sure made yourself at home, but I think the single malt, fresh ground coffee and the french press might have given you away.

Todd – Where were you 9 years ago, when I needed a camera guy to climb the 7 summits with me? You gave your brother in-law John a whole new side of you to get to know. It was a pleasure getting to know you; I still can’t remember the name of that Kung Fu movie.

John – My friend, to see the WCT with you was like seeing it through the eyes of a child, each bend in the trail bringing something new to be inspired by, I can’t think of a better way to see the WCT.

Thank you everyone, for making an amazing trip, worth every boot sucking mud whole, late night tidal flushed, and drop of rain, more enjoyable with every step.

The WCT is a walking safari, with excitement and awe inspiring beauty around every corner. If you haven’t hiked this historic trail yet, you need to, and it feels even better when you do it for a great cause, please join us next year.

It is strange now that I am back from the WCT and it seems so distance. Every time I see the mountains, trees and water, I am reminded of that wonderful week in Sept on the WCT. There were so many amazing wonders and unique experiences that week.

It has to be noted that I DO NOT miss the tidal flush toilets!

All the comforts of life and home are not taken for granted anymore. The loving company of my Family, along with a delicious Chinese dinners, are more appreciated (even though the food was fabulous on the trip).

To my fellow IBD Adventure Trekkers, a heartfelt thank you, for making that 8 day journey one of the most memorable trips of my life. The joy of the endless banter, the often interesting conversations and notions shared (for the most part) were priceless. Our professional guides Mark and Bill did a great job of keeping us all safe, sane, well fed and offered us countless tips, which enriched my sense of achievement in completing the trail with no “major” issues. Thank you both for sharing trail wisdom, fantastic culinary skills and the gift of your friendship.

Most of all, I was able to experience the awe of God’s majesty in all the trees, cliffs, rock formations, animals and the endless waves of the tide coming and going. One of my top memories was the only clear night and seeing the starry sky. It really truly made me think, not only about how small I am, but how great He is. The wonder of the 4 color leaf, and the almost perfect circles in the rocks on the shelf along the beach leave me absolutely speechless. To think that He who created all this cares for me!

WOW.

I am fortunate to have been able to experience this especially with such a fun, loving, caring group of people.

HOLY SHMOLY! The laughs continue post trail….

By the end of the day as we arrive in Thrasher Cove, we’re feeling pretty cocky.  We’ve completed the first six kilometers in record time for a Sea to Sky group and we proudly brand ourselves with the hubristic moniker, Team Wow.

I don’t know much about back packing, but I sensed that something was amiss  on the night before our departure when my pack weighed in at forty three pounds. I knew that I had to add ten pounds of food and five pounds of water before setting off, so I’d be looking at a 58 pound pack!

As he did several times after that, our Superguide Mark Waldbillig from Sea to Sky Adventures stepped in and saved the day. Out went my tarps and extra sweaters, out went most of my soap, half of my underwear and extra rain gear. He even cut my paperback novel in half! And who knew that for the next eight days, my only eating utensil would be a lowly spoon.

I dropped about eight pounds of stuff into a bag to pick up later and set off to conquer the trail.

Day one:  Embrace the Mud!
Okay, I have nice clean boots and brand new gators, shiny new walking poles (really cool ski-pole type affairs that absolutely saved my bacon on many occasions) and only one pair of pants to my name. Knowing this, we step out onto the trail from Gordon river and the climb begins. Lots of elevation on day one, which makes for a great aerobic workout. Not as grueling as I had anticipated (I assumed I’d be fainting) but a challenging and beautiful start. So we finally get to a flat bit, and guess what, it’s a sea of mud. Superguide Mark, turns to the group and announces that scampering around the puddles is not allowed. “You’ll never get there if you don’t embrace the mud, so get used to it!” With that he headed into the centre of the deepest puddle and waded knee-deep through the muck, screaming a call to arms from Braveheart, complete with raised fists and Scottish brogue. Yeah, we’re not in Kansas any more Toto….

The trail was fist cut in 1889 to run a telegraph wire to the remote lighthouses on the coast and we can actually see the much of the primitive copper cable (1/8 inch with no insulation) and many of the mounting poles and glass insulators which are still nailed to trees along the route. I can only imagine how challenging a job it would have been to cut a trail through this impassible rainforest – without power tools!

By the end of the day as we arrive in Thrasher Cove, we’re feeling pretty cocky. We’ve completed the first six kilometers in record time for a Sea to Sky group and we proudly brand ourselves with the hubristic moniker, Team Wow.

Day two:  Boulders are Us
Sleeping in a tent isn’t really as tough as you might think. It’s kind of just like sleeping on the floor. Well it’s a little wetter and bumpier than that, and you can’t stand up, and it’s really easy to get everything covered in sand, but otherwise it’s pretty cool. Waking up in a tent is interesting too. Especially at 5am in the pitch dark. Okay, this makes sense, we have to get up in the dark so we can quickly pack up, skip breakfast, and scramble over two kilometers of huge boulders and pass Owen Point before high tide so we don’t drown. I know it kind of sounds like boot camp hell, but in fact it was a breathtakingly beautiful morning and great contrast to yesterday’s tromp though the mud. We arrive at camper cove early in the day, which gives us plenty of time to set up camp and explore the beautiful rock formations around the cove. And some time for fishing – which to date had proven very challenging due to the distance of cast required to reach any depth and to the abundance of sticky, gooey weeds that instantly attach themselves to our lures. Much to our surprise, we pull up two stunningly colourful rock fish in short order. Good enough for a bit of a thrill and a photo op, but too small to keep.

Then, a mere 200 feet from us, another, somewhat larger fish broaches the surface. I stare in awe as Todd yells “Whale!”. Kind of stating the obvious, but you do that sort of thing when the enormity of nature knocks at your door. We watch, dumbstruck as the beautiful grey whale surfaces, blows, and dives for krill (that’s a crustacean that they eat, says Todd) and keeps an eye on us. We assume that there may be salmon out there, also feasting on these little shrimp, but our casts fall short and we’re again reduced to catching kelp and other sorts of weeds.

Day three:  Snakes and Ladders
After walking the sandstone shelf to Camper Cove, we felt like we were finally getting some miles behind us, but now we were heading back into the woods.

First we’re treated to the ascent of Sandstone Creek, named because the entire creek bed is a solid, flowing sculpture of sandstone. We walk gingerly up the slippery creek bed, often stopping to offer or take hands of assistance from fellow hikers. Teamwork and careful foot placement are necessary to make this ascent and the reward is to experience a truly unique geological formation.

Oh yeah, did I mention that there are some very steep canyons on the WCT? Most of the land is sandstone or soft rock and there are creeks running out to sea about every kilometer, so it stands to reason that these creeks would cut deep canyons all over the place making the terrain completely impassible. When Parks Canada came to the rescue of the trail, they had a great idea. What if we built 500 foot ladders up and down these canyons so the trekkers could scamper down into the creeks and back up the other side with ease? Great in theory, but in fact you still have to dangle yourself over the precipice, balancing your pack, poles, water etc, and then descend what is often a slippery and sometimes rotting wooden ladder down into the darkness of the chasm below.  (Okay, I’m being dramatic, but if you think the ladders were easy, just ask Paul). Then, of course comes the heart pounding scramble back up the other side. You drop to your knees to catch your breath and gaze back over the gorge you’ve just traversed. It’s a rush! Only six more of these to go today.

After eight hours of this, we’re all more than ready to embrace the beautiful beachfront campsite at Walbrand Creek. No one has really said much on the subject, but the truth is that by now we all smell pretty bad. I mean three days of sweating under the burden of our packs has left us, how can I put this, a little cheesy. Time for a bath. The creek looks inviting, but we know that water is cold. Just have to dive right in, we suppose. It’s not cold, it’s take your breath away and race your pulse freezing! After a few strokes that could not really be considered swimming, we clamber ashore and quickly attempt to soap ourselves down before the chattering of teeth sends us up to the campfire. Oh yeah, Todd had to show off by swimming about 100 feet across the creek, but the rest of us were satisfied with a quick dip. John decided to soak his aching feet in the creek for a few minutes after the swim and he had to retreat to his sleeping bag for an hour just to regain the feeling in his limbs.

One account suggests that over 500 ships have met their end on this rocky stretch of wilderness. We learn that the steel hulled steamship, the SS Valencia had run aground at Pachena point in 1906 during a winter storm. 136 lives were agonizingly lost as she slowly broke up in the surf. The next year, the trail was improved and renamed the Dominion Lifesaving Trail so that rescuers could get to shipwrecks more quickly. I can only imagine rescue crews being dispatched on foot, with all their gear on their backs, scrambling through winter storms toward a wreck that could be 50 km away. Not exactly as reassuring as the coast guard helicopters that regularly buzz past us today, but it was the best they could do with the existing technology.

Day four:  Once More Unto the Beach
Today is going to be a piece of cake. We’re back on the beaches for a short 5km jaunt and planning to put down stakes at Carmanah Creek, where, somewhat incongruously, we’re told there’s restaurant!

Okay, it’s not exactly the haute cuisine establishment that the name may suggest, but Chez Monique is a unique burger joint situated on the beach underneath the towering Carmanah light house. And by the time you get here, it’s gonna taste like the best burger you’ve ever encountered – especially after four days of boiled, re-hydrated trekker fare. Monique and husband Peter have been operating for almost twenty years and enjoy special ‘grandfather’ rights that allow them to operate a food service business in the park. The only access is by water, so the proprietors of Chez Monique have to bring all their food supplies in by zodiac from Port Renfrew. Fresh salmon burgers, and classic bacon and egg breakfasts are their specialties and  they do not disappoint. The place is staffed by volunteer organic farmers or WWOOF’rs as they are officially called. Our Australian WOOFr chef, Michael, has prepared chicken breasts wrapped in bacon and a massive and somewhat eclectic buffet of sides that includes mashed potatoes from the garden, sliced kiwi fruits and deviled eggs just like mom used to make. And he serves beer! We stuff ourselves beyond all reasonable doubt, and roll off back to the campsite.

Back at the campsite a strange thing happens. The mist and low cloud cover that has cloaked the coast since we started suddenly lifts and we find ourselves under a dazzling star lit sky. No moon, just the gauzy swatch of Milky Way streaking across what looks like millions of intense stars. There is so much to see that it’s actually difficult to spot the usual constellations. Even Polaris is disguised among  the multitude of lights. Lying on our backs for over an hour, the magnitude of the universe lies before us, providing awe, entertainment and a couple of real doozer meteors to boot.

Day Five:  Are There Yet?
At the Carmanah Lighthouse, the keeper welcomes us, gives us fresh drinking water and treats us to a spectacular view from the high cliffs. At this point we can actually see Pachina Point about 35km to the north. This is within 10km of our final destination, which puts our trek in perspective. On the one hand, it’s great to get a visual fix on our ultimate destination, on the other hand, it looks like an awfully long way to go.

Oh yeah, the keeper also informs us that there’s rain coming, and he’s right. We dawn rain gear and trudge north toward Stanley Beach. Stanley is on native land and closed to camping, but by special permission, Sea to Sky has arranged our own private beach for tonight. But all the pull in the world can’t stop the rain, so the motley crew bent heads down and sang ‘every song that driver knew’ from California Dreaming to American Pie. None of us are very good with lyrics, but that doesn’t stop us from hamming it up big time as the rain falls on our backs and weighs our packs with a few extra pounds of water. For the life of us, no one can remember the opening verse to American Pie which drives us to distraction. I actually had to Google it on the iPhone as we drove into town two days later…  A long, long time ago, I remember how that music used to make me feel… yeah that’s it.

Stanley beach is named after a one-time inhabitant who was apparently named Stanley. Stanley’s house is still there, although it has completely collapsed and is partially overgrown, it was once a beautiful little bungalow complete with framed windows and cedar shake roof.

At the beach, we do our best to dry off under tarps by the fire, and explore the spectacular sandstone formations complete with surge channels and a blow hole. Oh yeah, and there’s no toilet here, so we’re treated to the experience of the ‘low tide latrine’. That’s right, you dig a hole below the tide line, do your business, and bury the evidence. I don’t know what this experience would be like in fine weather, but in pelting rain suffice it to say that it’s a pretty unique sensation.

Team Wow is now officially renamed, Team Wet.

The beach is marked with a rusting wreck of a steel hulled sailboat, tossed up on the rocks by a winter storm years ago. The wreck is slowly succumbing to the forces of nature, yet her name remains brightly emblazoned on the stern – “Defiance”. One gets the distinct impression her owner ought to have chosen another name, out of respect for the sea.

As we head off to bed, I’m actually glad that we’ve had the rain. After all, how can you say you’ve done the West Coast Trail if you don’t experience the legendary weather?

Day Six:  Rain, Rain Go Away
It’s been raining steady for the past 12 hours and the thought of getting out of bed and packing up this soggy mess and carrying it on my back is not a pretty prospect. But we do it. The only thing that really gets us going is the knowledge that we’ll soon be huddled up to a wood stove and feasting on fresh crab which is hauled out of the water before your eyes and quickly boiled to perfection by Dwayne, the proprietor of the NitNat Narrows official ferry service. They sell beer here too, but it’s too early, even for me, so I buy one and throw it in the pack for later. What’s another pound of weight when there’s a beer at the end of the day? Dwayne reminds us that we’re on native land, and that if this were 150 years ago, they would have chased us away with threat of death if we set foot in their hunting and fishing lands. But since it’s 2010, we might as well lighten our wallets and enjoy some crab. And we do.

Dwayne also refers to the climatic conditions as ‘mist’. Apparently it isn’t called rain unless gale force winds are driving the water horizontally into your body. Okay, mist, rain, whatever, enough already.

Dwayne ferries us the 100 yards across the narrows on his aluminum boat, and we slog northward toward Tsusiat Falls. Although the rain has dampened our bodies as well as our spirits, Superguide Mark remains undaunted. We see the famed ‘hole in the wall’ a massive sandstone arch that has been cut out of the rock by the crashing waves, but the tides push us inland before we can reach the landmark.

Arriving at Tsusiat we search out a large cave where we light a fire and begin the long process of drying off. Mark is preparing dinner up in the back of the cave, when a passer by suggests he sees a whale. We’ve seen lots of grey whales, so it’s not exactly a momentous occasion, but we stretch our eyes seaward anyway. In that moment, six orcas emerge out of nowhere, pounding their way southward through the surf!

Mark leaps over the fire and runs toward the beach screaming “Orca, we’ve got orca – hey Bill, there’s Orcas out there!” To which Bill replies – “don’t forget to stir the rice.” We all watch in awe as the magnificent creatures hurtle through the water. And then, as if on cue, the rain stops. Aaaaah.

Day Seven:  Onward to Michigan
The light dew that dampens our tent fly is quickly shaken off and we’re almost dry as we pack up for our second last day of hiking. Michigan Beach is the destination and we’ll do as much travel on the beach as the tides permit. Starting inland, we encounter more ladders and more mud, but by this point, we’re all old pros on that stuff. The rocky shoreline provides plenty of vista views as we traverse one inlet beach after another. Tidal pools full of anemones and urchins burst with colour in the afternoon sun and days of rain quickly become a memory. After lunch, it’s all back on the beach and we fall happily into our tents for the final night sleeping on the ground.

Day Eight:  I Feel So Broke Up, I Want To Go Home
We have 12 klicks to go and damned if we’re gonna do it slowly. We’re heading back to civilization, which means we have a ferry to catch and other schedules to watch beyond the ebb and flow of the tide. This part of the trail is still muddy and hilly, but it’s a freeway compared to some of the ground we’ve covered. We pack hastily and book it out toward the trailhead. About half way there, we start to feel the miles under our feet and each kilometer marker is met with loud cheers and anticipation. By noon, we’re on the beach in Pachina Bay and stop for a quick photo op, which is a bit of a comedy of errors in itself. I guess we’re all giddy at this point, but for some reason we find it absolutely hilarious as Todd attempts to plant his camera monopod in the sand and set his camera for a group shot. After a few false starts, a lot of giggles and many witty remarks, we get the shot – a full colour rendition of the hairy, smelly crew they call Team Wow. A mad dash to cover the last 100 meters and we’re at the park office where we collapse on the lawn. Strangely, we feel disoriented and listless as we try to sort out our packs and throw them into a waiting van.

The van ride to Port Alberni is quiet and subdued, punctuated only by a few blood curdling screams as we dodge the huge off-road logging trucks that ply their trade on these gravel roadways. Yes, they do own the road and we’re little more than a bug avoiding the windshield as we swerve our way toward town. We have an hour off in Port Alberni where we wander aimlessly around the scenic parking lots and mini malls searching out sustenance – finally selecting Subway as the diner of choice. We choke back a greasy foot-long and reflect on the recent events. We’ve been wet, we’ve been sore and we’ve been challenged, but we’ve traversed a momentous and rugged coastline that is as rich in history as it is spectacular. For my first backpacking experience, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Cal Shumiatcher, October 2010

In his own words:

I, for one, am suffering acute West Coast Trail withdrawal symptoms, and just wondered if any of you can relate….

At 5:30 a.m. I rolled over in my bed( which seemed odd) and discovered much to my dismay, Dave wasn’t cuddled up close by, there was no condensation dripping in my face, no wet sand and I didn’t smell a strong odour of cheese emanating from under the covers. Something is very wrong, I thought, as I struggled to pull down my curtains and roll them into my pillow case. For the life of my , I couldn’t locate my boots, and the very idea of sitting on a real toilet seat with out throwing in something to help the compost process, as a result, grabbing some bread crumbs just seemed like the right thing to do. It then occurred to me, I am home, civilization again.

But, it was the meandering “pedestrian” stroll to work, with all those empty, unmotivated, stressed out faces staring back at me, as I bounced ever so lightly down Pender Street with only a day pack, singing American Pie”. No one cared about my relationship issues, asked me how I was feeling, or if I had taken all the snack wrappers out of my pockets, and did I mention how deafening and draining the noise of the city felt. Please Lord, give me back my nine wonderful WCT companions, the banter, the support, the Team work, and the smiles on the beach at the end of the day, while we enjoyed a simple cup of coffee, tea around a warming campfire.

How I yearned for a series of ladders as I entered work, and yet opted for the stairs, only to watch the rest of the world struggle gloomily squeezing into the elevator to climb a mere 5 floors. Then this onslaught of IT information, incessant Blackberry chirping, email inbox piling up with spam-yikes. Is it too much to ask for another grey whale, or Papa Smurf’s warning about black tarspot algae, or yellow banana slug ahead? Can’t I have a few more days of the peace and tranquility, with Mother Nature’s carpet below my boots, or the sucking sound of the never ending ooze, as we embraced the mud, each in our own way. Perhaps I will just put on my Gore Tex, and stand under the shower tonight, with my pack on, and trekking poles (2 for safety) firmly in hand.

I think John, may have said it best “ I was able to experience God’s majesty in all the trees, cliffs, rock formations, animals and the endless waves of the tide coming and going. It truly made me think about how small I am, and how great He is.”

One thing is for sure, my friends. I won’t sell the last 8 days experience for any amount of money, and I have gained so much through the process. Thank you all for varied gifts, often unspoken, but all treasured. Also on behalf of IDEAS and all the Team, a heartfelt thank you to Mark and Bill, from Sea to Sky Expeditions, for ensuring our journey was a safe, learning and fulfilling adventure.

And now the planning begins, for the next IBD Adventure Team event. These amazing journeys help to raise awareness of intestinal disease, ostomy, while also funding IBD research. Please join us, on our next incredible adventure to…….

Dave Grice and John Lam on one of the many cable car crossings

For Dave, completing the West Coast Trail for the third time was extra special. Dave wanted the trail to mean something bigger than his own physical challenge to complete it. Fortunate enough to spend some time with Rob the first night talking about Rob’s life journey, what IDEAS was all about and how it especially made a positive impact in many kids lives, Dave knew right away he was trekking for something much larger than his own accomplishment: “I was able to take that sense of purpose with me on the hike. I often thought of the people that donated already as my support team along the mud, ladders and sand. I was doing this hike for them too.”

It’s been a few days since the trekkers left the West Coast Trail and they’re slowly digesting their experiences. As the next couple of weeks pass by we’ll be bringing you their thoughts and photos of this incredible journey they’ve undertaken to support the Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society. You can still donate online to support the trekkers fund raising goals through Canada Helps.

Dave talked about highlights of the hike and far and away for him, he appreciated the efforts of the Sea to Sky guides, Mark and Bill.

“I’d peek out of my tent in the morning and already see a fire and hot water ready for tea.  So many times, Bill would point out the right step to take on a slippery slope. Mark, with 2 bags of wood supported on his shoulders as he walked back to camp to get a fire started and our amazing meals. Plus the extra perks like the amazing feast at Chez Monique’s, the private beach, dinner at the cave and seeing orcas, his inspiring braveheart rendition before the ladders and much more.  Also, this fabulous group I hiked with. I admired and laughed at the continual bantering. It kept an upbeat atmosphere the whole trip.  And any time I needed it, a hand was there to help whether it was Cal offering to help me put on my backpack, Simone stopping to take a picture for me and the Cliff bar Todd tossed my way on the last day when I really needed a fuel-up. Team WOW for sure!”

Dave also took the time to fully absorb the incredible beauty of the West Coast Trail. He loved what Paul said, “it doesn’t matter what time it is – just be here now.”  Unless of course they were timing a surge channel crossing with tides! Dave was able to fully see, hear, feel and smell the experience. Though he admits some smells were not so good. ” I loved every day whether it was sun, cloud or rain,” said Dave. “Some of my favourite days were hiking in the mist (as Duane put it, “that’s not rain! It’s mist!”). Getting away on a longer hike like this also provided Dave a sense of gratitude for all the gifts he already has in his life.

The trip was an awesome experience for everyone involved.  Special thanks to Sea to Sky Adventures and the IDEAS team!

One year ago the first ever IBD Adventure successfully took all six participants to the summit of the world’s highest free-standing mountain: Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.

You can read the trip blog here. In just 12 short months, the IBD Adventures program in support of IDEAS has raised almost $50,000 for important programs including research to find a cure for Crohn’s and Colitis, financial support for children and youth to attend summer camp programs and financial support for young adults to undergo counselor in training programs so they can better mentor children who share similar medical histories.

As you read this, the third trip, the West Coast Trail is drawing to a close. We’ve also taken seven courageous individuals to Everest Base Camp in the spring of 2010. In the process, trekkers have spoken to thousands of individuals about inflammatory bowel disease and ostomies, raising awareness of the issues people living with these conditions face every day, and eliminating the stigma that is associated with “diseases in the bathroom.”

There will be more opportunities to participate with IBD Adventures in the near future: another West Coast Trail trek will be offered next year, very likely in September as well as another chance to change attitudes with altitude by trekking to a high altitude international destination. If you’d like more information about the program please contact info @ weneedideas.com.

To make a donation to support the trekkers, please click here to donate now through Canada Helps, or send a cheque to:

Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society (IDEAS)
#521 119 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC, V6B 1S5

Every day children and young adults struggle with their disease and its wide range of symptoms – their own personal mountain. We trek for them.

Thanks for supporting Team IBD Adventures fund raising efforts for IDEAS!

The team arrived at the trail head yesterday and spent their day walking to what Rob described as a gorgeous beach-side camping spot. The weather was grey and drizzly, but didn’t dampen the trekkers excitement to get started on this historic trek along Canada’s national treasure – the wild and rugged West Coast Trail.

Today they’ll hike along the shoreline and into the rain forest before edging back along the shoreline and then doing it all again. The team will have tough choices to make: “do I look to the left and see the wild Pacific Ocean crashing against the rocky shoreline and perhaps missing the biggest trees I’ll ever see as they pass by on the right?” Thankfully, they’ll have ample opportunity to enjoy both majestic sights!

The team is doing well, tired after their first day on the trail and adjusting to life away from their respective “real worlds.” The first few days are always the most difficult to adjust as we look back towards home and the loved ones who may be just starting back to school or headed back to their careers after the summer holidays.

Paul Head looks left to the Pacific on the West Coast Trail