Timeless Shore: Canada's West Coast Trail

David Allinson is the president of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Victoria, B.C.

Ever since the West Coast Trail system was incorporated into the Pacific
Rim National Park, Vancouver Island, in 1970, its popularity has grown
among adventure seekers far and wide. In Timeless Shore, Allen (who has
traveled the trail’s 75-kilometre stretch eight times) uses stunning
landscape photography and poignant prose to convey its beauty, wonder,
and mystery.

The West Coast Trail also has a rich and varied history. Place names
such as Valencia Bluff, Tsusiat Falls, Darling River, Cheewhat River,
Michigan Creek, Cloose Bay, and Cullite Cove capture the romance of both
aboriginal heritage and European exploration. The trail began in the
late 19th century as a lifesaving and telegraph route for hapless
sailors and passengers whose ships had foundered offshore. Allen
recounts one particularly tragic 1906 event: the American ship Valencia
broke up off Pachena Point, losing 126 of its 164 passengers. (The
condensed account, however, left this reader wanting more historical
background.)

Though more attention might have been paid to the rich natural history
of the area, this charming book is recommended to anyone planning a
visit to the West Coast Trail.