The Sunshine Coast Trail has been chosen as one of the best camping destinations in the Pacific Northwest.
Sunset added the 180-km trail to its list of favourite campgrounds in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia. It is one of three singled out in British Columbia. The other two are China Beach Campground in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park and Nairn Falls Provincial Park, north of Whistler.
The magazine points out visitors don't have to hike the entire trail to stay in one of its 12 huts. "Many are easily accessible from nearby logging roads," it notes. "The most spectacular digs are the winterized (i.e. cozy) Tin Hat hut, built in 2011, which sits high on a ridge facing the Salish Sea, Vancouver Island and the BC coast. You may share the sleeping loft with a few other campers, but the chanterelles you find in the forests below are yours to keep."
Ferry traffic up in May
A rep from the local ferry advisory committee reports that BC Ferries traffic on the Langdale-Horseshoe Bay route in May was a little better than last month.
In his monthly email to local politicians and Coast media, Knaus said passenger traffic was slightly positive for both route three at plus 0.1 per cent and all routes plus 0.8 per cent. However, vehicle traffic was negative 1.7 per cent and negative 0.1 per cent.
"Could this be a shift towards travellers leaving their vehicles in the parking lots because of high fares?" Knaus said. "The cabinet was announced recently. The Minister of Transportation is from the B.C. interior, but the Deputy Minister is from the Sea to Sky corridor and might be fully aware of the BC Ferry problems. Our FACC is trying to arrange for a meeting with them to acquaint them with the ferry travelling public's needs and expectations.
"We are continuing to bring forward our needs for comparable fares; our commercial fares for our 20 mile return journey is $ 6.40 per foot, whereas the other major routes enjoy a rate of $ 5.85 per foot for a 30 mile journey. Also our need for fair fares for our youngsters figures prominently as and agenda item."
