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I am guessing it was a moron named Oxy who christened British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. British Columbia and sunshine? – in the same sentence? According to Current Results Weather and Science Facts website, the average annual sunshine for the Powell River area is 38%. My first thought – does this include night time? If so, 38% might not be that bad. But alas, as the website begrudgingly reveals, the figure only includes “the usual percentage of daylight hours.” The Sunshine Coast’s claim to fame must not be its weathered name.

Perhaps its claim then is the relatively new 180 km Sunshine Coast Trail (SCT). This trail began in 1992, with the final hut not completed until the spring of 2016. The Sunshine Coast Trail is the under-appreciated step-child of British Columbia’s far more famous, shorter, and yet more honestly named West Coast Trail. After all, the West Coast Trail is actually on the west coast. The Sunshine Coast Trail is seldom in the sunshine, and even less seldom on the coast. It is, however, a trail, so there is that. In fact, the SCT is advertised as Canada’s longest hut-to-hut hiking trail. I assume those 14 huts were built to keep the several inches of daily sunshine from drying out your soaking wet gear.

Sunshine Coast Trail

The huts are available free (first-come-first serve) and primarily house local weekend hikers. There are far more section hikers than thru-hikers. Those who do attempt the entire trail, usually start at Sarah Point, and work their way southeast-ish to Saltery Bay.

Getting to the trailhead can be tricky, and may involve a water taxi or car shuttle service.

Starting tomorrow morning, a few of us will start at Sarah Point, and see how far we get.