The Juan de Fuca Trail Closures: A Loss to the Hiking Community

The Juan de Fuca Trail, a 47km wilderness hike on Vancouver Island, has been closed for the summer due to damage from fall and winter storms.

The closure affects hikers like Trish Fougner, who completed the trail at 59, and Jason Lindsay, who planned to bring students on the trail.

The trail's infrastructure, including bridges, boardwalks, shelters, and campsites, suffered extensive damage, with 5 backcountry campsites closed.

Several bridges were damaged or destroyed, blocking key sections of the trail, and boardwalks were washed away.

The island was battered by powerful storms in fall and winter, including a bomb cyclone in November.

The government plans a phased reopening of the trail and backcountry campsites as crews complete repairs.

The Juan de Fuca Trail is one of Canada's most popular wilderness hikes, with 40,000 registered users per year.

Hikers like Fougner and Lindsay were disappointed to hear the news, and may have to find alternative trails to explore.

The trail's closure serves as a reminder that even popular trails can be affected by natural forces beyond our control.

Hikers will have to adapt and find new trails to explore, as the government works to repair the damage and ensure the trail's safety.