Adventure training tests hikers’ might

Members of the Joint Task Force/Maritime Forces Pacific adventure hiking team. From left: LCol Sylvain Gagné, Maj David Baldwin, Maj Joe Coté, LS Gillian Good, SLt Trevor Hlynski, SLt Charles Boyes. Photo by NCdt Hlynski

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

Six military members from CFB Esquimalt overcame cold temperatures, steep inclines and a dose of adversity during their recent adventure training on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast Trail.

The team from Joint Task Force Pacific and Maritime Forces Pacific headquarters set out on their expedition along a portion of the 180-kilometre back-country trail on March 11. It is Canada’s longest hut-to-hut trail that enables hikers to make use of large 10-person huts for overnight shelter scattered in 14 locations. 

The aim of adventure training is to enhance physical fitness, endurance and morale, to inspire leadership, and to test individual and group abilities under challenging conditions.

Five days on the Sunshine Coast Trail did not forgo that test.

Adventure in Adversity

As is often the case, the hike didn’t start as planned.

One day before they were to leave, team leader Captain Steve Galipeau suffered a minor back injury, which meant it wouldn’t have been prudent for him to lead the group on the expedition.

That opened the door for the team’s second in command, Leading Seaman Gillian Good to take charge.  She’s an experienced hiker and kayaker, and was up for the challenge, but was concerned her non-commissioned rank might be an issue.

“I was the only non-officer in the group and now all of a sudden I was in charge,” she said.

But she quickly learned that good character and strong team spirit were all that was needed. 

“Adventure training is all about expecting the unexpected and being flexible and working as a team, and despite the curve thrown to us, we still managed to start out on the right foot.”

That would not be the only curve ball. Old Man Winter was still packing a potent punch in the Sunshine Coast.

Winter’s last stand

Late in the afternoon on day one, the group was dropped off by van at the start of the trail at the end of a frozen logging road near Powell River. Freezing rain that first night was not enough to dampen spirits though.

The next day the unseasonably cold weather and snowpack covering the trail made footing on inclines and at higher elevations highly treacherous. Traversing to Tin Hat Mountain, their original goal, would have required snowshoes, says LS Good. So, for safety she decided to limit their expedition to lower elevations of the trail, setting out from their hut in a different direction each day.

“The weather threw us all sorts of curves, but it was up to us to use this time for adventure training or lose it,” said LS Good.

Capt Galipeau later congratulated her for exercising caution, weighing the risks, and putting the health and safety of her team at the forefront of the hike.

Despite scrubbing the original expedition to Tin Hat Mountain, the new course still allowed them to test their skills and see beautiful scenery.

“We still managed to ascend to the top of several mountain summits in the area,” said LS Good. “I remember on one occasion being able to look out across the Strait of Georgia and see Mount Washington and Texada Island off in the distance. It gave the group that sense of accomplishment we had been seeking.”

Capt Galipeau and the expedition’s driver were there to meet the group as they exited from the dense forest on the Sunshine Coast Trail.

“The group was in good spirits, and everyone seemed to enjoy the training. But because of the cold conditions they were certainly looking forward to a warm bath or shower,” said Capt Galipeau.

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