actually its telephone poll 300... I live in Tofino ;)

Hi Jacqueline. Thanks for the comment!

It's tough to provide good information for hiking and stories from our trips and at the same time make sure people understand the importance of being prepared for the conditions and bringing a gps, knowledgeable person or even a compass to help get back to the car.

The trails are definitely a bit confusing but if you keep heading in the same direction you'll get back to where you started. That said I had a gps with us to fall back on if we needed it. I brought it just to make the gps track and didn't need to use it to get us unlost.

I'll add it a little warning near the top but, to be honest, I'm not sure how much good it will do. I think there might still be those people that will head out unprepared and lose their way.

Thanks again for the comment.

Hi -

Congrats on doing something about giving people hiking info. However, if you're going to tell people about trails like this one, I'd like to really stress (as a Tofino local) that warnings should be put out for hikes like this one.

The reason that there is no "offical" info about the bomber trail (even though it is in the National Park) is because so many people end up getting lost out there. Partly because people think they can go from the wreck to the ocean (OK, of course some people can go anywhere - but you need to be a really good navigator to get there AND back again) and also because it is easy to get TO the bomber - but it is harder to get back, with all of the bifurcating trails. Lots of people get ost trying to get back, because they did not realize that they should pay close attention. (The ribbons change all the time - people add them or take them down - so you can't count on them).

So if you're giving info about "unofficial" trails, I think it's important to give the warnings too - these trails re not for everyone. Both the bomber trail and the Radar Hill trail keep our Search and Rescue crews busy year-round because of people who, one way or another, weren't prepared for trails that require mud-slogging and navigation.

Anyway, your website looks good. That's just something I think you should be aware of. Like I said, these trails are not for everyone, and I hate seeing people get in trouble.

This is on my list of things to do... Next summer! haha

Sounds like a great trip April. I'll do some digging and see if I can find some Treehouse info for you for next time you come over. I'd love to see your photos.

Thanks for the info!

I can see some people losing their shoes along that hike! I thought about taking a couple photos of the trail but I found myself too busy trying to figure out my next move through the mud! It was like a chess game! I took a photo of the sink hole where the bombs were detonated, the tattered building at the start of the trail, & of course, the plane.
There was a sign on the hillside by the nose of the plane that said "Dead End" & not to continue further. It was after 3pm & starting to cloud over, so we wanted to get back asap. Getting out was much faster than getting in!

Locals told us about these hikes, otherwise we never would have known about them. The next day we went to the blow hole just before Ucluelet. Have you done that one? It's amazing! I could have sat there all day & watched it! I took some photos & a video of the water spouting up. The hike is short but hard to find if you don't know about it.
We didn't have time to find the tree house as we had to come back home to bustling Vancouver :0( so next time!
I'd be happy to send you some photos when I get organized here. We just got home & my photos are still on the card.

Thank you for the info Randy, I will update my post right away.

Hi Ross,

Nice website and photos of adventures. I would ask and suggest something regarding the Canso Bomber material on your page. The information posted regarding the trail beyond the Bomber if misleading as there is no view of the water. Actually the ocean is quite some distance (even though it is very loud at the crash site) and there are more hills between the top of the ridge beyond the plane and the ocean. If you are wondering where the "trail" goes, it doesn't really go anywhere but into a maze of other side/wildlife trails.

Primarily I am writing this because I just returned from a search for 5 people (who followed the advice on your website) and got turned around. Please don't take this personally as it is not meant that way. Over the last 10 years, there have been our local SAR volunteer group and Parks staff have had to spend many hours in the dark looking for people who have followed that trail and got turned around.

I meant to write you last summer to ask you to remove the part refering to ocean views enticing people to go beyond the bomber and afetr speaking with the people tonight I thought I should write now.

Thanks.

We just did the hike today. It was a beautiful sunny day & great for hiking but the "trail" was really mucky, so I would definitely suggest water proof hiking boots that go to the ankle. It took us about 2 hrs to get to the plane because it was a challenge to get through the muddy bits & we didn't know where we were going or how far it was. It only took 40 min to get back. A great hike with great reward at the end & good exercise. I say go for it!
We want to find the tree house in Ucluelet next....... anyone know where this is?
Thanks for your blog, it was helpful for us to do this hike today.