Welcome to Run Canada!

Please see below for pretty much everything that you need to know in advance of your upcoming adventure. You can also click "My Trips" at the top of this page to access and edit your personal information and view/pay your remaining balance at any time.

And of course, feel free to refresh yourself on the full itinerary and inclusions/exclusions any time at this link: https://www.roguexpeditions.com/running-tours/north-america/canada/

GUIDES + CONTACTS

Your main RE contact for any pre-trip questions or concerns is kara@roguexpeditions.com.

Your Rogue Expeditions guides for this trip will be Kara Folkerts and Kiana Newman. Contact info will be provided for both guides prior to departure!

FLIGHTS + TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Once you have booked your flight, please submit your flight details here.

Arriving in Vancouver at least one day prior to the trip start date is strongly encouraged to avoid missing this flight. If you do choose to fly in on arrival day, plan for at least a 4 hour buffer at the airport. This allows time to clear immigration, collect your checked luggage, and take the shuttle bus to the domestic terminal. Please note that if you do miss the group flight you will be responsible for getting yourself to Bella Coola, which means that you'll have to wait for the next flight the next day (assuming that there is a seat available!). You should have no problem booking a return flight home on the final day, but again - give yourself a few hours buffer in case of delays.  We recommend at least 4 hours if you're checking a bag and flying internationally (US citizens clear customs in Vancouver!).

Group flight times are as follows:
July 17: Departing YVR 10:25 am
July 24: Arriving YVR 14:28 pm

US citizens will need a passport with at least 6 months of validity left; participants from other countries should check with their consulate for entry requirements.

Want tips & tricks for landing flight deals? Check out this article.

THE PACKING LIST

READ THIS: Packing (light) tips for your next adventure 

GENERAL THINGS TO CONSIDER

*This is an active trip with lots of time outdoors. While you may want to pack some non-running attire for dinners there is no need for anything dressy - we are eating "at home" every night.

*Any type of luggage is fine, but remember: no one ever wishes they’d brought more stuff! Stick to the essentials and pack only what you need. If your luggage is too big or heavy for you to carry and lift by yourself, it’s too much stuff. :);.

*Have some sort of ‘day bag,’ whether it’s a small backpack, messenger bag, etc. It should be big enough to carry money, a camera, a water bottle, a change of clothes & a jacket; you'll use this as a drop bag with post-run gear for several runs as well as an overnight bag for our camping nights.

*Though we always hope for great weather, you want to be prepared for anything when on mountain trails. Waterproof rain gear is a must, as is some sort of warm layer.

* You must bring your own sleeping bag for our two camping nights; we’ll provide the other gear. If you want a pillow then consider the inflatable sort (found at outdoor gear stores), or simply use some of your clothes stuffed in a bag.  

CLOTHES

*2-3 pairs running shorts and/or 1-2 pair running tights/capris

*2-3 short sleeve running shirts/tank tops
*3-4 sports bras
*1-2 long sleeve running shirts

*2-3 non running shirts/tops

*1-2 pairs pants or jeans or skirts (at least 1 pair of lightweight pants for mosquito protection at camp!)

*1 warm jacket (fleece or down)

*1 waterproof rain jacket (can double as a running jacket)

*1 lightweight jacket or pullover

*Swimsuit

*Underwear

*1 set of sleepwear  

ACCESSORIES + SHOES

*1 pair trail running shoes + 1 pair flip flops + 1 pair non-running shoes (optional)

*6-7 pairs socks 

*Running hat

*Sunglasses

*Buff and/or warm hat

*Gloves  

GEAR

*Day bag 

*Shower towels are provided by the hotels but please bring a small pack towel for sweat/rain/swimming while camping

*Hydration pack that can carry a minimum of 1.5L of water plus gear (in addition to water you'll be carrying bear spray, extra layers, camera, lunch food, etc)

*Sleeping bag

*Headlamp
*Water filter (optional) – if you own one, or want to own one, please bring it along! We’ll have a selection of filtering methods for the group to share for their drinking water at the campsite, but having your own is never a bad idea out on the trail. These soft flask filters are extremely lightweight and handy for both running and travel!  

TOILETRIES 

*Shampoo/soap/conditioner 

*Toothbrush/toothpaste

*Brush/comb

*Feminine products

*Razor

*Contacts/solution if needed

*Sunblock
*Mosquito repellent (we’ll provide some for the group to share, but feel free to bring your own too - they can be vicious)

*Moleskin or bandaids – we’ll have some of this for the group, but blisters are a common problem and it’s good to have some of your own on hand

*Any other medication you may need (we will have a basic first aid kit for the group)

DOCUMENTS

*Passport (US and UK citizens must have validity for at least the duration of their stay; participants from other countries should check with their consulate for details)

*1-2 credit/debit cards (make sure to call your bank the week before departure, tell them the dates that you will be overseas, and make sure to tell them about any other stops that you have planned. This way they won’t put a security hold on your card).

*Phone contact info for your guides (will be provided in final group email)

OTHER STUFF

*Phone and/or camera + charger
*Portable battery pack/charger if you want to charge phone/watch at the campsite
*Snacks/fuel of your choice for the trail (you'll be provided lunch and snack options each day and will have a chance to visit a local supermarket as well, but food options in general are pretty limited in this area - if there is something specific you want, bring it!)

*Reading/writing material

*Ziploc bags for waterproofing phone/camera/clothes during the runs + plastic bags for separating wet gear 

*Ear plugs or headphones if you are a light sleeper/your roommate snores

*Electrical adapter (two prongs, North American style) for those coming from outside of North America. Bring more than one to account for multiple devices, and because it’s likely that you’ll leave one in a hotel room at some point! 

Location: Bella Coola, British Columbia, Canada
Language: English
Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)

Landscapes:  Snowcapped mountains, lush river valleys, waterfalls, glaciers, old growth forest.

Food: Breakfasts at the lodges are fresh, substantial continental-style affairs - eggs, bacon, cereals, yogurt, fruit, pastries, coffee, etc. Camp breakfast offers plenty of options as well - oatmeal, granola, fresh fruit, egg scrambles, toast and plenty of coffee. Lunches will generally be picnic-style or packed for taking on the trail - expect sandwiches, fruit, nuts, plus at least one waterfront grill-out at the finish line of your run! Dinners at the first lodge will be multi-course, chef-prepared meals with a focus on gourmet, locally sourced ingredients. Camp dinners will be prepared by a dedicated camp chef and equally impressive, including a fresh salmon barbeque. Dinners at the second lodge are homestyle and hearty.

Weather:  Bella Coola’s inland position means that it is typically drier and warmer than much of coastal British Columbia, and July/August are typically the driest and warmest of all the months. You can expect highs around 70F/21C and lows around 55F/12C. Rain is generally unlikely that time of year but still quite possible - pack for all possible conditions!

Connectivity:  Okay-ish wifi is available at the lodge for the first three nights, and very good wifi at the other lodge for the last two nights. There is little to no cell service throughout the valley, and there is no internet or cell service at the campsite. Know that you’ll be able to check in with home several times throughout the week, but for the most part be ready to disconnect and enjoy the great outdoors!

Accommodation: The first three nights are spent in a modern local lodge with welcoming hosts, cozy rooms, great gathering spaces, a hot tub, gourmet home-cooked meals and spectacular views from the back lawn. We’ve got the whole place to ourselves!

The next two nights are spent camping at an established but remote lakefront campsite. The group will be housed in a mixture of rustic cabins & tents (communal accommodation - guides will assign cabin/tent spots as we deem best given the group mix, so please be adaptable), and all food & supplies will be delivered by float plane. There is a clean long-drop composting toilet and no shower (though a pristine lake is right there for anyone who wants to rinse off!).

The trip finishes with the final two nights spent in cozy, classic log cabins (double occupancy) at a lakeside lodge resort featuring all necessary creature comforts - warm beds, hot showers, great meals, panoramic views and wonderful local hospitality.

Wildlife: The Bella Coola Valley in right in the middle of the “Great Bear Rainforest” and is home to both black and grizzly bears. There is a good chance you will see a variety of wildlife on the trip, but we will take a few sensible precautions to ensure minimum likelihood of any negative interaction. Runners will be required to carry a small bell and bear spray (both provided) and will receive instruction from a local wildlife expert on arrival day. The time of year chosen, plus the trails and terrain chosen, plus some sensible choices as a group mean there is a low likelihood of encountering a bear. Safety is a top concern, and if the guides deem any particular trail or area unsafe due to wildlife, weather or general trail conditions they will make necessary adjustments to the plan (ie switching trails, requiring people to run/hike in pairs, etc. Please be flexible and adaptable in this regard)

The most threatening creature that you're likely to encounter is the mosquito - and all of her friends! Don't forget those pants and long sleeve layers.

Preparation:   This trip features challenging trail runs with significant elevation gain/loss most days (see itinerary for details). The posted distances can often be shortened, but you should arrive prepared for trail running on rugged terrain.

If you have never gone trail running before, this is the time to start!

We'll be paddling canoes at camp, beginning with a lesson and short (15 minute) paddle to/from our run that day. Then we'll go out again to see Hunlen Falls, which requires 3 miles (1 hour) each way. No paddling experience is required, though it can certainly make things easier - as can watching this video before you arrive!

> Think British Columbia, think adventurous outdoors. BC is home to ~4.8 million people, more than half of which live in the Vancouver area. The others are scattered across an area more than twice the size of California. That makes for some quiet trails to explore...

> It probably won’t be on a Rogue Expeditions itinerary anytime soon (!), but if you are the heli-skiing type, Bella Coola is for you. Bella Coola Heli Ski boasts the largest helicopter access in the world with 1,500,000 acres of terrain to ski.

> In 1793 the Scottish explorer Alexander McKenzie became the first person to cross N. America from east coast to west coast. He completed his crossing in Bella Coola guided by local Nuxalk nation guides. This was 12 years before Lewis and Clark - slowpokes.

> Bella Coola is in the heart of The Great Bear Rainforest which is one of the largest remaining tracts of unspoiled temperate rainforest left in the world. The area is home to cougars, wolves, salmon, grizzly bears, and the Kermode (“spirit”) bear, a unique subspecies of the black bear, in which one in ten cubs displays a white coloured coat. Spoiler - we 99% won’t see a Kermode bear as they are very shy, and very rare.

> Hunlen Falls (830ft or 260m drop - more than twice as high as Niagara!), located near Bella Coola, is one of the biggest waterfalls in Canada. It was named after a local Chilcotin chief, who used to fish at the bottom.

> You may have seen those images of rainbow coloured mountains in Peru (if not, google ‘rainbow mountain peru’)? Well, BC has its own Rainbow Range. Caused by similar volcanic processes and heavy mineralisation, the BC version is located in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. Cloud cover permitting, we will see it!