The 30th-anniversary edition of this popular guide is fully updated with all the information you need for a safe and enjoyable trek on the West Coast Trail.

The bestselling Blisters and Bliss has been the trekker’s guide to the West Coast Trail since 1989. The 75-kilometre trail on Vancouver Island is rated as one of the world’s greatest hikes. In this revised ninth edition, David Foster and Wayne Aitken once again provide a practical and easy-to-use resource for the thousands of hikers who visit the West Coast Trail every year. Combining current and accurate trail information with hundreds of safety and planning tips, this is the ideal guide for novices and experienced trekkers alike.

David Foster spent much of his trekking time checking out the flora and impressing others with his skill in building campsites and driftwood furniture (when not chasing mice out of his backpack). He was a retired school teacher-librarian, a master gardener, and an ardent nanny when in his award-winning Japanese shade garden. He passed away in 2019.

David Foster's profile page

Wayne Aitken is frequently seen with his face in campfire smoke, tearfully preparing his culinary delights. He shamelessly followed in Dave’s footprints, particularly on soft, sandy beaches. Between treks, he may be seen trying to keep is kayak upright and his mountain bike in some else’s slip stream. Wayne continues to strive to keep Blisters and Bliss topical and current.

Wayne Aitken's profile page

Nelson Dewey is an acclaimed cartoonist and illustrator. His work has appeared in numerous national magazines, comic books and movie story-boards. He has illustrated over 50 how-to books, but none as good as Blisters and Bliss. For more information, visit nelsondewey.com.

Nelson Dewey's profile page

“Blisters and Bliss . . . was like the Bible, only with fewer locusts and better maps. Seriously, hiking the West Coast Trail without Blisters and Bliss would be like chucking the owners’ manual out of the rocket ship before blasting into space. This is the 30th anniversary of the guide, the ninth edition of a book that is continually updated to reflect changing West Coast Trail conditions.”

Jack Knox, 2017 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour nominee