I packed 55 pounds of anxiety into a backpack, dragged my sons into the wilderness, and survived just long enough to write a book about it.

55 Pounds of Regret: A West Coast Trail Book

Mud, Mutiny, and a Mid-Life Reckoning on the West Coast Trail

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About the Author

I’m Jason Van Bergen. After twelve years owning and operating a retail sporting goods store, Corner Sports, I assumed I had the gear knowledge and the grit to easily handle the West Coast Trail. I was wrong.

The math of hauling a 55-pound pack against three teenagers is brutal on the West Coast Trail. 55 Pounds of Regret is the true story of how the trail completely destroyed my ego, the myth of “Dad Strength,” and what happens when your kids realize they are physically vastly superior to you in the middle of a mud bog.

Chronicling the severe physical and mental challenges of navigating Canada’s most notorious coastal route alongside my three sons, the story explores the consequences of overpacking and the harsh realities of backcountry survival.