It is in changing that we find purpose. - Hercleitus
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It is in changing that we find purpose. - Hercleitus
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West Coast Trail Blisters and Bliss |
Backpacking Hiking and Camping |
How to lose stubborn body fat - natural bodybuilding champion reveals all the secrets... |
Day 3 - Cave CampingTsusiat Falls to Cribs Creek and the bear - 17 KmSpending the night in the cave was very cool to say the least. When we woke up, we hung out in the cave for about a half hour. It looked misty out but we were't worried, it wasn't raining. When finally making the trek out of the cave to go to the bathroom, I realized it was indeed raining but the cave was just so well protected from the weather. Today we'd meet the bear. Note: You can click any image for a larger version
A break in the rain for a picture Wanda's knee was still hurting from the last two days and she took up the offer of some pain killers from some guys that started the hike with us. She never uses pain killers so it must have been quite bad. We had talked during the evening before about options for her to leave the trail at Nitinat Narrows where we were to take Carl's boat ride across. Her options were to leave at KM 33 or to continue the rest of the week with her knee pain. The pain was going to slow us down and do possible damage to her knee, so we were leaning towards getting out. She asked me what I'd do if she left and my first thought was to leave with her. She didn't want this. I would still be able to continue to the end alone and I thought it over during the upcoming 8 KM.
Puttin on Gaitors
Seagulls We headed off in the rain along the beach. This stretch had a great number of seagulls on the beach. I don't think I've ever seen that many birds in once place before. This picture really doesn't do the number of birds justice.
Beach Access Markers - buoys This is an example of what marked the beach access points along the trail. Buoys wash up on shore and they're used to mark access points on and off the beach. Look for them and you can't go wrong.
Taking a break We took as many opportunities to take breaks today. Here's Wanda during a rest break while we were inland approaching Nitinat Narrows.
Bear at Nitinat Narrows Saved by the BeerYes there's a bear in that picture. Let me explain. We got to the narrows and had to whistle for the boat operator to come over and get us. While we were waiting, three more hikers caught up to us just before we went across. We got to the dock on the other side where there was cold beer for sale along with a wood stove under a covered dock. It was Wanda's birthday three days earlier (the day we started the trip) and we didn't really celebrate, so I took the opportunity to buy Wanda a birthday beer. So we were enjoying the beers when this bear comes down the trail that we were about to go up. The dock operator / liquor merchant made his dog aware of the bear and the dog went out to greet him. I still dont' really get what interest a dog would have in putting himself in that position, but whatever. We were all quite stunned to say the least. The bear took off into the bush and we just looked at each other. Nobody took any pictures cause we were all just reveling in the moment. Steve made note that we were "Saved by the beer". The dock dude said that the bear was attracted to the smell of the crab traps that were laying there on the beach next the trail head. As we were discussing the misfortune of not getting a picture, the bear made a second appearance. The dog was sent out again to greet the bear in such a manner that dogs do. I swear, the dog barked for a good two minutes at that bear and he/she didn't move. Finally the dog just turned around and trotted back to the dock as he wasn't getting any results. This time however, instead of just watching the bear, I had gotten my camera out of it's baggie and took a picture, but the bear had just turned up the trail. So, it is there, but all you really see is his bum. We finished our beers and said good bye to Wanda. I had asked these guys if they minded me tagging along for the rest of the hike and they agreed. I didnt' want to seem impolite, so I let them lead the way. Wanda's plan was this. She would stay at the dock until the dock dudes were done for the day at 5:00. She would go into the town at the East end of Nitinat Lake where she'd spend the night in a motel. She was to call the Trail bus and make them aware that she was there. What they'd do from there end is stop along the road and meet her. She was to get a lift to the meeting point from someone in the town for a fee. Then back to Victoria and then Vancouver. Afterwards, Wanda told me she spent the better part of the day on busses.
Rainforest The guys headed up the trail ahead of me and we all made a lot of noise. Never saw the bear again, but did hear some stories about it a couple of days later. With the exception of some very extreme detours at the beginning, the trail was good. We still had to get to KM 41 at Cribs Creek before the end of the day. This was the longest stretch of the week, but quite a beautiful hike. What I noticed was the different types of vegetation along the various stretches of trail. It was beautiful here. It was inland until KM 38 and then we did beach the rest of the way to Cribs. We could have gotten to the beach at KM 36 but Blisters and Bliss recommended not doing that route.
New hiking partners The rain let up for the remainder of the day and the beach was quite nice. Here's a picture of two of three of the guys I spent the rest of the week with.
Sunny Beach We got into Cribs late in the afternoon after spending 17KM on the trail and saying good-bye to Wanda at Nitinat. There is very little I remember about Cribs. Two things I do remember were the Vodka and Gatorade drinks the guys were making (and no, that's not why I don't remember Cribs), and the hanging of the food ritual. The three campsites we had been at so far this trip all had bear boxes to store food for the evening. Everyone camping agreed that they really needed two bear boxes for each campsite cause it was always a race to get your food in there first to get space. If not, you'd have to use rope and hang your food. These guys were always the last to leave camp in the morning and almost always last to do something about their food, so it had become a ritual for them to hang their food each night. I remember what it looked like where we hung the food in the dark, but other than that, Cribs comes up blank in my memory. Note: You can click any image for a larger version << Previous Day Next Day - Day 4 >> Trail Trip Log Navigation
Day 1 - Bamfield (KM 1) Other West Coast Trail information
The Official West Coast Trail Hiker Preparation Guide |
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