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Day 2, July 31, Friday: Thrasher Cove to Camper Bay, 8km in ? hours, low tide 9:55
Map of Day 2 (click to enlarge) Looking at the tide charts showed that we were to be gifted with the ideal tides for passing through and around Owen Point. The full moon a few days before meant that the tides would easily be low enough. We planned the start of next day’s hike for 7:30am with low tide at 9:55am. Since time was short, we made Rick carry his bacon and eggs for one more day and partook of Dana’s oatmeal instead.
Joan looked particularly radiant this morning! We packed up and hit the trail by 7:50am. This was the start to a slow slide in our estimated departure times. The Brits were long gone, already on their way to the end of the trail and thence to Alaska. After more discussion and consultation with other hikers who had arrived via the sandstone shelf route, we confirmed that we did indeed want to do it. We would question that decision later as we struggled along at an agonizingly slow base. We rounded the point from the campground and encountered the Boulder Garden from Heaven (Hell for some of us). It was very slow going, large car sized boulders, massive logs, slippery seaweed and water were obstacles to our passage.
Most found it slow going, challenging, and not enjoyable. However, days later, some regarded this section as one of their favourites. The logs became highways over the boulder garden but one had to watch ones step. Those afraid of heights need not apply. The perky people ran back and forth carrying packs for the less confident over the most treacherous slippery sections. House-sized obstacles required cooperation and support from the group. Craig and Kristy caught up to us once again, whereupon Craig presented us with our first full, flat on your back, legs in the air turtle, much to the glee of the group.
Joan on a small beach in front of our first stacks.
Finally out of the boulders, Warren kisses the sandstone shelf. We reached Owen point and the sea caves around noon after 4 and 3/4 hours. At this point, the boulders from Hell were forgotten and everyone felt the beach route was the right one. This was definitely the highlight to date, with oohs and ahs and much picture taking.
View towards the ocean.
Bill peering out of another small cave into the main one. We stopped just around the point, still in the tidal danger zone for a quick lunch. We were on schedule, and high tide seemed a long way away. Rick made a hot snack, pulling out his stove, tortillas, cheese, apples and butter-flavoured oil. Yes, “Quesadillas ala Chicken” for all.
Well, not really all. We got nervous hanging around the point, and so decided that the slower people should continue hiking. The faster ones stayed behind and scarfed more quesadillas! The group was reunited a short distance later on the sandstone shelf. The hiking was easy and quick, just like sandstone shelf hiking was meant to be. We spotted sea lions and a small bald eagle along the way. With the tide coming in, we continued our trek along the sandstone shelf which spans the entire distance between Owen Point at km 67 to the beach access at km 64.
Hiking on the moon. This was much more relaxing than the boulder gardens although the seaweed in the small surge channels occasionally made the footing difficult. A few slips and stumbles later, Warren slipped and sat down briefly on a boulder while placing a log to help the others cross a small channel. For this, the rest of the group declared a turtle, although it was NOT a turtle according to the official Warren Long dictionary definition ( a “turtle” is flat on the back, with arms and legs in the air. A Full Turtle requires assistance from others to get up, and usually happens in thick undergrowth).
Geology.
Into the fog. One real surge channel crossed. Not much of a challenge but it did slow us down. The beach access at km 64 was steep but accessible. Impassable headlands eventually forced us on to the inland trail. While Warren and Rick waited for the group to catch up before going inland, they decided to sit on a great big driftwood log. Rick slowly and gracefully fell over backwards and turtled. On the way over, he made several grabs at Warren, but Warren was too quick and avoided the grasping hands (in retrospect, it might have been better to catch him and put him down gently). Rick, in full blown turtle position tried to roll over, but would have snapped Warren’s treking pole, so Warren pushed him back onto his back, moved the pole to a safer location and watched as Rick rolled over on to his front and got upright. We both knew that the status of the 2 dozen eggs was in question, but didn’t have the heart to open his pack up and find out. The trail was muddy but the numerous boardwalks made walking easy. We had expected the boardwalks to be slippery and in poor shape. These were in excellent shape and not slippery at all.
A number of good long logs to tiptoe across were a welcome change from the boardwalk monotony. Jeff decided to access nature’s spa and partook in a mud bath. This was the yet another indication of Jeff’s prowess, agility and excellent vision. Someone let Bill loose and he disappeared around a bend. We reached Camper creek, where we had to climb down the ladders and wade across the stream since the cable car was broken. The creek wasn’t deep so it was relatively easy to cross. The first few risked it all; they left their boots on and rock-hopped across without getting wet. Rick then decided the rest of the gang might be better off with a more secure path across, so he spent 10 minutes throwing boulders in to complete a stepping stone path across the creek. Chris carefully took his boots off before wading across, but then almost submerged them anyways. Camper creek outlet was a windy but welcome site. We camped around the corner up against a wall of rock. We selected it because of its good cooking area. Tents were put up, water collected and supper begun. Order was issued from the Les Femmes committee that all hikers without exception required baths. Rick did laundry and approached bathing with considerable modesty. Bill retained some modesty but did moon Rick on occasion. Chris abandoned all decorum and scared Bill and Rick straight with a full Monty. Rick apologized to Dana for mooning her along the trail after having been mooned by Bill. This would not be the last of vulgar flashing on the trail. Everyone smelled pretty now, the uprising by Les Femmes had been avoided. All the males were now clean and pert, and yes, shrinkage did occur. Jeff and Sheryl avoided the frigid stream wash and retired to their tent for a warm sponge bath in the vestibule. Warren and Chris built a stepping stone bridge across the creek to the delta on the side of the creek, much to the derision and hoots of laughter from the campfire. However, it seemed like a good idea because all of the driftwood was on the other side. Bill joined in and threw a few more rocks in. Bill and Warren then scampered across, collected a bundle of firewood each, and re-negotiate the irregular and incomplete bridge back (Warren cheated by bring one long log that could be cut up using the saw). On the way back across the stream, Chris decided to provide the crew with a juggling demonstration of small logs at about mid stream. The assembled crowd was well pleased by this demonstration which also consisted of much arm waving and weak javelin throws to the opposite bank, most of which only made it to mid-stream and thence drifted out to sea. The campfire was lit and in an excited and triumphant manner, Elaine presented the group with a grill she had scavenged from the surrounding shrubbery. We all attempted looks of amazement, muted hurrahs and bravos over Elaine’s find. We attempted to heat water on the grill. Pretty feeble and slow compared to the stoves. Someone, once again, pointed out to Bill the definition of a group, the point being that one does not a group make. Once again, Bill absorbed this open discussion whole heartedly and with good humor.
Bill tends to the only blisters we got! The broken eggs only amounted to 3 out of 24. The Dalai Lama was indeed, smiling upon us (well mostly Rick). Joan used the broken ones in her soup (waste not, want not). We all looked forward to bacon and eggs for breakfast tomorrow. Craig and Christy dropped by our campfire to warm up. Craig had decided that long pants would have been excessive for this trip (translation: he forgot to bring any) and was shivering in his shorts. He refused all offers of a place to sit, citing that he wouldn’t be able to get up again, and that we were too small and puny to get his big boned body back upright. In addition, our glazed hungry eyes spooked him into believing that once he was down, we might just eat him. He said he was more at home with his church group of two. We reminded Craig, “No sex, it weakens the legs!” but he retorted, “Not if you don’t move ‘em.” We left Craig and Christy to their own duties and attacked Sandy’s pasta with gusto.
Huddled around for dinner in the cool wind. While the others sat around the campfire, Bill went for a walk out on the shelf to scout out the beginning of the next days hike. The creek had to be crossed twice since it makes an S curve at the mouth. Both crossings are shallow and sans pack, Bill was able to leap the gap at the mouth. The tide was out and the rock shelf tidal pools were full of life. A Dutch couple directed Bill to a point where a mother and baby harbor seal were. They were very inquisitive and popped up a number of times, just to look Bill over. Bill then wandered down with the Dutch couple to view the next day’s surge channel. The tide was higher than it was expected to be for our crossing the next day, so it only presented an approximation of what we could expect. It didn’t look too difficult except for the fact that the sides were rounded and very slippery. Bill returned to the camp about 9:30pm to find most asleep. It was another pleasantly warm night once the wind had died down.
Sandy phoned home every day to check on Keiran. |
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Images with borders are thumbnails (click on them) Mail Me! warren.long@shaw.ca Warren's Hiking page is HERE Warren & Sandy's HomePage is HERE. |
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