Strathcona Park, Vancouver Island, Sunny, Hot, 28-31

Walking The Falls

(Home again, I wrote a series of posts off line while away this past week and I'll clean them up and post with photos over the next few days)

Day 1

We've taken off for a week of camping and hiking. Some time to get away from our home based lifestyle and a chance to commune a little with nature. By chance we selected the hottest week so far this summer, but our tent is set up in the trees and I sit here sipping on a very tall, cold beer! Not too bad at all:)  The goal this week is to suss out new hiking areas and taste bits and pieces as we build a data base of places to disappear to in the mid and northern parts of Vancouver Island. It will be nice to find some new hiking areas closer to home that don't always require an airplane to travel to.

Having been home from Japan for two months and well along in my chore catch-up program I'm beginning to get itchy feet again. I've headed off to walk various Caminos in Europe three of the last four summer/fall seasons, so naturally my body and mind are telling me that it's time to get ready...time to walk. I tell both body and mind that we've already had our long wander for this year, but body and mind in turn tell me that this isn't really a very satisfying response. Nope, not satisfying at all. I've walked a couple of good long walks at home the past week, but they only served to confirm that I 'could' head for Europe on a moments notice to begin again. Not likely the best idea, though I'll admit in a moment of desperation or two I've quietly approached Annemarie with a few 'suggestions':) 

Fortunately we have lots of excellent hiking on our huge island so we have travelled north to seek out a few new vistas and to see what we can find. If today was any indicator, then we've at least managed to satisfy our need to see new landscapes and discover new places. Last night we walked up to a small lake above the campsite and found that we had it all to ourselves. Oddly, not a sign of bears. No scat, paw prints, broken branches...nothing. No point in bringing Neil here!

We returned to camp where we enjoyed dinner and a quiet evening without a camp fire given the province wide ban with BC experiencing one of the most severe fire seasons on record. Firefighters arriving from Australia, Mexico, Europe, America and parts of Europe. Thanks all for your efforts. Thankfully nothing significant on Vancouver Island, thus far. Still two months left in the fire season.

Early this morning we drove south along Buttle Lake checking out the area before deciding where to hike. All very nice. Reminded me so much of parts of the Bowron Lakes. The canoe would have been brilliant to have here. Another time.

Eventually we began to wander on some of the hiking trails, the first one taking us through a beautiful cedar, hemlock and Douglas fir forest to some very nice water falls, Lapin Falls. Pretty nice we thought. A surprising amount of water coming down given that there hasn't been any rain the past 6 weeks. Of course there is still late snow up high, which will feed the streams and springs for quite some time.

We headed further south along the lake...

...and came to the Lower Myra Falls where we hiked in and were delighted by what we found!

 Further upstream through a lovely forested area we found the upper falls.

At the far south of the lake we decided to return tomorrow to hike up into the alpine along the Upper Myra Falls trail and possibly the Bedwell Lake route. 

On the way back I suggested that we drive westward to Gold River and find some lunch. Excellent decision as we found the best BLT at a small cafe and enjoyed a nice break as it was heating up. Our 2 minute tour of Gold River revealed that we had indeed seen Gold River to the fullest extent possible, so we decided to head back and see what else might be available to walk. We stopped to walk into an elk feeding range, but no luck. It was probably too hot and the females with their calves had clearly left the open ranges to seek the comparative coolness of the forest. The big males would be up higher in the alpine at this time of year.

We pressed on and discovered another hike up to Lady Falls through tall stands of 250+ years old Douglas fir trees.

Surprisingly, still a high volume flow coming down from up high here as well.

These falls are really quite high. I was standing on the edge of a cliff and believe me, it was very high!!

So a decent first day of walking. No massive distances covered on foot, but plenty of beautiful scenery and some lovely vistas. The lake reminded me of the 180 km Bowron Lakes canoe circuit in north central BC. I first paddled this stunning chain in 1971 and paddled it the fourth time with our son Bryan in 2012 and I've found it to be quite magical each time. I'm already beginning to think about the possibilities. Perhaps in late August next year. Take our time and complete the chain in 9-10 days. In past I've usually had to complete it in a week, but with our present life style this is no longer the case. Late season would mean fewer mosquitoes and nasty flies. Perhaps Caitlin and Paul might like to join us? Something to think about.

Here are a few photos from that 2012 trip. The wheels were allowed for the first time to help with portages. Pure luxury!

 Loads of moose, beavers and bears. Loones too.