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38 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2009 : 11:17 PM
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Day 1
Shushartie Bay to Skinner Creek
In the descriptions they say that its best to go east to west, and I agree. This part was very difficult for me...for one reason though..because I'm short. You end up having to climb over fallen trees for one and for me it takes a bit effort when the tree trunk is sitting waist high. There is also the mud, mind you it was sunny and had not rain in a couple days but there were still a lot of sections where it was mud that was up to your knees or more. For my other half it was easy for his long legs to just leap over the areas, but for my shortness...I ended up with mud pants. Though there were many sections that had boardwalks and piles of wood supplies for future boardwalks. Its long and you get tired of smelling skunk cabbage but the campsite at Skinner Creek is well worth it. The camp site has a
bear cache, outhouse and two places it looks to camp but we felt that it was too close to the cache so we camped on the beach. Skinner creek is a good source for water and is advisable to fill up before you go as there is no water source at Cape Sutil.
                        
Day 2
Skinner Creek to Cape Sutil
This part was just as difficult for me. First you get to do your first cable car which you find out how exhausting it is to pull yourself across. Then you end up climbing up and down the headlands (I think that is what they call them) the parts of land that jut out into the ocean and there is no shore to skirt around them. There was even one that you go straight up one side and then down the other with a small piece of land at the top to sit on. There is one section that you can skirt through but only during low tide which we made sure to take a tide timetable with us. Though every beach we hit was beautiful. Cape Sutil campsite only had a outhouse that we could find, so we ended up camping on the beach again.
                       
Day 3
Cape Sutil to Shuttleworth Bight / Irony Creek
This section was easier in comparison to the previous sections as it mostly beach hiking, though if the beach consisted of small rocks/pebbles it tend to be a slow hike as each step you would slide a bit from the rocks shifting. We also encountered our first black bear on this day which we got a picture of him digging at something. We waited a good distance away till he notice us and the made its leisurely way into the forest. Shuttleworth Bight had an outhouse, cache, and tent pads which we camped on that night. The water from Irony Creek is not the greatest but it is water source.
                                  
Day 4
Shuttleworth Bight / Irony Creek to Laura Creek
This part was long and does a number to you feet but is not as bad as going through the forest. Most of the beaches consist of pebble/small rock but I found that it was easier to stroll through the larger rocks since tide was out. But it really made my feet sore as it was like hiking a very long boulder field. The forest section going to the second cable car is actually nice and hardly any mud to have to evade. There are some great tidal pools that are streaming with life and an eagle nest which we had them flying over us several times. I suggest filling up at Irony creek for water, as this section is very long and hot when the sun is out. Laura Creek is a good source of water though the campsite was very far from the creek. We did encounter another bear along this section but it ran off into the forest before any pictures could be taken.
                           
Day 5
Laura Creek to Nissen Bight
I was dreading this section as I knew that it went into the forest again till the next beach. I was expecting something like the beginning and was surprised that it wasn't as bad. There are still sections that have deep mud but less then the beginning of the trip. Plus it did not require a lot of climbing on my part that the section seemed really short that we got to Nissen Bight earlier then I expected. The water source here is not the greatest and it is a bit of a hike to go get it. We didn't bother much with refilling here as we had plenty left from refilling at Laura Creek. My other half saw another black bear near by the campsite that morning and it ran off into the forest again.
                   
Day 6
Nissen Bight to San Josef Bay
The first part of this was really nice, with board walks and a very nice trail/old road. There are some sections that are very tricky to cross due to the mud but otherwise a really nice change of pace. Once you hit the forest and start following along the creek the trail narrows to single file type trail A very long trek, enough to make my feet hurt, but it is nice to know that when you get to San Josef Bay that its only a 2K out to the trailhead. There is a river half way, near a outhouse that is a good place to stop and refill water and have some lunch. San Josef Bay is really nice and sandy beach luckily the weather held out for us as it was cloudly/partialy sunny all day but no rain at all.
                             
Day 7
Mt St Patrick
I can't tell you much about this part as my other half did it while I slept in.
               
The trail head, ride back to the car and homeward bound.
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Edited by - Skychaser on 07/02/2009 11:22 PM
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Langley, BC
Canada
1078 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 08:38 AM
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| Very detailed. |
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 bandana wearin', pole huckin', view lovin', dog herdin', 4x4 navigatin', lake huntin', butt-slidin' bridge crosser, who enjoys postholing with an overnighter pack
Surrey, BC
Canada
4646 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 08:57 AM
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Looks like you had a good week  ! I have a feeling this trail is going to get very crowded in the next couple of years  |
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Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
1762 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 09:01 AM
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| Wow, great report and great pictures. I especially like the sunset pictures from day three! I definitely want to do this in the near future. Did you meet many people? |
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salt spring island, bc
Canada
179 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 09:23 AM
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| This trail has quickly become the west coast trail alternative of choice. The only issue is the costs of getting to and from the trailhead/tail. My hiking partner and I planned to do this trip in August but opted for a week-long trip through Strathcona Park when trip costs came in at around $300 per person (incl. lodging in Port Hardy after the hike). It's probably worth the price but so is a new tent. Great report. |
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New Westminster, BC
Canada
352 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 10:40 AM
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Nice pictures and beautiful scenery.
I hope to do this soon perhaps in later August. Did you see many or any other people along the way  |
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Qualicum Beach, BC
Canada
72 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 12:05 PM
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| Great report and pictures. We did the Cape Scott trail last year before the new one opened up and we are looking forward to going back for this one! We didn't see much in the way of wildlife at all on our trip, but the beaches were some of the best. I really loved camping at Guise Bay. Looks like you had a great week,thanks for sharing! |
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76 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 1:13 PM
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| Great pictures. This is quickly becoming a fantastic route that may become a secondary option to those wanting to avoid all the hassle surrounding the WCT. |
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38 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 7:16 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by jd22
Wow, great report and great pictures. I especially like the sunset pictures from day three! I definitely want to do this in the near future. Did you meet many people?
No only bears and eagles. We did ride in with one other person on the boat but they got dropped off further down at Shuttleworth Bight. |
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 Trail cuttin, GPS packin bushwhacker, wiki hike compilin, who is now Hope-less
2542 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2009 : 7:28 PM
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It was a great trip, and we really lucked out with the weather - especially considering it was early June. One of the major reasons we headed up that way was the very fact it's getting busy - wanted to experience it on our own terms before it became a complete zoo.  |
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Sunnyvale Trailer Park
Canada
1084 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2009 : 11:56 AM
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Excellent timing with the weather, and to have the place all to yourselves too. We were hoping to do this trip in a few years once our girls are older. Have either of you done the WCT, and have a comparison to make? It was nice to read your pro, and con viewpoints, some people try to make everything sound wonderful - it's better to be realistic. Loved the beach camp pics, the sunsets too
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2009 : 5:33 PM
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Sounds like a wonderful adventure Theresa! Great report of a lovely area |
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354 Posts |
Posted - 07/05/2009 : 7:00 PM
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| wonderful TR, this is an amazing adventure i have wanted to do for years ^^ |
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Herbal tea drinkin, tree huggin, view seeking, tortoise paced, ultralite wannabe
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2847 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2009 : 1:54 PM
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| Great report Thx for all the beta. I'll be there in a couple of weeks |
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Trail blazin', backcountry bushwackin', pine huntin', photo takin', long winded story teller
3838 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2009 : 8:27 PM
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Very nice. Good details and pictures.
The mud and trees would be nice without. I share your feelings about climbing over trees waist high. I hate that especially on an incline, but you have to take the bad with the good I guess. |
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Coquitlam, BC
Canada
96 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2009 : 9:39 PM
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| Great TR and pictures, thanks for the info. |
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North Coast Trail : May 31 to June 6
