On June 24, I led a group of 12 students, 2 grade 8’s, 7 grade 9’s, 2 grade 11’s, and 1 grade 12, to Flores Island, a 35 minute water-taxi ride from Tofino on Vancouver Island’s west coast.
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| The water-taxi ride over to Flores. |
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| After docking, we had a short walk through the Ahousaht Indian Reserve to the trailhead. |
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| Some of us at the trailhead, in a light drizzle. |
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| Hideki and Zack crossing one of the many beaches on our 11 k. hike to our campsite. |
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| Emma on some seaside scrambling. |
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| Brayden heading up one of the headland trails. |
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Because it was a rising tide, I elected to take the notorious “Trail of Tears,” instead of taking
the short-cut across the river. The trail wasn’t made any more pleasant with the light drizzle that
drenched all the salal. |
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| The kids entertained themselves with games of concentration whenever the opportunity arose. |
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| Despite the soaked wood, the gang managed to get a fire going. |
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| Ah! Leigh with the no-bake cheesecake. I overhead one of the campers say she’d “never tasted anything as good!” |
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| Jay putting the final touches to the cheesecake. |
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| Roasting smokies over the fire at Cow Bay. |
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| The second day, Thursday, we headed off at about 9:30 on a hike up the coast, some drizzle again. |
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| Another game of concentration. |
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| Katie maneuvering through the rocks. |
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| Crossing Cow River. |
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| Some lovely seaside scrambling. |
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| Fording another creek. |
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| Peter leading the way down the rocks. |
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| Beautiful shells along the way! |
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| Leigh’s collection of shells. |
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| Heading back to camp. |
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| Collectiing firewood along the way back to camp. |
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| Sandrine and Melanie with some nimble moves across the creek. |
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| That’s a big piece of wood! |
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| Back at camp a few of them braved the cold waters for a dip. |
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| A selfie on the rocks at camp. |
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| Harlequin ducks near camp. |
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| Making Jay into a “mermaid.” |
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| Peter bites the sand. |
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| And then the sun finally came out! |
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| The whole group. |
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| Heading back to Ahousaht on Friday. |
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| Fording the river so that we avoided the “Trail of Tears.” |
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| Sunny, and becoming hot on Friday. |
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| Jay and David nearing Ahousaht. |
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| On the boat ride back. |
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| Tired campers! |
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| But still having fun! |
