Cape-Scott-Exploration

–submitted by John Young. Originally published on his blog

August 21 – to Nels Bight
August 22 – to the Cape Scott Lighthouse return
August 23 – return to the parking lot for resupplies; camp at San Josef West
August 24 – to Lowrie Bay
August 25 – take cover from the rain at Lowrie Bay
August 26 – return to the trailhead

This trip had such variety, well trodden trails, seaside scrambling, old growth forest, broad vistas, historic sites, sunshine, rain, secluded beaches and more visited ones.

And I was so fortunate to share it with such wonderful companions!

The well-trodden trail on our way in on August 21

  • Untitled photo

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

With a “beary” close encounter

Untitled photo

Nels Bight — August 21 and 22

Although there were several people there, it was far from crowded, even on a beautiful weekend in August, and we were treated to a spectacular sunset.

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Above photo by Kristina G. Sviderskyte

With a glorious sunset on August 22!

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

We combed the beach to the Lighthouse

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Above photos by Kristina G. Sviderskyte

With some scrambling

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

And admiring

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Above photo by Mojgan Kousha

And laughing at the California sea lice (or is that louse?)

Playing with the sea anemones

Then we croseds the sand dunes

Untitled photo

Walked up the remains of the plank road built in 1942 to transport goods between WWII buildings

Untitled photo

Cape Scott Lighthouse – built in 1960

Untitled photo

Above photos by Kristina G. Sviderskyte

Guise Bay

Untitled photo

Dawn braving the chilly water for one of her many swims

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Above photos by Kristina G. Sviderskyte

To San Josef Bay on August 23

Crossing Hansen’s Lagoon

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Dawn and I opted to cross the lagoon, with Mo and Kristina sticking to the trail

Untitled photo

Above photo by Dawn Rabey

Rough crossing the dykes constructed over 100 years ago by the first settlers

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Then Dawn and I walked up the dyke

Untitled photo

After meeting up with Mo and Kristina, we stopped at some of the historical sites

The Cape Scott Community

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Burial site of William Christiansen

Untitled photo

William, aged 12, the adopted son of the local schoolteacher, died of tetanus after he stepped on a rusty nail. The epigraph reads:

                                                                                      The sun went down

                                                                                      while it was yet day

(When I passed through here in June, the monument was still intact. I suspect that the top fell off, rather than being vandalized.)

In 2002, I led a group of grade 9 and 10 students to Cape Scott, and one of the boys, a learning disabled boy, recited this epigraph, two days after we stopped here.

A small cemetery on the other side of the trail

Untitled photo

Then we hiked back to the vehicle, and stocked up with more supplies–including some cold beer I’d kept on ice!

Natural art work!

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

The magnificent sea stacks and caves at San Josef Bay

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Above photo by Kristina G. Sviderskyte

Savouring our beer while waiting for the tide to ebb

Untitled photo

Wading around the headlands

Untitled photo

What a spectacular beach!

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Oodles of gulls – sea gulls or bay gulls? (Pun intended!)

Beautiful coastal fog as we departed San Jo on the 24th

Untitled photo

Photo by Kristina G. Sviderskyte

And started up the trail to Mt. St. Patrick

Untitled photo

A rough trail in places

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

But the view on top makes it worth it!

Untitled photo
Untitled photo

Photo by Dawn Rabey

The descent to Sea Otter Cove becomes increasingly bushy!

Untitled photo

Photo by Kristina G. Sviderskyte

Untitled photo

Photo by Dawn Rabey

But with some amazing mushrooms, such as these Chicken of the Woods!

Untitled photo
Untitled photo

Above photo by Dawn Rabey

And water crossings approaching the cove

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Left photo by Dawn Rabey                                                                                            Right photo by Mojgan Kousha

Sea Otter Cove

Untitled photo

We arrived at Lowrie Bay just in time to make camp before sunset

Untitled photo

August 25th–we had time to enjoy the beach in the morning, before it started raining

Lots of time for beachcoming

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

David, an intrepid paddleboarder, set off for Sea Otter Cove

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

We erected a tarp to shelter from the periodic showers

Untitled photo

On the 26th, we arose at dawn, before the rains set in

Untitled photo

And set off about 8 a.m.

Untitled photo

Before long, it started raining, making for slippery footing but photogenic scenes

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Up to Mt. St. Patrick

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Left photo by Dawn Rabey

Water gushed down the trail!

Stay in the middle of the trail? What trail!

Untitled photo

What a difference a couple of days makes!

A soggy affair on the descent

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

But oh! How the colours pop!

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Before long, we were back to the beach

Untitled photo

And across the headlands

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo

Oh, so glad to be done!

Untitled photo

Photo by Dawn Rabey

Yes, a little bedraggled, wet, and dirty, but it wasn’t long before we started planning our next outings!

Leave a Reply