Rambling Along Nootka Island–May 19-25, 2022

May 19 – to Yuquot via Shorebird Expeditions and  10 k to “Headbonk Camp,”

May 20 – trail work

May 21 – 6 k to Beano Creek

May 22 – 11 k to Calvin Falls

May 23 – 11 k to Third Beach

May 24 – 5.6 k to Tongue Pt.

May 25 – return to Tahsis via Shorebird Expeditions

Day 2 – A Work Day

The second day, we re-traced our footsteps to work on the trail, mostly clipping salal but also sawing smaller deadfall; however, we took the time to enjoy the sites, too.

Day 3 – 6 k to Beano Creek

Day 4 – 11 k to Calvin Falls

For this stretch, the hike is completely olong the shore, but it’s not always easy or pleasant; sometimes you have a choice of slippery seaweed or unstable rocks.

Above photo by Colin

While we were keeping warm around the fire, a wolf patrolled the beach.

Day 5 – 11 k. to Third Beach

We spotted a black bear foraging along the high tide line, and stayed well away from it. When we were about 50 meters ahead of it, we stopped for lunch, and it disappeared into the bush. Then, to our surprise and consternation, it poked its head out of the bush within 5 meters of us! We banged our poles and yelled, and finally, after a standoff of a few minutes, it ambled off. Colin, who barely survived a grizzly mauling three years before on the mainland, was nervous, to say the least!

Colin pointed this out. Due to  wave action, the rock has eroded this cavity. Cool!

Day 6 – 5 k. to Tongue Pt.

Since the low tide wasn’t until mid-afternoon, we did some trail work before leaving.

At Tongue Pt., there is an old outfitter’s lodge that is used by a youth group in Tahsis, and we were glad to get in out of the rainstorm that began shortly after we arrived.

Day 7–return trip to Tahsis