China Beach to Bear Beach
What a lovely first day on trail. I’m doing this from memory on a Friday after a very tiring few days on trail so hope i can remember what happened!
I’d been very nervous to walk this as it’s been a while since I carried all my gear and my first multi day with camping (not in huts/guesthouses etc). A lot of rain was expected and I thought I must be crazy to be going regardless. I had a sleepless night prior due to a very loud snorer in my dorm room in Victoria and it was very hot in the room. Pre trip nerves and the fact i had to be up at 5.30am may have also played a part.
Anyway, I was up and ready for the 6.45am bus out of Victoria to the trailhead. Everyone else on the bus was doing the West Coast Trail and I wondered how many people would be on the same trail as me. I got off and paid my trail fees at the trail head before continuing through beautiful old growth forest over bridges and up and down hills and stepping over root systems. It was a challenging 9km to Bear Beach and i made it in about 5 hours I think. The rocky beach felt so isolated and stunning and I was happy to be alone making camp and journalling on the beach. I knew it was a busy trail and i wouldn’t have to worry about camping alone in bear and cougar land and sure enough a group of four 60 something year old ladies turned up and made camp. They were followed by a group of four ladies my age and a group of ten military workers doing the trail for ‘adventure preparedness’ as their work week. They had four very cute dogs with them too!
A relaxed evening and early to bed, i was pleased that despite the forecast the sun had come out for a while and there had been no rain. My sleeping bag was very warm so I was happy about that too!
Juan de Fuca day 1- 9km on the Wild West Coast!
1Year/52Hikes 2019 