Sechelt Quest: The Lost Camp, Part Four

And so we had reached the coastline. But we could not find the old camp grounds. We examined the area and found it to be lacking for our needs. The elevation rose too sharply and too fast off the coastline to allow for much of a campground. The ground that was level, was mostly beach sand and rock. And there was new private property that restricted access when arriving by the trail. So this site had proven to be a dead end.

That said, there were a number of alternate trails that looked promising on the map in this area that we had noticed previously. We had no time to check on them now however, if we intended to make the last ferry back to Horseshoe bay.

And so we packed up and headed out. The trip back up to the main trail was murderous. I jury rigged some make shift nordic poles to assist me. Donald began explaining the technical specs of all of the gear he wanted to distract himself. Jordan began plotting to murder the universe in order to keep himself entertained.


When we finally reached the top of the trail and made our way back to the wonderful lake with the intent of submerging our heads in it in order to cool down our baking skulls, we found a couple with a four wheel drive truck just finishing up a picnic.

We all dunked our skulls and then Jordan gave Donald the vehicle keys and I volunteered Donald for rescue duty by asking the couple if they could drive him down to our vehicle. Otherwise we had little chance of making the ferries back. The couple (and Donald) graciously agreed. And off they went.

We remaining three continued along on the trail, with Jordan bravely earning his $#!& in the woods badge after asking a very memorable question.

"Is this poison ivy? No? Then its toilet paper. Everyone keep walking."

Shortly after, Donald arrived like the cavalry, saving us two to three hours on foot (elevation is a crazy thing).

We now even had enough time to have dinner. And food rarely tastes as good as that meal did, after an epic trek like that.

We made the ferry as the third last vehicle squeaking on, because there was no room for the buses ahead of us. Walked in to the ferry we were drunk as a function of muscle and joint pain from the hike, and sat down to watch Superman in the gift shop.

It had been a good trip.