Aug. 10th, WCT Day 1: Pachena Bay - Darling River

Day 1: Pachena Bay Campground to Darling River, 14km

And so it began: "A walk in the park ..." or sometimes "Under the board walk, down in the mud ...". After breakfast we packed everything up, formally registered with Parks Canada and attended the required intro (twice given per day) to the trail provided by the Park staff. The intro was valuable because so far none of us had walked in tidal conditions. Parks Canada also provided a good map and the current tidal tables relevant for the trail. They also had a scale mounted at the outside of the house. Our backpack weights were as follows (give or take, my brain is getting a bit hazy since this was over a month ago. But I clearly remember the weight of my own pack!):

• Hansi: 24.5kg
• Martin: 22.5kg
• Barbara: 17kg
• Margaret: 15kg
• Uta: 15kg
• Tobi: 14kg
• Anna: 12kg

I carried mostly non food items while Margaret and Barbara (initially) carried a good chunk of the food. Our water bottles were full and part of the above weights.

Our luxury Camp (with Tarp!) at Pachena Bay Campground

Morning Impressions at Pachena Bay at low Tide

Morning Impressions at Pachena Bay at low Tide. The WCT goes across the forested Area in the Background

Pachena Bay: View towards the Pacific Ocean

The park staff mentioned that some of the longest ladders started right up on Pachena Bay and that we had to take them given that the tide was already well on its way coming in. We were also told that the "worst" conditions on the trail started south of Walbran Creek during the last days of the trail. The latest weather forecast provided by the staff was also looking very very good. It turned out to be actually pretty accurate for the whole week (including the moist and rainy day in between).

Ready for the Trail with all the Luggage

We left aiming for the Michigan Creek campground at km 12. The trail from Pachena Bay to Michigan Creek mostly runs high up through the forest until the campground. The part gives a very good first impression on what a northern temperate (rain) forest looks like. We walked through all sorts of shades of green and there was still plenty of moisture despite the draught in BC all summer long. I can only imagine what this section will look like if there is real moisture everywhere. Moss and ferns are everywhere. Hansi already commented on the first day that he was missing the noise of singing/chirping birds. Only much later at Botanical Bay we came across an educational sign that provided an explanation: The forest canopy is too dense for birds to fly around so they don't thrive in this rain forest.

The first and supposedly one of the longest ladders on the WCT: Actually I don't recall this set of ladders being hard. Maybe it is because we were just beginning ...

More views of the "long"Pachena Bay Ladder: The first of, if I recall correct, about 180 or so ladders. Please note that we are not good role models. Normally only 1 person should be on a given ladder otherwise if someone above slips a whole train wrack occurs further down.

Lots of ferns. Note, right now the trail is dry and easy to walk.

The Parks warden certainly keep certain section easy to hike. However that is not everywhere the case at all.

More Forest Impressions.

Somewhere in the Forest

Live is easy with this sort of dry Trail: Everyone smiles

One of our Mini-Breaks

A nice Ocean View

And yet another Forest View

If I recall correct it was in this environment that Hansi commented that he was missing singing/chirping birds.

We had a break at Pachena Lighthouse. The short detour is worthwhile. It provides nice views towards the ocean.

View towards the Ocean from Pachena Lighthouse. The rope is part of a cable car system to supply the Lighthouse presumably by boat.

Pachena Lighthouse

Having a break a Pachena Lighthouse

Pachena Lighthouse

Once we arrived at Michigan Creek we had a lengthier break. It wasn't entirely clear to if we wanted to continue or not. The trail to Darwin River runs along the beach. Since it was our first day we had little experience with the rocky beach conditions. Initially I assumed we had to walk higher up through gravel and stranded tree trunks because in a lot of blogs the tidal pool area was described as very slippery. After I talked with some folks coming from the south it became clear that the rocks were actually not slippery at all given current tidal conditions (we were already for a while at low tide and the rocks had dried up for a good part) and going over the flat and now relative dry rocks was exactly the way to go. Post trail I have only one word for such conditions: Super highway! The 2km from Michigan to Darling were a true joy for all of us. We saw whales in the kelp fields on the way and we saw even more at Darling River campground. On top of that the campground was very nice and had a decent waterfall nearby.
  

Michigan Creek Campground: The hanging items serve on the WCT typically as signal for a campground, beach access or a suggested detour.

Michigan Creek Campground: Some folks were already looking for a campground!

Beach area of Michigan Creek Campground: I was already on my way to look how the way ahead looked like ...

Michigan Creek beach area. Please note the firm rock towards the ocean. That portion is flooded during high tide but was now dry and nice and easy accessible. Walking on the gravel/pebbles by comparison is hard (but still easier compared to muddy tree roots).

Tidal pool area between Michigan Creek and Darwin River

On our way towards Darwin River over the flat rock with its tidal pools: Simply beautiful

Uta walking over the rock close to the big pebbles: I guess she doesn't trust yet walking over the green stuff ...

The kelp field right of the flat tidal rock: Where the rock stops the water depth must be multiple meter. It is right in that kelp area were we normally saw the whales.

Details of the flat rock area with plenty mussels: They are easy to walk over, no chance of this stuff being slippery.

Our campground at Darwin River.

The same campground with the tents build up.

And now there is even a fire and everyone eating a hot meal!

Evening impressions from our campground.

More evening impressions

Anna watching the whales the next morning