May 2000 : Cape Scott

After writing the last exam of our B.Eng careers, six hearty souls headed out for some outdoor adventure. The place of choice: Cape Scott Provincial Park.
Cape Scott is located at the very tip of Vancouver Island. It is advertised that "Visitors should be equiped for wet weather". This precausion was taken into account by all six hikers (Moik, Anna, Christie, Ryan, Sol and Jason), but the preperations were (miraculously) in vain. Even though the trip was in May (expected to be the rainy season on the coast), only slight rain fell on the day we were leaving Nels Bight.
The entire trip started by leaving Duncan around 9:30 am on Monday, and I was at home by Friday night. The first day was spent driving up the island, and we hiked around 10km before it got too dark. The next day we made it to Nels Bight where we set up camp in the glorious sunshine. A grand sandcastle was built, but destroyed as we slept. Wednesday 4 of us went to the lighthouse on yet another blazing day. Sun burns were encountered all-around. Thursday it rained a bit in the morning, and we headed out to the Eric Lake campsite. Friday we packed up from Eric Lake, and headed for home.

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A map of the main part of Cape Scott provincial Park. Taken from BC Park's web site.

The big start. All the packs are unloaded from the trucks, and we're ready to roll.

The first morning, ~10km along the path to Nels Bight, around 100m from Fisherman's River. The path pre-ceeding this area was very nasty (a lot of mud)

A group shot going through an area cleared by the origional settlers.

Anna looking around an old settler's building.

Jason standing in a clearing that was farmed inthe early 1900's

Christie and Ryan attempt a dangerous water crossing.

Jason also attempting the dangerous water crossing.

Moik, Anna and Sol tromp through the old farmland.

Nels Bight is truly spectacular: a huge expanse of white sand. After trudging through the mud, this was an incredible sight. 

The beaches of Cape Scott really provide a northern paradise. With the huge expanses of warm sand, blue sky, and clear ocean, we felt like we were transported to the tropics.

Another picture of Nels Bight, looking north.

Yet another picture of Nels Bight.

Looking north towards the other side of Nels Bight. This shows you just how huge the beach is.

The beach camp site. Located ~ 500m to the north of the beach outhouse.

Moik playing in the sand.

Moik swimming in the ocean [1].

Moik swimming in the ocean [2].

Moik's submission to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Looking Dead Sexy, but where's the Speedo?

There's nothing like building a sandcastle in the sun. Sol built the big mound, Christie decorated, Anna & Moik created the walls and lake, Ryan created the walls and various houses, while Jason created the primary defenses.

Posing with the sandcastle.

Sol enjoying the warm sand.

Sol, Christie, and Ryan in the "Dead Sexy" tent.

Moik and Anna in the "cool/hip" tent.

Jason, on Experiment Bight heading for the light house.

Sol, Anna and Moik on Experiment Bight heading for the lighthouse. Imagine the trees in the distance being palm trees. 
At the lighthouse, a Coast Guard helicopter had just landed. 
This picture shows several of the residences at the lighthouse at Cape Scott. It was rather strange to see cultivated grass after hiking through mud-filled trails.
Sol, Anna and Moik make their way through the sand dunes that provide the border to Cape Scott itself.
Moik and Anna along yet another phenominal beach.
Anna, Moik and Sol along a rock croping in the middle of Experiment Bight. This path does not seem accessable at high-tide.
A photo of the fully setup camp, tarps and all. People are preparing supper.
A remarkable sunset.
A more typical wet-coast type of morning. Nels Bight is still beautiful.
A panorama of Nels Bight, shrouded with mist.
The troops are packed and ready to head out.
Christie pozes with the mud.
Christie and Anna circumvent a swamped part of the trail.
Moik and Ryan, having just traversed the nasty area just south of Fisherman River.
Sol attempts the direct method, as Christie goes around the mud, while Anna expertly traverses the partially submerged boardwalk.
A particularily nasty part of trail where Anna came face-to-face with the mud. In this picture, it appears that Christie is currently putting her foot into a large pool of mud.
At Eric lake, camping is on the boardwalk "ponds". Here Sol and Anna tie a rope to secure a tarp.
The camp at Eric Lake.
Eric Lake.
Moik, resembing a monkey, removes the tarp's line.
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