We meet at the Ballpark in Gillies Bay at 10:00am
Last week we hiked on a lovely mild sunny day from the start of Hydro East Road north along the back road to Pocahontas Bay, turning off into the recent forest cutblocks that overlook Malaspina Strait.
Earlier in the week a small group of mid-week hikers parked on Bell Road not far from the end of the black top and set off south through the alder woods which were filled with the sounds of birds singing.
It was dry and sunny and not too cool although a very strong wind was roaring through the treetops. The spindly alders were certainly swaying in the wind, but we decided the chances of being hit by one falling were still pretty remote. The trail follows very old logging roads and eventually reaches the top of the steep sided valley of Mouat Creek. We carefully headed down the steep trail through masses of tender young nettles and near the bottom and not much above the roaring water took a more level flagged trail on a wide bench between the creek bank and the foot of the steep valley side. For lunch we picked a bright spot not far past a section of creek that forms a water slide over smooth shale bedrock. The photo illustrates just how beautiful this creek valley is in winter with moss covered rocks and a multitude of tiny falls and rapids and here and there stretches of smooth water where pools remain and fish survive the dry summer months.
Thanks for the photo Leona.
JD.
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