There and Back Again - West Coast Trail Yoyo June 8 to June 19 2010..

Bob Beck, Howie Koch, and Mark Kettenis for the whole hike, meeting up with a pile of others at the top and eventually at Cribs Beach for Theo de Raadt and Nadine Moneta's wedding on June 15. This hike was a complete blast, and the wedding of a couple of very good friends in a very amazing place is more than I can summarize here. I'll fill in a little more details later. We hiked from Gordon River on the 8th, tagged the top trailhead at Pachena Bay and met the big herd of friends on the 13th, and then back down to Cribs by the 15th, with the wedding, then through the rest of the trail and out and back to victoria for a party on the 19th.

Also see pics from some other hikers at the following links:

  Howie Mark  
  Howie Mark

  The obligatory trailhead shot  
  The obligatory trailhead shot

  Millipede!  
  Millipede!

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  We arrived at Thrasher at about 1:45 PM  
  We arrived at Thrasher at about 1:45 PM

   
 

   
 

   
 

  And then got to Owen Point at about 3:45  
  And then got to Owen Point at about 3:45

  We had to de-boot and wade a bit to hump up onto the shelf - it was close with the tide.  
  We had to de-boot and wade a bit to hump up onto the shelf - it was close with the tide.

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  Slug!  
  Slug!

   
 

  Breakfast in Camper Bay. Egg 'n Typhus and Via.. Yum Yum.  
  Breakfast in Camper Bay. Egg 'n Typhus and Via.. Yum Yum.

   
 

  I had promised mud to Howie - Camper to Walbran delivers.  
  I had promised mud to Howie - Camper to Walbran delivers.

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  Lunch at moniques  
  Lunch at moniques

  the bottle of wine went into my platypus for a ride to cribs - it went well with cheese and chocolate. Old Lister-Petter slow speed diesel engine for the winch at Carmannah Point Lighthouse.  
  the bottle of wine went into my platypus for a ride to cribs - it went well with cheese and chocolate. Old Lister-Petter slow speed diesel engine for the winch at Carmannah Point Lighthouse.

   
 

   
 

   
 

  Warbonnet Blackbird set up at Cribs.  
  Warbonnet Blackbird set up at Cribs.

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  Hippie Doug takes us across the Nitnat after a Crab for Lunch  
  Hippie Doug takes us across the Nitnat after a Crab for Lunch

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  In the Shower at Tsusiat Falls  
  In the Shower at Tsusiat Falls

   
 

  The morning leaving Tsusiat was FANTASTIC.  
  The morning leaving Tsusiat was FANTASTIC.

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  I arrived at Tscowais about 45 minutes ahead of everyone else, I got naked washed everything and laid around like a walrus in the sun. it was awesome.  
  I arrived at Tscowais about 45 minutes ahead of everyone else, I got naked washed everything and laid around like a walrus in the sun. it was awesome.

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  The propeller from the Michigan.  
  The propeller from the Michigan.

  Hitchhike Mike's totally awesome split cedar beach shelter.  
  Hitchhike Mike's totally awesome split cedar beach shelter.

   
 

  We crossed pachena bay and tagged the top trailhead at 9:40 AM And we found nerds, friends, and wedding guests!  
  We crossed pachena bay and tagged the top trailhead at 9:40 AM And we found nerds, friends, and wedding guests!

  Arian Management. Scary.. Art has a Tinfoil Hat. Apparently you should read the instructions for your Tinfoil Hat.  
  Arian Management. Scary.. Art has a Tinfoil Hat. Apparently you should read the instructions for your Tinfoil Hat.

  Dale and Carson Greg and Colin Cold Canning it for Lunch  
  Dale and Carson Greg and Colin Cold Canning it for Lunch

  Andy, Howie and Paige walking some shelf Henning, Hitchike Mike, Andy, Mark Cordingly, Paige, Mark Kettenis and Philip.  
  Andy, Howie and Paige walking some shelf Henning, Hitchike Mike, Andy, Mark Cordingly, Paige, Mark Kettenis and Philip.

   
 

  Hitchike Mike ponders fixing the Donkey Engine. We believe improvements could be made  
  Hitchike Mike ponders fixing the Donkey Engine. We believe improvements could be made

  Dale at the Anchor on the Rocks.  
  Dale at the Anchor on the Rocks.

   
 

   
 

  Carson, Jason, and Mark Cordingly at Tsusiat.  
  Carson, Jason, and Mark Cordingly at Tsusiat.

   
 

   
 

   
 

  Dale and Myself at Hole in the Wall - Somehow he looks a lot Cleaner.  
  Dale and Myself at Hole in the Wall - Somehow he looks a lot Cleaner.

   
  "People sure listen to you well when you say you have a bomb!"

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  After some cattle prodding - we all made it to Cribs! Mike made an arch tripod, and Renata is Decorating it  
  After some cattle prodding - we all made it to Cribs! Mike made an arch tripod, and Renata is Decorating it

  The guests congregate. Stanley is at the top of the arch.  
  The guests congregate. Stanley is at the top of the arch.

  Theo and Nadine walk down the Beach. Theo and Nadine, with Hitchhike Mike, at the start of the Ceremony.  
  Theo and Nadine walk down the Beach. Theo and Nadine, with Hitchhike Mike, at the start of the Ceremony.

  Nadine was grinning from ear to ear. As was Theo.  
  Nadine was grinning from ear to ear. As was Theo.

  Promising to be patient, even when hacking all day gets nothing done around the house. Promising to be patient, even when trip packing is left till the last possible minute.  
  Promising to be patient, even when hacking all day gets nothing done around the house. Promising to be patient, even when trip packing is left till the last possible minute.

  Exchanging rings  
  Exchanging rings

  You may kiss. We all Celebrate. Words can not describe how good this was. Lots of pics of the Bride and Groom.  
  You may kiss. We all Celebrate. Words can not describe how good this was. Lots of pics of the Bride and Groom.

   
 

   
 

  After Dinner - Hitchike Mike taught us all about Gooseneck Barnacles - Percebes!  
  After Dinner - Hitchike Mike taught us all about Gooseneck Barnacles - "Percebes!" which are not a bivalve and do not get red tide. Here is theo getting a bunch. Percebes!

  Theo and Mike compare finds.  
  Theo and Mike compare finds.

  Steamin' up some Percebes on the campfire. They are very tasty. The bride and groom leave the next morning. Claudio and I had  
  Steamin' up some Percebes on the campfire. They are very tasty. The bride and groom leave the next morning. Claudio and I had "discretely" decorated their "just married" backpacks.

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  Me - Chillaxin at Walbran in the sun with Dale and Claudio on either side.  
  Me - Chillaxin at Walbran in the sun with Dale and Claudio on either side.

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

   
 

  Last night on the trail - White Trash night in Thrasher. Cigars and Scotch.  
  Last night on the trail - White Trash night in Thrasher. Cigars and Scotch.

  Claudio can even pull off white trash night, but only because the Swiss part of him can't see how dreadfully untidy the bottom of his feet are.  
  Claudio can even pull off white trash night, but only because the Swiss part of him can't see how dreadfully untidy the bottom of his feet are.

  Headin' out of Thrasher - 740 AM.  
  Headin' out of Thrasher - 740 AM.

   
 

   
 

  We made it. 150 KM done, 1045 AM.  
  We made it. 150 KM done, 1045 AM.

  Darn we're pretty scruffy looking though.  
  Darn we're pretty scruffy looking though.

  Butch bringing over a new boatload. this one included fleece gaiters - a source of much amusement to us.  
  Butch bringing over a new boatload. this one included fleece gaiters - a source of much amusement to us.

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