It was a bit of an adventure getting there as we competed for roadspace with ATV’s, BMX bikes, and trucks loaded with mountain bikes. We mistook a junction for the correct junction according to the directions (the one with the yellow gate on the right is not the correct one, FYI. Plus, there’s no sign there!). But when we finally found the junction with the long, narrow, wooden sign in the middle, and walked up the 800 meters of dirt road (to find some parking space, again, FYI), and meandered our way on the overgrown logging road to enter the wood, we were awed.
The forest is dense, old, and so quiet. The path is covered with evergreen needles and soft, mulchy earth, muffling the sound of your footsteps and softening the range of your voice. It felt so serene and maybe a bit creepy. But, mostly, it was peaceful and the trail rolled and twisted and spouted out at a few stunning viewpoints. It felt very much like we were walking on a ridge. You can see the hardships those trees have weathered - wind-blown carcasses crowding the ground - giving it a very different feel from any of the forests I’ve walked through.
This hike was not too difficult but still a nice workout for the thighs. Easy to follow, lovely rest stops, and, on a hot day, there’s a lake to plunge in at the end (Cultus Lake) and ice cream to be had (Moosie’s Ice Cream).
