Elk Falls

Although many hikes or walks are just a chance to get out and enjoy the outdoors in the natural elements in the area you are visiting, It is nice when you have an attraction to look forward at the end of the trail. Our hike to Elk Falls was one of those, with the anticipation of a spectacular waterfall and a suspension bridge our goal. 

You can always tell when a waterfall is going to be a good one when you start hearing it well before you can see it, and this was very true of Elk Falls. Well before we arrived at the falls we could hear the roar of the falling water. 

Historical photo of the wooden pipes

The trail to the falls leads through typical BC forests with the tall trees we have enjoyed on the previous walks, and across a construction site where old wooden Penstock Intake pipes which once carried water from the lake down to the hydro plant had been replaced with underground modern pipes. Pictures of the original wooden pipes show how impressive they must have been. The trail then entered a heavily wooded area with some huge trees and started sloping down to the waterfall, which although clearly heard was still a long way off. The trail switched back and forth down the hill until we finally reached a viewing area where you could see the falls still a distance away. The trail

Lots of stairs

then became a series of steep metal steps to get down to the top of the gorge where a nice modern steel suspension bridge crossed the gorge. There was a viewing platform before the bridge where the falls could be seen, but the best viewpoint was from the middle of the suspension bridge hanging over the deep gorge where the water plunged down into. When you walk across the bridge to the viewing platform at the other end where you can’t actually see anything you realize that the best views are from the bridge itself. 

The location of this lovely waterfall makes it very difficult to actually get a good view, so the BC Hydro have wisely built the suspension bridge to make viewing safer for the public. The gorge the water lunges into is steep and deep, and apparently tourists have slipped and fallen to their death in the past trying to get a better view of the falls. My Nova Scotian friends will be familiar with this situation in our famous Peggy’s Cove lighthouse rocks where the same thing has happened many times. 

Elk Falls Provincial Park surrounding the waterfall has campground and many other hiking trails along the river and through the woods, and once we had our fill of the falls, we did walk a couple of kilometres of the trails, discovering massive trees that survived forest fires leaving them still growing but with blackened hollow insides large enough to walk into. 

Another wonderful adventure in the BC outdoors and no elk actually fell (As far as I know).

Walking the Woods

Regis and I have been keeping up our walking routines while out here in British Columbia and we have discovered the beauty of the local wooded areas. The city of Courtney lies in the Comox valley where three rivers, the Puntledge, the Tsolum, and Brown’s converge to run into the Straight of Georgia, and these rivers have been used to effectively provide some beautiful recreational areas for local residents. Over the past week we have explored a couple of lovely trails along the Puntledge River. One day we started out by the Fish & Game Protective Association area and walked the River Trail. This one was a bit of a worry because a sign at the start of it also linked to the “Bear Bait” trail and we had been told stories of frequent black bear sighting in the area, but the bears never did make any appearance on our walks. A few days later we drove out to the other end of this trail where we walked through Nymph Falls Park to explore the falls and hiked the other end of the River Trail which follows the path of the Puntledge River. The second “hike” was done with my sister’s grandchildren, so not as much
distance was covered, because they were more interested in playing in the river than hiking.

These trails wander through beautiful second growth BC forests. The forests here in British Columbia are really much different from our lovely Nova Scotia forests which I am used to exploring back home. The first thing you notice is the size of the trees which are way taller than we get in Nova Scotia, stretching way up into the sky, and the dense green canopy of these giant cedar, douglas fir and hemlock, leave the forest floor open and easy to walk through. There are few trees growing in the undergrowth, and there were no hardwood evident at all, so it is mostly taken up by lush Spanish moss and old man’s beard hanging from the trees and ferns covering the floor, creating an almost rainforest environment. 

This forest is “second growth”, meaning the the area was heavily logged many many years ago and the large tall trees we walked through are surrounded by massive even bigger rotting stumps from the original old growth trees. As you walk by these huge remnants of the original forest giants it is possible to imagine what this forest must have looked like hundreds of years ago. 

The trail systems are extensive, and provide trails for hikers, bikers and equestrians, and are clearly marked as difficult, moderate and accessible, so anyone can enjoy the forests. We were able to wander along the river, or weave through the forest higher up the valley.

The actual Nymph Falls was a popular site and even though the water was still cold from the glacier run-off, brave folk were already enjoying the pools and rapids in the area. We watched a couple of children who found a slippery rock that allowed them to enjoy a natural water slide powered by the river. The falls also featured a fish ladder created to allow the salmon to make it past the falls, and a bald eagle waited patiently in a nearby tree for any fish who might try to use the ladder. 

My cape Breton Larchwood walking stick and I look forward to exploring more that British Columbia has to offer. 

A Day in Thunder Bay

Kakabecka Falls

On the way to visit our daughter in Northern Ontario, we have been stopping to meet the future In-Laws, and Derek's dad and his wife live in Thunder Bay, which was also a convenient stop on the trip. We arrived in time for a meet & greet evening meal and then the next day, we were given a tour of the city of Thunder Bay.

The first stop was Kakabeka Falls just outside the city. This was a truly spectacular waterfall with trails and viewing stands all around. An especially nice feature is a walking bridge just above the falls allowing you to see them from above. I took lots of photos, but no photo really does a waterfall justice. Apparently a native legend says a native princess who was captured by a rival band lured an invading party of warriors over the falls to save her band from probable defeat.

The falls from above

Next we visited a cheese farm/factory making amazing Gouda. We have an excellent gouda cheese master back in Nova Scotia, and I hesitate to switch loyalties, but I think this cheese is better. BUT it could just be because they have so many interesting varieties. Imagine cumin & cloves gouda? Delicious. The biggest problem was deciding which ones I wanted. I think we left with six different packages. I hope “That Dutchman” doesn't find out.

A trip to a look-off on one of the native reserves provided a wonderful view across Thunder Bay and a perfect spot to see the famous “Sleeping Giant” land formation across the harbour which we missed on the trip up in the fog and rain. And, we did not have to climb to the look-off; there was a paved road right to the top.

Thunder Bay waterfront

A drive into Thunder Bay proper brought us to the Marina and the waterfront. I always admire cities that resist the temptation to allow big hotel chains or luxury condo developments to have exclusive waterfront access, and Thunder bay have done their waterfront nicely with a Marina, parks and lots of public spaces that allow everyone to enjoy the waterfront. Those exclusive condos are right across the street and still have lovely waterfront views.

Even the birds enjoyed it.

By this time I was getting pretty tired, and I felt I had seen a lot of this city, so a stop at a local watering hole was in order for a beer and dinner.

The Sleeping Giant

Thunder Bay from the look-off

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