Once we had re-stocked our food and water - we set off on the longer 17.4K hike to Cape Scott.
The pictures above will give you some idea of the variety of terrain. A day of up and down hills, over and under fallen trees, sweating in the open sunshine and cool in the deep woods. We stopped often for snacks and water, a short break and then carried on. It was a very enjoyable hike, though also very challenging. If ever I wanted to know what my limit was, I now know that it is 17.4 K.
In the early 1900's there had been an attempt to settle this remote northern area and then again after the war. Both attempts failed with the last of the settlers leaving in the 1950's. Sad evidence of the settlements remain in the form of iron tools and other artifacts, corduroy roads, dilapidated buildings, fences and telegraph poles with the wires dangling uselessly. The grasslands above were used to pasture cattle.
After 6 hours of hiking we reached the hanging float trail markers and burst onto the beach at Cape Scott. First order is to set up camp, this time among the driftwood on the beach above the high water mark. Dinner will be dehydrated chicken and rice with cookies for dessert; a truly nice "light" snack! Water is available at this camp but must be boiled or purified to be safe to drink. Ian has brought Iodine tablets which makes the water safe. Gatorade powder then masks the taste of the Iodine and makes it palatable. We got a fire going after dinner, but we were all pretty tired after our long day and as the sun set and the beach got dark we were all ready to turn in, again with the sound of the surf lulling us to sleep.
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