Adventure Ollie

Adventure Ollie Day THREE Friday July 7th I hate my boots Freaky Friday. Lots of scary stuff to deal with today. High logs bridges across muddy creeks, crazy high ladders up and down. I can't image how even more crazy this place would be on a huge downpour day. On rain days The ranger described it as boardwalks totally submerged in water pools, waterfalls pouring off the tops of the ladder platforms, and bum scootching across those high log creek crossovers. I had a Scary cable car ride for  one, then I went over the suspension bridge of doom! It was Rated for six people but no way in hell if ever want anybody else on there with me. Breath and survive was my cross over style. Today was Half forest/mud slog and half epic beach walking  :)  I ended at trail marker 46km with an epic beachside camp spot called carmanah creek  :) 16km completed today. I Ended early just before 2:00 since I started walking @ 6:30am. This site was rated excellent and I so stopped here ...

Adventure Ollie Day TWO Thursday July 6th I hate my boots Of course I couldn't sleep. Woke up from 3:00-4:00am then just before 5:00am again which became the early start to my day    I  left the Airbnb at 5:20am then walked to McDonald's 5:30, breakfast sandwich with an added hashbrown for my calorie reserve for the day. I arrive at bus stop at 5:45 only one hour early, can you say excited? First there of course, so I walked around for a bit, then chatted with all the backpackers who start ed to arrive. Two from Switzerland, one from Chicago, two from Alberta, and one from Richmond. Picked up a dad who I name bill Murray and his four adults kids 19 minutes down the road. The bus ride was about 2.5 hours on a paved but slow windy road with several one lane bridges. Arrived in Gordon river for orientation at 10:00am which lasted 1.25 hours. A Mellow parks dude gave the presentation which included trail info, wildlife cautions, tide table reading, and of course all t...

Adventure Ollie Day ONE Wednesday July 5th Melody and the kids dropped me off at Tsawwassen ferry terminal at 2:00pm. A relaxing ferry ride over to Swartz Bay on a beautiful blue bird day. In Victoria I Went to Red Fish Blue Fish for a delicious fresh two piece cod and chips. Next to the Airbnb. Relaxed and chatted with owner. Early to bed. Debated going to MEC to buy trail runners 

September 2016 Rainy pass @ 4166km USA/Canadian Boarder @ 4264 Km Manning lodge 13.7km from boarder Sept 3 Saturday Excited  :)  up at 6am Melody and Melanie up shortly after me. A speedy morning and out the door about 7:15am Not long of a wait at boarder, 10 minutes Friendly guard teased me about cheating on the pct by jumping to the end. He also teased Melody about finding a hotel last minute on a long weekend. Stopped in Marble Mount for lunch at 11. Huge portions. Then the driving scenery got rugged and the elevation went up up up. A rock bolder even tumbled on the road in front of us. Another 1:15 hours to rainy pass trail head. A wonderful but a little sad of a goodbye. A great send off  :) . Started hiking 12:45 I sure love my family  :)  xo I was well pleased in the pct, well engineered. The elevation climbed gradually always. Trail easy to follow. And it's true, wide enough for a horse. I didn't expect a thru hike trail to be so spectacu...

Manning Park - Backpacking Heather meadows  sept 7 /8 Up at 6 left  at 6:30am Decided against stopping for indulgences.  Couldn't buy manning map as store wasn't open yet. Cold 7degree Celsius  Left car at blackwall parking lot and started hiking  at 8am . Drive up got me Above valley cloud and lots of sun :) 11 degree Celsius  Flowers started timid them just kept getting better.  Meadow full of colour splashes of flowers. Hard to believe it's natural and not planted up there. So many flowers. Another vivid display around each corner or over a hill.   Made good time. Hit buckhorn campsite quick (not my site) Lots of backpackers leaving today. Lots of birds to listen to and saw a couple of wild chickens. Maybe grouse?  Lots of little streams the whole way. Kicking horse camp took three and a half hours. 13.5 km Set up camp in half an hour then headed out for nicomen ridge. Another 7.5km and two hours Wanted to to stay at r...

Thursday July 14 - Taylor Meadows camp and Panorama Ridge Up at 5 Started hiking 8:45 Garibaldi Taylor meadows @ 11:15 Set up camp Noon headed out to Panorama Ridge Lots of creaks to cross Saw two marmots  Last two km were up the ridge, slow go and lots of snow and rocks to cross but not icy  Reached the summit at two. Got the view ! Lots of clouds rolling in and out. Lots of cold wind. A bit of hail on way up  Started raining on the way back to Taylor meadows. Filtered water just before camp and had dinner right away.  Sent SPOT  Was five when dinner ready. Waited in shelter while rained. Waited in tent while rained. Sun came out just before 7. Soaked up some sun and had chocolate and mocha. walked around. Bed at 9:30 Friday July 15th - Black Tusk  Slept in as long as I could. Sleeping was on and off all night maybe 6 wake ups. Felt slightly cold once, just wrapped up more, snuggled down and then was fine. Woke up mid sleep, still d...