Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.
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June 11, 2021
Tsusiat to Cribs
Finally. Serious rain.
But I was dry in a little tent secured under a Tsusiat cliff overhang. Didn’t need my fly.
Put on the water shoes — trail runners with neoprene booties — in the morning as I’d be starting on the beach. Tide was low enough.
My rain gear perfect.
I enjoyed walking through Tsusiat Point a second time, 12 hours after exploring it the previous evening.
The shelf in the rain is classic West Coast Trail. But you are forced inland at the impassable headlands of Tsuquadra Point.
I stayed with the water shoes due to muddy pools on the inland trails.
IF you have the agility of a gymnast, you can often save time by walking natural log bridges.
In the rain, it’s tempting to stop and see if there is availability at the Ditidaht First Nation Comfort Camp.
The inland trails were overgrown after having seen no hikers for almost 2 years. The WCT was closed due to COVID in 2020.
It’s always a thrill to reach Nitinat Narrows, cold, deep and fast moving tidal waters.
For days I’d been looking forward to fresh caught salmon lunch.
There are cabins to rent here though I’ve never stayed.
As you can see, my camera fogged up badly.
Departing the crab shack, there’s a lot of new (slippery) boardwalk. Careful.
And the way got even more overgrown. At one point, I thought I’d missed the main trail. Tempted to head back to the crab shack to borrow a machete. 😀
There’s a good suspension bridge over the Cheewhat river.
This day I really enjoyed switching back and forth between trail and coastline.
At one point — for fun — we tried and failed to cross an impassable headland. Waves were too high to wade. I turned back to the last beach access, but some younger hikers managed to scramble up the cliff to rejoin the inland trail.
Didn’t arrive Cribs until 8:30pm. Very tired.
Set up my tent in the trees in the first available spot. Next to the pit toilets.
