8. A Trail Through Thyme

Chapter Eight: Looking up to Mount Gardner

I hit the trail at noon, climbing uphill for the first 20 minutes. It was deafeningly quiet and I found it a bit disconcerting. The night before I’d asked Wynn if there were any bears on the island. She told me that the odd bear or cougar would swim across and hang out for a short while, before returning to the Mainland.

That wasn’t too comforting for my active imagination. I couldn’t help but think that the one bear or cougar that might happen to be on the island that week, would meet up with me on the mountain.

When I saw a woman and her dog approaching in the distance I was somewhat relieved. Her dog barked when he saw me and I heard her shoosh him. I wanted him to bark though, to scare any bears away.

I was annoyed at myself because my nerves were on edge, preventing me from relaxing and enjoying the hike. I couldn’t seem to get past this fear of mine.

A couple of years ago I went hiking by myself while my boyfriend and I were camping near Sasquatch Park in BC. He was not able to hike because of a bad back and I just HAD to go.

I ended up getting lost and the park manager later told me I had gone way out of bounds. I had been real unsettled when I saw fresh bear droppings beside the trail on my first way through, and didn’t take kindly to having to go back the way I’d come. Not one bit.

I had been hiking around Deer Lake and missed the turnoff to come back around the other side of the lake. The side I might add, as I learned that evening, where there had been the most bear and cougar sightings. Guess it was best I did miss the turnoff.

The dog didn’t want to leave my side. He planted himself beside me and stared at his owner as if to say, “You go on home now. I’m gonna go walking with this new girl.” I would have loved that.

He reminded me of the time my mother bought a dog for my sisters and I. This dog took a liking to me and would follow me everywhere. She didn’t want a thing to do with my sisters. Mom eventually bought two more dogs, one for each sister. Now I was embarrassed as this woman’s dog wouldn’t leave my side and I had to coax him to leave with her.

She told me it was 20 minutes past the bridge to the first lookout and then warned me about the bridge. Apparently it was difficult to cross, but if I held on to the cedars on the right side I’d be fine.

“Oh crap,” I thought to myself, imagining the worst. I had little trouble crossing though. I first attempted to go around but the rocks in the riverbed were too slippery so I ended up crossing just as she’d recommended; by holding on to the cedar logs on the right side.

Twenty minutes later and drenched in sweat, I rested at the first level ground since I’d begun the hike. I sipped some water and looked back at where I’d come from, feeling pretty satisfied with myself. But my nerves were still on edge and all senses were listening…

Disappointment was waiting for me at the first lookout as the view was blocked by an overgrowth of trees. Dense underbrush prevented me from moving past them, and at the second lookout it was the same situation. I was peeved. Not only was I missing out on the view, but I had wanted to take pictures for my blogging buddies.

The path levelled off after a while and I guessed I had reached the topmost part of the mountain. Every so often I’d stop to look at the map (futile, I know), to make sure I was headed the right way. I was determined to connect with the Killarney Lake trail.

After more than an hour into the hike I approached the top of a steep hill that looked like an old dried up river bed. I’m guessing it was about 50 yards down at a 40-degree angle. There were plenty of rocks jutting out that would give me something to grab onto.

The rocks were slippery from yesterday’s rain and I fell three times. The first time my camera banged against a rock and I stopped to put it in my backpack. I scraped my wrist on a rock another time.

I had to crouch real low to the ground to prevent myself from falling again. Perhaps climbing up wasn’t all that bad after all – going down was sure difficult. I finally reached the bottom and stood up, glad to be on level ground again. I looked around. There was no path. I was surrounded by thick ferns.

About 25 yards to my right it looked like the path started up again, so I began crashing through the forest and climbing over fallen logs, all the while watching for spiders in their webs, but having great fun too. I was in my glory as I pushed forward.

After five minutes there was still no path to be found. I turned to look back the way I’d come and couldn’t see the path I’d just left.

The forest appeared to grow larger at that very moment and everything seemed father away than I remembered. I felt like I was being watched. Trees towered above me mockingly, making me feel very small and incredibly vulnerable. I stood still, listened and prayed I wouldn’t hear any rustling in the bushes.

Stay tuned for the rest of the story to come on Sunday.

Have you ever been lost or found yourself in a similar situation? How prepared would you be? What would be in your backpack? :-)

Tagged as: BC Bed and Breakfast, Bowen Island, Mount Gardner