Meares Island Adventure

Meares Island, declared a Tribal Park in 1984,  has some of the largest red cedar trees on earth. Thanks to Ron's suggestion, we checked it out and found out that one of the trails is open. A water taxi with a laid-back schedule leaves Tofino now and then and after a meandering boat ride, drops you off at the trail head. The boat driver (surfer in his other life) asked us when we'd like him back to pick us up? He said he could come in an hour after we do a leisurely walk on the boardwalk, or (apparently less likely to him) he could come in about three hours if we decide to do the 7 km trail. "We'll do the trail," said Bill. 

Well, it would take a few pages to describe the trail and even more to describe us accomplishing it... The boardwalk was rough, but when the trail ended in about a kilometre, the seven kilometre slog began. It was more than challenging and at one stage, Bill made the observation that he now knows why giraffes don't live in rainforests.... Lifting your legs up to get over huge logs at the same time as ducking below large branches above doesn't come easy when you are long and gangly. We made it with only one mistaken turn that required very tricky clambering over logs TWICE. The trail had many muddy sections but we could only be thankful that there had been no rain for weeks or we would have been up to our knees in muck. 

In spite of all this, it was worth it!! The trees are beyond describing - not only huge but monstrous - they show every one of their 1000 years of life - knarled, tangled, scarred, - each one unique, they are majestic and awe-inspiring. 

Rough, split cedar boardwalk for first trail. 

Once off the boardwalk, the reality of the trail to follow hits home