Date:          5 days trip  (from July 6 to July 10)
                  Weather is a mixed - rainy 60%, cloudy 30%, sunny 10%   (no complain at all)

Trail name:  Juan de Fuca Marine Trail

Location:     Southwestern shores of Vancouver Island

One way trip:  47 km  we travel from China Beach to Botanical Beach
                      day 1 - 9km is moderate
                      day 2 - 12km is most difficult
                      day 3 - 7 km is difficult
                      day 4 - 11 km is moderate
                      day 5 - 8 km is the most easy and enjoying (not because it is the last day) 

                      We vow to try this trail again.

Elevation gain:   Moderate as compared to Alpine Mountains

Tide:                Need  a tide table to ensure when the beaches are passable at low tide
 
We start at the China Beach trail head at about 11:00am.  It is drizzling.  Don't worry.  We have
put on Gortex jacket, gaiters, and backpack cover as well.   We're well prepared. 
 
A plate saying when the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail was officially opened (April 1, 1996).
Look the boots and gaiters are still very clean.
 
We are heading to Mystic Beach.  There are a lot of these sign posts along the trail.
Trust me.  You won't get lost.
 
Not bad.  Boardwalk is our welcome mat.   Who say that the trail is difficult?
 
The first suspension bridge (over ?? Wolfe Creek) to be crossed by a green wolf !  That is me.
 
Oh, it is Pete Wolfe Creek.  Not Wolfe Creek.   There are numerous creeks across this trail.
 More than ten, at least.
 
The bridge is well constructed and safe.  It is not made of wood.  For my safety I let her cross
the bridge first :>
 
The bridge is 10 to 15 meters above the creek.  You can see creek rushing and
the trees swaying underneath when you cross the bridge.  Exciting and a bit scary.
 
High above the trees and the creek.  Enjoyable view.
 
Climbing up-hill after crossing the creek.  The trail is always muddy and fill with pits.
Many are more serious than this little pit.  It is a typical feature for marine trails. 
 
Stepping down to the beaches.  The steps are craved on a Big tree trunk.  A spectacular piece of
artwork you can come across often in Juan de Fuca trail.  (Just like climbing ladders in West Coast
Trail which we are planning to do it next year)
 
The first stop after 2km hiking.  The Mystic Beach.  The beach induces a feeling of awe or
wonder.  It looks like it is having magical properties.
 
A closer look of the waterfall.  If weather condition is right, you'll see the mist hanging over the beach. 
The mist will go away when the sun is up.  The rock shelf shows the typical coloring of layers of solids.
 
The cliff is about 15 to 20 meters tall.  Want to take a shower?
 
A cave craved out by wave erosion.
 
Another side of the Mystic Beach.  So beautiful.
 
A closer look.  You can camp at the Mystic Beach.
 
Time to head out to Bear Beach.  It's about 6km from Mystic Beach.  The Bear Beach was closed that
day because there was bear sightings over the camp area.  We didn't know till a few days later as
told by the park ranger.
 
We pass Pat Philip Creek.  Although there are many creeks along the trail, the crossings and bridges are always
well maintained.
 
This bridge is not too high above the fast flowing creek.
 
Another creek.  Bent Creek.  Even the name plate is bent.
 
Where those fast moving water flowing to?
 
Flows across the bridge into the ocean.  All the creek's crossing are closed to the ocean.
 
The trail itself is not too far away from the ocean.  We are always able to hear it roars.
To reach another creek, we have to climb up a bluff and going down again.  So this part of
trail is up and down.  That is why the rating is moderate to difficult. 
 
Another creek.  Fatt Creek.  As the name implies day 1 you will still be fat.  Day 5? Who can tell.
 
Ivanhoe Creek
 
She is resting so that I can keep up the pace.
 
Looking out from Ivanhoe Creek to the ocean.  You can see the typical rainforest vegetation along
the creek.
 
Banana Slug.  Quite a lot of them along the trail. 
 
Walking down tree-trunk-steps to the Bear Beach.
 
A little slippery after rain.  Don't worry they put on a hand rail.
 
The steps are craved on the trunk.
 
Day 1 - we reach the Bear Beach.  Tomorrow we head on to China Beach 8km.
 
A map showing where you can camp along the beach and where the toilets are.  We camp at the
West side of the beach - Rock-on-a-Pillar (the best spot).   Some areas will be cut off at high tide.
 
East side of the Bear Beach.  See the soil layering along the side wall.
 
The east side of the beach.  The red ball at the right hand side indicates the entry/exit point
of the trail in forest.
 
Self portrait
 
Self portrait in front of the magnificent view of the Juan de Fuca Strait.
 
Twin waterfalls
 
I recall seeing some photo that West Coast Trail hikers walk under a solid rock arch.  In Juan
de Fuca Marine Trail we are able to walk under a big fallen tree arch.
 
Rock-on-a-pillar standing on the ocean.  The scenery is so mysterious. 
 
That is our camp site, behind the drift wood - so that the camp will not be flooded during high tide.
 
Another look.  The toilet is behind the trees.  Except the last one, all campsites are along the
beaches.  You are allowed to set camp fires on the beach.
 
Hanging our food up the tree.  The first day is okay.  But the mice ate some of our snack bar and food
in the second day.
 
It is low tide in the morning of day 2.  That is what the rock on a pillar looks like.  The golden
color project on the trees far away against the greyish blue sky makes the scene so beautiful.
 
Rock-on-a-pillar and the colourful algae.
 
The layering of the beach walls.  Some people call it mushroom rock.
 
Other hiker sitting on the beach enjoying the ocean view and the noisy visitors - sea gulls
 
I am ready to fly.
 
Up on the air
 
Let's join in.
 
Those standing on the rocks ask "What's up?"   -  flying sea gull
 
Day 2 we are heading to Chin beach.  Again you can see the steps craved on big tree trunk.
It's slippery.
 
Absorbing the gorgeous view of the creek's outlet to the ocean
 
Scenery along the trails.  These are 3 photos stitch together.  Some sections of the trail are
narrow along the cliff so be very careful.
 
We pass the Newmarch Creek
 
Newmarch Creek
 
A glimpse of the ocean up along the trail
 
Climbing/stepping up the tree trunk to Lines Creek
 
This time we cross the creek by walking along a long, big tree trunk - a change of variety.
 
Lines Creek - a lot of rainforest vegetation.
 
Looking out at a creek outlet.   The mountains far away are Olympic Mountain of Washington.
 
Another creek
 
View of the creek outlet to the ocean
 
Waves pounding the rocky beach
 
There is an emergency shelter along the way down to Chin Beach.  There is a guest book inside
the hut. 
 
The shelter has a sun roof.
 
So tired - let's take a seat on the wooden sofa.   Note how the boots look like in Day 2.
 
Up stair a small sleeping area for two
 
A very small but comfort place
 
The east side of the Chin Beach.  Waves keep hitting the rocks repeatedly
 
Waves rolling over the west side of the beach.  The sea is not too rough at all.
 
A close up of the far west side of the beach and the rolling waves.  We set our camp behind the
drift woods.  It rains heavily after we set the camp (Thank god).  So we don't take much pictures
here.
 
Day 3 (to Sombrio Beach) we hiking along the rocky beach before heading back to the forest trail.  It is not much
easier to walk along the round pebbles and rocks than the forest trail.
 
A treat on a rainy day.  Another suspension bridge.
 
This one is very long and the scenery is spectular.
 
Let's cross it.
 
A tall waterfall at the mountain side
 
Rushing towards the bridge
 
Turbulent flow
 
Flowing underneath my shaking feet.  This bridge is at least 30m to 35m high.  You can see the tree
top at your feet.
 
Inject large quantity of murky water into the ocean.
 
Dark side of the rainforest.  The trail is muddy.
 
Rainforest
 
Another view of the rainforest
 
View points along the trail.  You can walk down to some of these beaches.
 
The beating sound of the waves pounding against the rock makes you feel the energy of the nature.
 
From the Chin Beach to Sombrio Beach is the most difficult part of the trail.  We have to walk
up and down, up and down the bluff several times.  It just like you're climbing Grouse Grind three
or four times.
 
Sombrio Beach
 
Waves in action.  Let you see and feel the great energy of the ocean.
 
A waterfall at the near end of the beach.
 
It flows out to the ocean.
 
Again a long, long walk down the tree-trunk steps before we reach the water fall area
 
Waterfall
 
We cross the source of the waterfall
 
East end of the Sombrio Beach
 
A "Tree Dinosaur" walking down to the ocean - see the legs and the big body trunk
 
Sombrio beach is a busy place.  You see surfers, boaters, and campers.
 
Surfing
 
A glimpse of the Sombrio beach towards the west side
 
We camp next to the Sombrio river which divides the beach into east and west.  Our camp
faces the immense ocean.
 
Behind is the wood
 
Day 4 we are passing West Sombrio and heading towards Payzant Creek, our next camp site.
 
A suspension bridge across the Sombrio River.
 
Sombrio River    Before we find our way to the suspension bridge, we attempt to cross the river.
We think the river is shallow but it is not.  Both of our boot are totally soaked - a big mistake (it
is mine).
 
After crossing the river you can walk along the beach for a 1km before you head back to the
forest trail, if it is low tide.  If it is high tide you have to head to the forest trail earlier.
According to the guide book, that part of the trail is steep and slippery.
 
The reef shelf along the beach shows different layers of colors.  The boulders are rounded by
continuous washing of the pounding waves.   Not the same experience as you mountain hiking
 
The red ball on the top right hand corner of the photo indicate that is the entrance point back to Juan de
Fuca Marine trail.
 
Another suspension bridge
 
If it is not the longest one.  It will be the second longest one.
 
Self portrait
 
Cascade of waterfalls near the mountain side of the suspension bridge
 
Turbulent stream flushing underneath my dirty boots.  The bridge is about 20 meters above the stream.
 
The stream is rushing out to the ocean.
 
We are muddy ducks wading across the muddy trail.
 
The mud sucks your boots in.  The trekking poles are the most helpful tool.
 
Many parts of the trail are just like that.   Sometime it is foul-smelling.
 
This part of forest is so dense it blocks quite a lot of sunlight.
 
Another rushing creek.
 
It gives you a break after walking in the mud and walking in the dark forest.
 
We reach the Parkinson Creek.
 
There is about 500m of logging road and that is all.  You have to fall back to the trail again.
 
This beach is make up of layers of rocks.  There is no designated camp site here.  The information
board says this area is frequented by seals and otters.  We rest for a while and go on again.
 
Another view of the beach.
 
A lot of information boards are put along the trail.  It is very educational.
 
Lichen grows on the branches.
 
We see a lot of kelps along the beach.
 
A creek is flowing gently into the ocean.
 
We both saw the red bird walking in front of our camp.  My digital camera needs a few second
to start up and it flies away.
 
A lot of boardwalk leads to Payzant Creeek camp site.  But there are a few muddy pools we
have to cross.  See how dirty it is.
 
A pleasant walk.  But slippery especially the wood is wet and covered with algae.
 
Life in a log.
 
We reach the camp site.  It is the only designate camp site that stay inside the rainforest.
It means that you will expect a lot more of mosquitos.
 
Set up the camp.  Wash and dry the cloth.  Dry the boots.  Prepare the dinner. 
It keeps you busy all the time.  It is a small mistake to wash the cloth because there is not enough
time and sunlight to dry them.  It is preferable to buy fast dry than water-proof clothing.
 
We have to wear mosquito net.  The black dot on the shoulder is not a dirt.  It is a mosquito.
 
It is not sugar cane.  It is water from the creek.  Is there anything better than that.  None!
How does it taste?  It is Okay.  We treat it with chlorine and keep it boiling for 2 minutes.  Algae tea.
 
Day 5 - On the way to Botanical Beach.   We see earth plates along the beach.
 
They explain how it is formed.
 
Gorgeous view of Juan de Fuca Strait and Olympic Mountain.  Blue, blue sky and blue, blue ocean.
 
There are many points along the trail that you can go down to explore the beach, if it is low tide.
This is one of a special "island" on the beach.  Since we don't how long it takes to finish the
last part of this trail, we dare not to explore all the view points.  An excuse for me to come back next time.
 
The other side of the beach.  It is so colorful.
 
Botanical beach.  A lot of tidal pools on the rocky beach when it is low tide.
 
A close-up of one of the tidal pools.  There is a lot of different kind marine lives inside the pool.
 
To take the picture you have to put on a polarizer filter.  This is a sea anemone.
 
So colourful.  Unfortunately our camera is running out of battery.  We cannot take many more of
these beautiful marine lives.  We reserve some battery for the last few picture for the trail end.
 
Finally we reach the end of the trail.  Ooh.  The camera strip blocks the picture (common problem
when using the viewfinder not the LCD display)
 
The last part of this trail just take about half a day.  Because we have to meet the bus schedule
to take us back to the trail head, we cannot stay too long on the beach.
 
A picture at the entrance of the Botanical Beach (also the trail end).  The bus will not come
to the park.  We have to walk another 4km from here to Port Renfrew (i.e. the end of Highway 14).
 
Finally, finally we reach the Port Renfrew at about 1:00 pm.  The bus will arrives at 4:30pm.
 
We go to a restaurant.  Both of us order a steak. I have a beer as well.
The trail is not hard. We actually finish it within 4.5 days.  Some can finish it with 3 days?

Can you do it?

We are slow.  How slow? We finish the Grouse Grind within 1.50 hours. (Most people can
finish with 1.00 hour or less.)

Carrying 35lbs and 25lbs of backpack srespectively, I and my wife can finish Grouse Grind
within 2.00 hours If you're able to match this standard, you can complete the trail like we did.

It is an enjoyable trip.  Well worth it.  Our next goal is West Coast Trail (June 2006).
Let me know if you would like to join us.