12 Jul 2010

The morning we set off for skyline is always a rush no matter how you plan it. We have to get up, eat and get packed , park the car and be at the pickup place by 8:30 (30 minutes later than usual). Add to this is the fact that all night we listened to thunder and rain – what a way to plan a back country trip.


True to form, when we reached the trailhead we discovered the parks had closed the campground where we were to be dropped off. However, it was not raining so we did not complain about having to be dropped off down the road a bit and walking back.

Wes and I were designated to lead in the third group of hikers so we knew we would be in camp early. What a break, just as we arrived it started to rain.

You may have never experienced the Skyline Hikers camp, and so this may sound strange but we don’t bring in tents, they are set up already. Further our duffel bags are brought in by horseback, so we only have to hike in with our daypacks. Ok, arrive to camp, figure out where the gate is on the electric fence surrounding the camp (this is bear country remember). This camp site is spread out amoung the trees, so the question is, where is my tent? Easter egg hunt is on.

The tent is really special for sure. The ground has not been levelled so the floor of the tent is raw ground with bushes, roots, holes and slopes. If the tent had a floor this could be a problem, but alas, no floor, just 4 walls and a roof. However, there are foamies to sleep on but that is all. We bring the rest, the air mattress, the ground sheet, the clothes etc.

By the time we found our duffels, arranged the bed between tree roots and made ourselves at home, we were ready for dinner. Now camp dinner is special as well, the food is great but the dining hall is made from used lumber and plywood. You line up with the rest and get soup, then second course was chicken dinner and finally dessert. Wow I did not even have to cook.

We spent time wondering what we would be doing in the morning if the rain continued. Some campers had little stoves in the tents and spent time trying start a fire. However, being so butch, Wes and I decided to just crawl into our sleeping bags and work at staying warm. Morning would come soon.