Day 5 (July 7) Cribbs Creek to Tsusiat Falls (17 km) 9 hours

The challenge today was that we had to go a longer distance to reach the next campsite.  There was a no camping zone due of high wildlife activity, and we would be crossing through three Indian reserves.  For the first part of the morning we were on the beach and then going through the reserves we were on boardwalks in the forest. I walked cautiously on the soft planks and over the gaps with missing boards. We had heard about two recent evacuations in the area on the old boardwalk. One person had sprained their ankle on and another had gotten a nail through their foot. 
 

About midday we met up with others at the ferry dock by the Nitinat Narrows.  A couple was selling fresh halibut, salmon and crab legs.  Again it was similar prices $25 a plate, but I ordered some crab legs. I soon regretted the order because there were a lot of people waiting and a lively puppy that scared me because it kept jumping up on people and biting their hands. I felt the more time we spent there, the more time I would have to push myself to walk faster. I was really starting to develop a complex about being slow. I either trailed behind my sisters or walked in front with the two of them right at my heels. Maggie suggested when you were the leader you felt more hopeful and maybe she thought it would get me to walk faster. Even though we had eaten some of our food, the backpack didn’t necessarily feel any lighter.

At the ferry dock you could watch the crab being pulled out of cage and the aboriginal man would rip the top of crab off, break it in two, throw the pieces of crab meat to fish and put the legs in a pail. Next he brought them back to the kitchen and once steamed they would be brought out on a plate. By then I had also realized it was not a dish that was quick to eat. I was grateful that Lisa decided to help me pull it apart and eat it. It did taste good and I felt embarrassed at my impatience. Everyone was seeing me at my worst.  I knew the ferry was a possible exit point on the trail and I had thought about taking it.

It was a short ferry ride across and I felt a little better having had a longer break at lunch. We were on the forest trail for a while and then on to a beautiful beach walk.  Luckily the tide was low when we reached Tsusiat point and we could walk through the hole in the rocks.  A short ways later we were at the falls. There were lots of tents set up all along the beach.  Every night at the campsites there were groups of 40 hikers or so that would gather coming from both directions. 

After the tent was up, we went for a short swim and shower under the falls.  It was a refreshing experience. Even when we got to a campsite it still seemed rushed because we had to set-up the tent, set-up the beds, cook the supper, wash the dishes, get water (pump and treat with chlorine drops), take all food and ‘smellies’ out of your bag for the bear locker/hang and make sure you were ready for the next day. Sometimes I wondered how this was a “vacation.”