Day 6: Into the Backcountry….

Today we prepared to head to Anton Larson Bay to work on the trail system that Island Trails Network has been building all spring. We spent all morning packing and cleaning up the Island C. By noon we had driven to Andy’s house to pick up laundry and make sure that the kids were outfitted with packs and sleeping pads. We ate a quick lunch there and drove 45 minutes northeast across the island to the head of Anton Larson Bay. The students and trail crew leaders hiked in with their packs for about 30 minutes to the base camp, while Shane, Melanie, Andy and mascot Gage took a skiff over with the group gear.

We unloaded the gear and then set about pitching the tents, which would serve as our homes for the week. After the tents were up, we took a quick tour of camp, and then had dinner. The constant rain did not make any of these tasks easier, but we persevered.

Eventually the rain tapered off, and we tried to light a fire down by the beach. Unfortunately, there was not enough dry wood around, so our fire was short lived. Around 9 p.m. Andy organized a group paddle in the sea-kayaks he had been storing on the beach. This was the highlight of the day for most of us. All of the students and Shane went off with Andy to circumnavigate Puffin Island out in the middle of Anton Larson Bay. After getting our gear, shoving off and getting a quick safety talk from Andy, we set out into the bay. There was a slight swell from the ocean that gently greeted us as we cleared the protected inlet where camp was pitched. The clouds had lifted enough for us to see about 4 miles out into the North Pacific. The edge of the bay is ringed with countless cliffs and innumerable birds that make their nests in the craggy stone. As we paddled past the small islands that dotted the bay, birds would spring from their nests or burrows in an effort to avoid us. In some cases that could cause them to pass almost in front of you, as was the case with a puffin that Shane inadvertently spooked. In addition to puffins, we also spotted cormorants (a type of diving bird), gulls, a full-grown bald eagle and an otter.

We headed back in a slight drizzle, our hearts lightened by our close encounters with nature. Upon hitting the beach folks promptly headed for their tents, exhausted yet happy. A wet day, but all in all a good one.