Pukaskwa - Day 1

North Swallow Harbour to White Spruce Harbour

August 6, 2017

Had a great sleep last night with the sound of the surf pounding the beach. Got up just as it became light and headed over to the Parks Canada red chairs with a cup of coffee. Deb joined me and the two of us had a quiet breakfast until the rest of the group began stirring about an hour later. After packing camp, we hitched up our packs to a perfect bluebird day and hiked along a well marked and trodden trail. Occasional boulder fields slowed our travel for brief periods, but for the most part it was pretty smooth sailing without difficulty. Ivan set the pace and I generally settled in at the back, which allowed me to stop for photos and then easily catch up to the slow and methodical pace that Ivan set. We stopped for several breaks at nice lookouts along the numerous bays of Lake Superior. Additionally inland hiking had us passing several smaller lakes populated by loons and beavers. We stopped for an extended break on a rocky shoreline, and another break high up on a rock outcrop. As the day moved into the afternoon, Ivan began to slow considerably. For the last two kilometers I decided to scoot ahead solo to the campsite. I arrived to a beautiful turqoiise bay, and with just an addition of a palm tree or two could substitute for a Carribean Island scene on a movie set. I dropped my pack in the bear locker, and then turned back, meeting Krista, Pat, and Murray along the beach. About one kilometer back I met Ivan, Deb, and Glenn, where I grabbed Ivan's pack, told him that he owed me a beer, and hoofed back to the bay. The afternoon was spent swimming (briefly) in the freezing water, relaxing on the beach, and performing various camp chores. Deb, Murray, and Pat set up a seating area on the beach, and I did some work on my new tent making it use-able with the addition of some guide lines and cord loops for the pegs. So far this has been a great hike! Let's hope the weather holds up like this for the next six days.

Departing camp along the rocky shoreline.

First creek obstacle.

Hiking along pretty coastline.

Indian Pipe along the way in the forest.

Our beach campsite.

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