Trekking the Tall Trees Trail

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Hi Blog!

This was our last full day in Prince Rupert, but we saved the best for last! After waiting out the morning fog, we set out to trek the Tall Trees Trail. This trail provides excellent access through formidable coastal terrain to both a lush rainforest as well as to sub-alpine meadows. From the top we hoped to see the amazing views of Kaien Island, Prince Rupert and the surrounding area.

Here we are at the start of our adventure.

As soon as we entered the coastal forest, we were greeted by this friendly trail sentinel.

It didn't take long before we ran into our first tall tree. Dave had the honor of first hug!

The area around Prince Rupert can average 10 inches of rain in a month. The coastal rain forest is mossy and wet. Skunk cabbage is a perennial wildflower that grows in swampy, wet areas of forest lands. This unusual plant has an odd chemistry that creates its own heat, often melting the snow around itself as it first sprouts in the spring. So, if you are feeling chilly, just cuddle up to some skunk cabbage.

It is pretty common to see fallen trees act as "nurse logs" providing seedlings shade, nutrients and water. What is unusual, is seeing a nurse log that is still standing.

The first part of the trail gently climbs through the lush undergrowth of a coastal rainforest. We passed numerous waterfalls as we made our way up, up and more up.

As we climbed the trail, we were so busy looking up at the tall trees, we almost missed these guys.

Walking through the forest is like walking into an art museum. Everywhere you look is an amazing masterpiece of form and function, light and shadow, color and contrast. Here is a particularly whimsical piece.

Kathy called "dibs" on the next tall tree to cross our paths.

Dave stopped at the trail junction to point the way.

We had heard mixed reviews of this trail. Yesterday, some folks from Newfoundland said the trail was impossible, muddy and full of holes. We were expecting a difficult hike. What we found was a well constructed boardwalk leading almost a quarter mile right to the Tall Trees Viewpoint.

From our vantage point, we could look down on Prince Rupert and the inlet beyond. Low clouds and fog continued to dance in and out of the small harbors across the bay.

We knew the trail continued to Mount Hayes, but we didn't feel the need to make it all the way to the summit. However, we did want to find the small alpine lake that appeared in a number of blogs about the hike. We left maintained trail behind and worked our way through the subalpine brush toward the pond. A boardwalk once traversed this marshy area. All that is left are a few slippery planks.

In just over a quarter mile, we found this beautiful little tarn. It was so worth the extra effort.

Having bagged our quarry, it was time for the return voyage. Kathy waited on the boards while Dave finished his photo essay of the pond. 

(Oh, yes, and she happened to spend some time feasting on the season's last huckleberries, which were all over the hillside, even though huckleberries had disappeared from lower elevations.)

In order to reach the tarn, we had to climb down from the summit which meant we had to climb back up! In the photo below, Dave celebrates as he reaches the summit.

On the way back across the summit ridge, we got to look down on the Fern Passage where the Butze Rapids are located.

We saw these little beauties on a fallen log. We later learned they were cauliflower mushrooms.

As with most hikes, there are more photos on the way up than the way down. We had three and a half miles of nothing but down, down and more down. Needless to say, we were a little foot sore by the time we reached the Jeep. That said, it was a small price to pay in order to tromp through the rain forest, enjoy mountain views and pristine glacial tarns.

We had a great stay in Prince Rupert. Our next stop is Smithers, BC. See ya down the road!