16 August 2016, Tuesday
The sky is blue and the tent and tarp are soaked, not from rain, but from dew. We take our time over breakfast hoping that the sun, now peeking over the pines across the river, will dry our equipment. Turns out we have to help the sun, hand drying the tent fly and poles with a small towel and vigorously shaking off the tarp. Not until 10:30 is everything moderately dry and stowed.
After walking along the rapids for about a kilometer we finally reach Kwasitchewan Falls. We can see the mist across the lake rising from the roiling water (still out of view) as it plunges over the falls. We spend about 30 minutes watching the falls and trying to capture their might in a photo. The photos do not do it justice.
We finally put the camera away and continue down the trail. Shortly after we resume hiking we hear high-pitched repetitive calling from the tree tops overlooking the lake. Searching the tall trees, we spy a large dark-colored bird and nearby, a huge nest made of giant sticks. It is an eagle but what kind? I try taking photos but the bird is back-lit. As I watch, the bird leaps from the tree top. I can hear and almost feel the great whoosh of its wings on the first downbeat. Suddenly another great bird flies into view, a bald eagle. Our conclusion is that this is a first year juvenile bald eagle (hence the dark color) and one of its parents.
The morning has ended and we have a long way to go. The sun is bright and, although there is a breeze, it is a hot day for hiking. Alongside the trail are thick beds of moss with clusters of bright red bunchberries adding splashes of red to the forest floor. We pass many grouse along the way. They seem mostly unconcerned by our presence. We finally finish the loop of the lollipop about 3 pm and stop to cool off and have a late lunch. I filter another liter of water. We are both pretty thirsty.
As we begin to retrace the last part of the hike back to the car large raindrops begin to fall. On with our hats, and soon on with ponchos as well. The rain is pleasantly cool, but as it ends we are as wet under the ponchos as on the outside from sweat and condensation.
It is a pretty hike out of the woods along the river, but we are both tired. We arrive back at the parking area about 6 pm. It’s a beautiful evening so we commandeer a picnic table to prepare some dinner before returning to Sasagiu Rapids Lodge. We even manage to get much of our gear reorganized for car-camping.
Back at Sasagiu Lodge, Thiti greets us and gives us our room key. O asks if we can have some ice cream. We both leave with chocolate cones, a double scoop for O and a single for me. We walk down to the rapids and see the white pelican again. Then back to our room for very welcome showers.