BikePacking Wesley Ridge in Vancouver Island
I attempted and did not do the Wesley Ridge circuit: near vacationer hotspot Cathedral Grove trailheads on freeway four between Parksville and Port Alberni about 10km with 750m elevation acquire/loss about 6-Eight hrs from one finish to the opposite extra hour or two strolling deserted rail tracks again to start out not maintained. A whole bunch of fallen bushes. buggy however few mosquitoes route discovering essential.
I began on the finish closest to Parksville assuming it could be much less busy than the Cathedral Grove trailhead.
I made a video of the BikePacking journey. Biking to and from my guardian’s place in Parksville qualifies this as a #MicroAdventure.
Click on PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I hid and locked my bike near the trailhead. Transferred what I wanted to my mountaineering pack — and headed up the railway tracks.
I missed the turn-off up mountain. It’s not apparent. On my return I flagged the begin to make it extra conspicuous.
Steep.
The path is properly worn as much as the Radio Tower.
Many proceed on to the primary lake vista. It took me about 2 hours to get right here.
Most flip again at this level. There’s nobody path throughout the ridge from right here.
I gave it a very good strive. You observe totally different (competing) units of orange tape flags. Some result in lifeless ends.
An even bigger downside was scrambling a whole lot of fallen bushes. Not bringing lengthy pants, I received fairly scratched up. It was bushwhacking.
One other downside is water. I noticed no flowing water — solely remnant snow soften tarns.
With daylight failing, I lastly determined to seek out myself an incredible tent website.
It doesn’t get significantly better than this. I needed to HIDE within the tent at nightfall, nevertheless, pestered by small non-biting flies.
From right here I may see steam rising from Port Alberni.
Right here’s the place I ended.
Good night time.
Subsequent morning, almost out of water, I made a decision to hustle again the way in which I’d come. I’ll strive the Ridge from the opposite finish on some future journey.
associated – Lonny Barr – Wesley Ridge Path
