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Gales Creek
It’s no secret I enjoy hiking in the Coastal Mountains. It is verdant and beautiful country.
On a cool and overcast mid-May day, I returned to the trailhead at Gales Creek Forest Camp. You may remember I did the Storey Burn Loop from the same trailhead in early April.
This time I followed the Gales Creek Trail all the way to a trailhead on Bell Camp Road on the crest of the Coastal Mountains, roughly 7 1/2 miles from the Forest Camp. On the way down I met two mountain bikers, but that was it for the seven-hour outing – – – no other hikers, trail runners or equestrians. Amazing!
There were many spring wildflowers in bloom along the train, dominated by bleeding hearts, corydalis, fairy lanterns and red elderberry.
A very pleasant hike indeed.
Uphill is the Storey Burn Loop Trail
Corydalis
Devil’s Club in bloom
Ferns, ferns and more ferns
Trail follows Gale Creek into its headbasin
Alders take a beating in the winter
Western Solomon Plume
Pleasant stretch of trail
Such a peaceful spring hike, John, thanks so much for taking us along. How wonderful to come along only two other trailblazers in a full day of hiking. Especially enjoyed the wildflowers, ferns, and the wildflower labels.
Thanks Jet. There always seem to be lots of ferns in the Coastal Mountains.
Devil’s Club, my personal favorite (mainly because I can actually recognize it in the wild).
Just don’t grab one! Or, you would find out why they’re called Devil’s Club.