Meet Cape Scott Park’s 2022 Team!
Who’s excited for hiking season? We are! After a long winter with plenty of precipitation and strong winds, we’re excited to get back on the trails. It feels nice that things are returning to normal, with new and returning staff kicking off the season. On Wednesday June 15 several Park Operators flew in materials, food and their belongings to Ranger Stations at Nels Bight, Cape Sutil and San Josef Bay to start their season.
If you happen to see these faces on the trails, make sure to say hi. They’ll be taking care of Cape Scott over the coming summer months. You might see them at your bonfire checking permits, using the brushcutter along the trail or stocking those outhouses. Who are they and where will they be stationed?? Read on.
Cape Scott Park Backcountry Supervisor
Name: Ben
Favorite hike in BC: My favorite hike is up on the Coquihalla, a little peak call Guanaco. Gruelling 10 km hike with 1500m of incline.
Most looking forward to this summer: I'm looking forward to seeing all the wildlife and getting good photos of everything.
Outdoor activities you enjoy: When there is snow, I got my skis. When it's sunny pass the rope, or paddle. I'm an all around liver of all activities, but skiing is the top.
Your hiking hack: No hacks, just have fun and enjoy the rain. #Wetscoast life
Nels Bight:
Nels Bight, the 5-star resort of Cape Scott Park Operator accommodation. For those of you who haven’t seen the Nels Bight Ranger Cabin, it is worth stopping by to take a look. The two story wooden cabin comes equipped with all the off-the-grid amenities- plus beachfront views of the two kilometres of west coast wilderness that stretch out in either direction. Nels Bight is a good weekend, or long weekend adventure. It is a popular spot for Canada Day long weekend, where you can set up your camping fort and hunker down with a beachfront bonfire after the long 17 km trek, which is mostly flat, but often muddy terrain.
Nels Bight
Name: Cody
Favorite hike in BC: Snowbird Pass, Mount Robson park
Looking forward to most this summer: Seeing the Lighthouse Keepers and cooking at the cabin
Activities you enjoy outdoors: Hiking, kayaking, cycling, surfing, snowboarding and mushroom picking
Your hiking hack: Superstore sells vermicelli noodle pucks that only need to soak in hot water, not boil. Save gas, save time!
Nels Bight
Name: Charles
Favourite hike in BC: For me, it has been hiking to the base of Mt Robson through Berg Lake and Coleman Glacier. Absolutely mind blowing views of massive glaciers. The North Coast trail in 2021 is a close second with its amazing wildlife and rugged terrain.
Looking forward to most this summer: This summer I am looking forward to learning more about the environment of the north coast of the island and sharing some of my backcountry knowledge with new hikers. I am excited to work with others who share a similar passion, towards a common goal of making the park experience for new-comers the absolute best.
Activities you enjoy outdoors: My favourite outdoor activities include hiking in Strathcona park, camping, surfing, and relaxing by Comox Lake.
Your hiking hack: My camping secret is bringing kale every time I go camping and roasting it on the fire. Not much better, and keeps you nice and healthy out there
Nels Bight
Name: Dale
Favourite hike in BC: Has to be the North Coast Trail. The beautiful beaches and more rugged inland hiking keeps the trek interesting from start to finish, and it was much quieter than many of the other hikes on the island.
Looking forward to most this summer: I’m really looking forward to meeting and spending time with the rest of the Nels crew and am super excited to spend so much of my summer out on the coast.
Outdoor activities you enjoy: I love to ski and spend my winters working seasonally at the mountain. I also love surfing, swimming, camping, and of course hiking!
Your hiking hack: I like to use a pillbox or other container with small compartments to pack some different spices with me when I’m backpacking. It always makes the relatively basic meals you have at camp a little more lively.
North Coast Trail
The North Coast Trail. If you’ve heard the name before, you probably already have visions of remote, muddy and beautiful beyond belief terrain. It takes a special someone to hike this route every two weeks and make sure it is in great condition for hikers to enjoy. Anwyn and Kristien will be doing the biweekly commute on the North Coast Trail Water Taxi. They’ll then hike from Shushartie Bay to the San Josef Bay trailhead, camping along the way for 10 day stints this summer. If you are up for a challenge, there are few places more spectacular than the North Coast Trail to tick off your backcountry bucket list!
North Coast Trail
Name: Kristien
Favourite hike in BC: One of my favourite hikes in B.C. is Strathcona’s King’s Peak. Beautiful vistas coupled with challenging terrain make for an excellent weekend adventure, with a breathtaking sunset view.
Most looking forward to this summer: I recently picked up bird watching as a hobby, and am really looking forward to attempting to ID the various birds along the North Coast Trail.
Outdoor activities that you enjoy: Everything and anything from canoeing to camping to rock climbing to scuba diving. Not that I’m particularly good at any of them, but I enjoy myself. I especially like throwing on a wetsuit and some goggles and exploring the various aquatic ecosystems found all over Vancouver Island.
Your hiking hack: Merlin Bird ID. This little app is absolutely fantastic for identifying all the different birds in whatever area I find myself in. Battery dependant of course, but not nearly as bulky as books, and with a battery bank it isn’t really an issue (books are still more fun, of course).
North Coast Trail
Name: Anwyn
Favorite hike in BC: Coastal, definitely the North Coast Trail. Alpine, I still have too much to explore to say for sure. King’s Peak holds a special place in my heart because it was my first Strathcona experience and everything about it was incredible.
Looking forward to most this summer: Reuniting with familiar faces from last year and making new friends, laughing with hikers in the evenings, the moments of peace and gratitude during post-workday sunsets, and of course the “first-stop-in-civilization-Subway-sandwich” after a long shift!
Activities you enjoy outdoors: Anything backcountry makes my heart happy. I spent the winter indoor bouldering, so I'm looking forward to trying outdoor climbing this summer.
Your hiking hack: A jar of Adam’s crunchy peanut butter and knock-off Crocs. And when the Shushartie bogs get mentally challenging, a game of “this-or-that” with my hiking buddy.