Gold Creek in Golden Ears

What to do, what to do?  We were posed with this problem today.  Ya see, I had one day off in a stretch of 7 days and it was also the last pretty day forecast for a while.  We woke to no clouds in the sky.  Originally we had planned on an easy day at home taking care of some list items and trying to be productive, but this was the clearest day we had seen in a long time.  So Sarah started looking.  We are always drawn to the Golden Ears that we see on clearer days as we drive home.  I mean, how can you not be?

Just keep driving, you'll get there.

So she looked up some hikes and we decided to give it a whirl.  After all, the park is just over an hour away or so.  Why not?  At the least, it should be a pretty drive.

So we got away around noon.  Famous already for our late starts, we also had to add planning time and decision time, so this part was inevitable.  We stopped for Mexican food just before crossing the border because who wouldn't want to try the Mexican food as far away from Mexico as you can get and still be in the US?  It wasn't bad, really.

Then we were being grilled by the border security agent.  Who are we?  Where do we live?  What are our intentions in the fine country of Canada?  Satisfied with our answers, he turned friendly and started giving us some tips on where to go and what to see, nice guy. 

Then it was as short drive, I couldn't tell you how long, it was in kilometers and we all know Americans can't understand kilometers.  Eventually we got to the Golden Ears Provincial Park.  It was very pretty.  We decided on the Lower Falls trail near Gold Creek.  It was a waterfall, there wasn't much decision making to be done, really.

Fairly generic trail name

King of the mountain.

Old growth tree trunks littered a forest of much younger trees

Made neat hideouts though.

Always pushing the limits

The trail followed Gold Creek.

Easy to take pretty pictures here.

Deep thoughts.

All along the trail we played peek-a-boo with the jagged and snowy peaks of Golden Ears.  As far a scenery goes, this hike has a lot going for it.  There is lovely forest, rushing water, snow covered mountains.  It wasn't all roses though.  There seems to be a habit of people walking their dogs here.  The bag the poo, and then leave the bag at the side of the trail.  Sarah counted 20 something bags just sitting there.  I think this trail is a little too close to civilization to rate too highly.

Cavorting about the rocks makes a happy Max

The water is so clear you wouldn't know it was there if the rocks didn't change color.

The mountains are calling and I must go.

Dog poo or no, this place has some beauty

Ohhhh, I'm gonna have fun with the water here.

You could see the notches they cut into the trees so they could stand high enough to cut them down.

Of course Max had to climb it.

A few kilometers later, we arrived at the Lower Falls.  It is one larger waterfall followed by a smaller set of cascades, it is really a cool place where we could romp around on the rocks some.  You will have to forgive me a little.  I went a touch crazy taking pictures.  I think a few of them came out pretty well.

Water is cool.

Saw this guy out taking pictures too, I thought this picture came out well.

Thanks Canadian picture taking guy!

They tolerate me.  At least they get to tolerate me in pretty places.

Eventually I had to stop taking pictures and head back.  The kids dealt with the hike pretty well.  It was a relatively easy hike, more than one person was out there with babies in strollers.  As a matter of fact, it was pretty crowded for a Thursday afternoon.  Another fact of life when you are this close to a big city. 

X marks the spot

Note to self, come back in a couple of weeks.

We arrived at the parking lot and just as we were walking over to the car, this small, red pickup truck comes screaming around the corner with the tires spinning and sliding sideways.  It straightened up about 20 feet in front of me, slowed down and pulled into a space.  A few seconds later another small pickup comes screaming in sideways, proceeds to do a few donuts next to some parked cars and then pulls in beside the other one.

Now, granted, 20 feet means I didn't feel in any immediate danger, but it only takes a second to lose control and run over me or my family.  I was a little pissed.  Three teenagers got out of each truck and started whooping at each other.  Unwilling to let it go, I glanced at Sarah and she looked pretty pissed too.  I yelled over at them that this parking lot was not the place for that kind of *&^$.  There were kids and moms with strollers in here just a minute before you pulled in. They replied they didn't hit anyone and no one was close to them when they came in.  I told them to cut it out.  They told me to go back to Texas you Bleepity bleep.

I must have stiffened, I may have even stepped forward.  They said, "You don't want to do it man."  I actually kind of did.  It was 5 teenage boys and one teen girl.  But, the thought occurred that if I go to them, it is assault.  Don't do it.  I stood for a second and then decided to just leave.  No good would come of this.  I flashed them a peace sign (No, really, a peace sign.) as we drove off.  It took a minute to cool down.

It is ironic.  I have hiked and trekked all over the world and the ONLY true assholes I have met on a trail or trail head was in Canada where everyone is supposed to be so polite.  Go figure.