Lunch Ladies on the Sunshine Coast Trail

I am a proud lunch lady. At least I try to be, even though it's hard when people make comments like "isn't that just cutting up carrots?' But it helps when you hear someone announce without hesitation when asked what they do for a living, "I am a lunch lady." And that's exactly what my hiking partner, Sarah, did when we sat for breakfast at the picnic table on top of Manzanita Bluff with several other backpackers. 

Sarah was barely able to come with me on this adventure, as I asked her sort of last minute when my sister WISELY decided a 3 day excursion into Canadian black bear territory was probably not the best plan for someone's first backpacking experience. And because Sarah couldn't give me a definitive answer until only a few days before, I reached out to a few people on a public Sunshine Coast Trail Facebook group to say that I may be able to join them on their trips. (Getting to the start of this trail is not cheap, and so sharing expenses is kind of a must. Especially if you're a lunch lady!) 

As we were waiting for our final Boat Taxi to take us to Sarah Point (it was destiny for her to go there!) I was chatting with another passenger and quickly realized he was one of the people I had reached out to about possibly joining forces with. "Looks like we were meant to hike together!" Alex said with a smile.

And so there we all were on the morning of day two, with another sweet couple who also shared the boat taxi with us, trying to enjoy our meal as we swatted mosquitoes while asking questions to get to know each other. And as soon as Sarah (who is also a massage therapist) declared she was a lunch lady, Alex lit up and practically shouted, "ME TOO!"

I understood why he then had to explain how he used to work in restaurants and such until he couldn't stand it anymore and now he loves what he does...nobody usually believes working at a school and serving kids is a respectable occupation that someone would enjoy. But when I said "I'm a lunch lady too" you could see his pride smile come on strong. Hell yes, we are the fucking lunch ladies and we rock!!!

Lunch Ladies Unite!!

 

So this is why even though there were TWENTY EIGHT kids camping there with us (SURPRISE!) as part of a nature experience group of some sort, I just couldn't be upset. (Though, it took me a minute, I'll admit!) Working with kids is hard and under appreciated- but SO very needed. And these kids were just as sweet as they come...although loud and obnoxious too...as all children are.  

A quiet moment

So here's to all the lunch ladies, camp counselors, crossing guards, school bus drivers and the like -- hold your heads up high!! But Rusty (the brave man leading the nature group) I do hope for next year you decide to split into smaller groups or go somewhere else, because 28 kids at the Manzanita Hut is way too many! Happy "always bring earplugs" trails! Hiking itinerary below for anyone interested, as always. Oh, and my YouTube video too. 

This is what happens when there's not enough space! Yikes!!

 

TRAIL LOG: 

(I apologize to all Canadians that I'm using miles instead of kilometers. It's embarrassing that the metric system just never took with us Americans, but my old brain is now stuck in it's rut.) 

Day One: After picking up Sarah at the school she works at, we drove across the border to our first ferry at Horseshoe Bay. Canadians are not messing around with their ferries!! I mean TOP NOTCH! Though because we were so enthralled and excited, we forgot to take note where we parked. Usually this is not something to worry about on a ferry, but these ones are HUGE. Thank God we finally found the car before we landed, because nobody wants to be that person. Then you catch another ferry at Earl's Cove, and by the time you disembark, it's going to be too late to start hiking. So we got a campsite at Kent's Beach Campsites which is just a half hour from where we needed to be next day.

Day Two: After leaving our car at the Shinglemill Pub where we would end our hike (I always say that I love a hike that ends at a bar!) we walked up the road to catch the bus. It's a half hour ride to Lund, where the boat taxi is. There is also the option of booking a shuttle from just about anywhere on the trail, and actually that might be your only option because water taxis are reliant on tides and weather and not always available. Speaking of the water taxi...although beautiful and fun, there is another reason this might not be for everyone. There is no dock or beach to disembark on...the captain has to maneuver right next to a big rock ledge and then you have to hurry off while he carefully keeps the boat close enough so you don't fall in the water. Then he throws you your backpack. Don't tighten it he says - not until you climb up the rock to the trail...y'know in case you slip. Don't want that backpack to pull you to the bottom of the ocean! I mean shit...this was not in the brochure! ;) Anyways, then it's about 10 miles to the hut. It felt like more. And I don't know the elevation...somewhere around 2,000 feet I think. Again, it felt like more. My sister would have killed me. 

The only sign I could find that said Sarah Point! 

 

Day Three: Originally we planned to do the 10 miles to the next hut, and then another 10 out so we had an extra day to stay at a hotel before the long trip home. But before we left I cheaped out and changed it so we would camp just 4 miles from the end so we would have time to make it home same day without the hotel. So this day was going to be 8 miles. But the hotel stay got back in our heads. So it was back to 10. Then we got to the place where it's a big elevation gain for the last two miles and I was done. Hiking is always about adapting and making the pivot. So I camped, and Sarah continued because she knew she didn't want to do those extra miles in the morning. It worked out perfect for both of us. 

I love being alone...I guess because I'm a Otrovert? 

Day Four: I got up early and made it to Sarah while she was just finishing breakfast. Even though we had off and on rain, this was my favorite day. I was not expecting much, but this section is so beautiful. Mossy and magical with streams and pools and waterfalls...pure joy. 

Until the decent from Scout Mountain into town...then it's pure hell. But then there's a burger and beer to make it all better! So, I did around 12 miles and Sarah did 10-ish. Alltrails has this section at 30.3 miles with 6,620 feet of gain; but we all know Alltrails can't be trusted. But I can tell you this--the elevation is not PCT kind of gain, but the AT type of gain (steep ups and downs over and over, which I think is way harder) so you really want to be sure to have trekking poles for this one. I do hope to go back and finish the whole thing next year, which is around another 80 miles. I am keeping my "never finish a full trail in one go" non-thru hiker status going strong, haha. 

I have to have at least one pic of Sammie! This was at the first campground.