Killarney Day 8 - Saturday Aug 15/09

Even though we did absolutely nothing all day yesterday, we were still all in bed by about 10:20.


I had suggested that we try to get up early and do the bulk of our hiking before the intense heat of the day, so somehow, I felt responsible to make sure we got up at a decent hour. I woke up at 6:30; everyone was up by about 7am. And, miracle of miracles: we were ready to hit the trail at 8:30!


Today was a grey and damp day, but still remarkably hot. We're all very glad that the sun is hidden behind the clouds.


We had expected today to be a relatively flat and easy hiking day; it was not. In fact, it was one of the most challenging. Lots of little ups and downs, and plenty of slippery and loose rocks to trip on, it was hard on the knees and feet, and made for a long morning.


Everyone's getting pretty tired, and there has been mutterings of just walking out today and going home depending on what time we arrive at our campsite (we also don't want to have to drive all night after a long day of hiking just to get home when we've got a perfectly good site to use).


Some easier trail, a quicker pace, afternoon rain, and a campsite in a swamp sealed the deal - we're walking out and going home today. Back to civilization! We're all in agreement that 8 days in the woods is a little too much of a good thing.


Made it to George Lake Campground at about 3:30 after hiking across 'The Ridge', down 'The Crack', and around George Lake itself. Once again, very stunning views; even the mist couldn't hide that.


Got cleaned up a bit and left the park at around 4pm, somewhat disappointed that we hadn't seen anything larger than a porcupine during our 8 days in the wilderness. Not 10 minutes out of the park a black bear runs across the highway 300m in front of the van! Josh slowed down at the point where he crossed the road, but we didn't really expect to see the bear because of the pace he had been moving at. But there he was standing on the top of a rock outcrop, lifting a rock that had to weigh over 100lbs with one paw and tossing it aside like it was nothing! It's unfortunate that we saw this while driving by at 60km/hr, and there are no pictures to prove it. :(


Got to Huntsville at around 7:30 to pick up my car, and then we went our separate ways. I arrived home at about 10:30, tired and sore, but with plenty of stories to tell!


All in all, it was a good trip! It's a great experience to be out in the wilderness with no one else around; silent and peaceful, gorgeous views, cooking over fire, watching the sun rise... However, I feel that my hiking days are numbered and I have no intentions of doing a trip that long again. I think that my hiking boots will remain buried in the closet for quite awhile (at least until the current blisters heal and the feeling returns to my toes).

Thus endeth the tale of four friends hiking in Killarney Provincial Park.