Yellowheaders

 On our way eastward from Prince Rupert on the Yellowhead Hwy we didn't get far out of town before being pulled to hike down to Butze Rapids... a rapids both at slack and ebb tides, going east or west depending on the time of day. Here it is slowed just before high tide. The Sitka spruce and deep green of the country are as verdant as you would find in any rainforest except on this trail there were warnings that wolves may kill your dog so be careful.

 We made it as far as Exchamsiks River Boat Launch, where the Exchamsiks flows into the mighty Skeena (a good mile wide in places and running fast a glacier gray color and sadly with a body in it as one swimmer was lost yesterday upriver from where we were.) It's fed by high snow melt that flows in thin white ribbons from these great coastal mountain peaks.

 While Michael processed veggie oil amidst the fisherpeople I rode my bike to the Exchamsiks Provincial Park which just has a short loop of interpretive trail--- the camp grounds were removed because the human activity threatened the old growth Sitka Spruce grove... I was wandering off trail for views up to the sheer cliff above the river (looking for mountain goats,) when I saw this little memorial without an interpretive sign. I imagine it was for a pet or a love that died... but this brought me back to Hiroshima Day and I sent my love to all those killed then and ever after in all wars. It had been my intention to be at the Pipeline Action Camp by this date but we just can't rush anymore. We gave short shrift to the Olympic Peninsula and to Vancouver Island. The staggering beauty here can not be denied or over-shot.

However, from our campsite on the confluence of the Zymacord and Sheena Rivers, we had to admit to being pretty wussed-out by the mosquitoes which find their way in each time the door opens as well as possibly through some vents. We are both pretty recovered, here in Terrace for errands, but realize this is something we will be faced with and the moski quite a challenge.