Losing out to Fear

I hadn’t been out hiking in quite some time and was really looking forward to getting outdoors and reaching a summit. A friend agreed to join me and hike up Bald Mountain...it would be about a 4 hour hike and we would find a few geocaches along the way. Bald mountain’s summit sits at about 600 m so not a huge hike but I knew there would be some great views of the lake. The trails were made years ago by Scout groups and were well mapped. The Scout camp had sat right below the mountain on the lake shore.

Arriving at the destination I was surprised to find that the instructions were all for the old camp and not the new camp they had put in a few years ago. Thankfully though we found the trail head and headed off. The plan was to hike up to the “lookout” on the first hill, down through what they call the saddle and up to the second summit. Following that we would have to hike down, what was described as a steep trail, to the marine park and then back to the car via the lake shore trail. It all sounded great. I had printed off the map and the details, packed a lunch, rain gear and was totally prepared for anything.

Hiking up the Switchback Trail

We headed off hiking up a switchback trail that helped with the steep incline. This part of the trail had been redone by the CVRD and was easily marked with sign posts and map. After an hour and half we arrived at the “Lookout” just like they said we would. The weather was cool but at least it wasn't raining. It was great.

A short break on the way up



A great view from the lookout

We headed off toward the second summit. Now we were on the old scouting trails that were nicely marked with orange blue and yellow flagging plus some white metal triangles on trees. This part of the trail was quite steep through forested trees but along the way we were treated to some lovely views of the lake and surrounding hills. An hour later we arrived at the summit marked by an old forestry tower from the logging company when it was logged years ago. A great place for lunch!

At the summit looking west

Heading down towards the marine park we were greeted along the way by some friendly little birds that I believe were whisky jacks. They are the most people friendly bird I have ever encountered and would quite willingly sit on your hand.



A friendly fellow

We continued down and further down along moss covered hillside. There wasn’t much of a trail but we followed the flagging...until the flagging ended. We hiked over to the right and up a bank in search of a trail and more flagging but there was nothing, looking to the left there was still nothing and we couldn’t go forward as we had reached the cliffs edge. Now heights are not my thing. I have always had a fear of heights but it has never really bothered me hiking until now.

Sadly we turned around and hiked back up to the trail but soon found some more flagging down a steep bank. I scooted down and sure enough there was a trail below...we just had to get down to it. Bravely I carried on and made it to the bottom. Off we headed down through the trees following what was now marked with only the yellow flagging. Once again though we came to a cliff edge and the flagging disappeared. Now whenever my friend and I hike I am pretty much always in the lead but by now we have been on the mountain for four hours and I am tired and my fear of heights has kicked in. I gingerly creep down to have another look but plant myself next to a tree to scared to move and allow my older friend to check for flagging and trails along the edge. Nothing can be seen and my fear of one of us falling off the edge (apparently there was land down there though but I never got close enough to look) or being stuck on the mountain after dark had me deciding we are going to have to backtrack. It was tough. We had come down at least 200m from the summit and the rain was now falling and we were going to have to hike back up to the tower and over to the lookout and back down to the car. This certainly was not in the plan and would take much longer but it is what we did.

Heading back up to the summit

As I walked along the trail, disappointed in not making the loop, I found myself singing quietly "Lord, listen to your children praying". It brought to me a sense of quiet and calm as I wandered back through the trees.





Beautiful moss along the trail through the trees

By the time we reached the saddle our bodies were quite done in. My knees were in pain and my legs were wobbly. I had fallen once already coming down the mossy bank and then as I climbed over a small fallen tree I slid, grabbed onto the branch sticking out which broke off causing the side of my head to smash into the broken branch. Thankfully it didn’t break my glasses and only left a small mark and bruise. At last, after much groaning and moaning and after six hours of being on Bald Mountain we returned to the car, totally soaked and very sore and tired.

It really was a great day but I still wonder where the trail actually is. How steep was it? Did I let my fear of heights get out of control and why couldn’t I have been braver and gone further down to see if there was flagging? I am disappointed in how tired I was after six hours of hiking. I love hiking and really want to go on some higher and longer hikes but obviously my body will not be willing. It makes me think about how much I have missed out on life. Why did I not go hiking in my twenties instead of waiting til my mid forties to experience this wonderful island? As a child camping I always loved to explore trails and forests why did I not continue to pursue my love of nature?

Next time I'll be brave and take some risk!

I don’t have the answers to any of these questions nor will I ever but I do know I will be back out to Bald Mountain and this time I shall go along the coastal trail and hike upwards to see where I went wrong. It will be a challenge that I will try and meet. Hopefully my love of exploring will over power my fear of heights and I will not turn back the next time around. I want to live life to the fullest and not let my fears keep me home just so I can feel safe. There is too much out there that I haven’t seen and experienced. Sadly my life is well more than half over so I need to get a move on and make the most of each day, explore all of nature, be thankful to our Creator for all that is and once in awhile, be brave and take a risk.