Nihahi Creek - Summer
Date Walked: 19th September 2013
Distance: 10.8 miles (17.4 km)
Actual Ascent: 1072 feet (327 m)
Time Taken: 5 hours
With highway 66 now reopened after the floods I decided to go on an exploratory hike along Nihahi Creek. The trailhead is situated at the very end of highway 66 (The Elbow Falls Trail) at the Little Elbow Campground. I recently rode this area on my mountain bike and was disappointed with the state of the trails after the flood but they are all still in excellent shape for hiking and I really needed to get out.
On arrival it was nice to see a fresh coat of snow on the mountain tops, even the lower ones such as Forgetmenot Ridge which I hiked in November last year.
On arrival it was nice to see a fresh coat of snow on the mountain tops, even the lower ones such as Forgetmenot Ridge which I hiked in November last year.
The trees are showing the first signs of Autumnal colour now and the trail looks beautiful dotted with bright yellow branches and occasional red speckled leaves. Directly ahead in this shot is Mt Cornwall and Mt Glasgow wearing their first winter coat.
The first 3.5 km is made along the Little Elbow trail which meanders alongside the Elbow river, the image below shows the devastated forest floor at a bend in the river where the flood waters deposited tons of rock and cut a deep second channel forming a sizable island in the river.
Once past the campgrounds the trail is a wonderful wide clearway for the next 3 km with the understandable exception of a few detours through the flood damaged areas. The splashes of colour really paint a wonderful picture as I stroll along in the warm autumn sunshine.
below is a close up of one of the trees in the image above, these are the very best things about hiking in autumn, not just the blanket colour but the variance of shade and light hidden in the intricate detail of every plant.
This entire open area was all forested before the flood and the trail ran through the trees, the river has receded back to the tree line on the right of the frame and the trail now is this wide open ground with heaped deadfall along the way.
Another splash of autumn before I reach the junction with the trail I'm seeking today.
The base of Nihahi Creek has also washed out over the Little Elbow trail but it does mean that it is now impossible to miss the junction of these two points, my trail now continues on the right up through the forest.
Almost all of the ascent that is made on this hike is made here through the forest in these early stages, though it is only 327 m (1072 feet) it's still a good pull up the switchback trail. It is mercifully short and provides this wonderful view of Mt Glasgow at the ridge top looking south.
Soon after the ridge top I see a small side trail and turn off to explore it, in a short time it comes to the edge of a nice looking slot canyon hidden away in the trees, as I'm unsure of the upstream exit I decide to return to my trail and carry as planned.....for now.
In another km or so the forest gives way to open ground again where floodwater has widened the creek creating an easy surface to hike (though it does get hard on the feet after 10 miles)
The creek continues to widen until I'm in an enormous space just bouncing along enjoying the sunshine and the comfortable 20 degree temperatures. This is certainly much wider than when I looked down on it from Nihahi Ridge last year.
This little tree is actually the top of a bigger tree that has been laid out by the flood and covered with rocks
looking back downstream at the splashes of colour, I've now covered about 7 km and decide to stop for lunch. I have a small salad and in removing the lid I manage to scatter half of it in the rocks, so now I have an even smaller salad.
Upstream after my tiny lunch I'm diggin in my 'treats' pouch and come across a pack of those pink wafer biscuits which make the whole lunch experience a lot better, I never tasted biscuits as good as these beauties.
I take myself as far as a fork in the creek and just for a moment I contemplate taking on the adjacent Mt Fullerton, but as I didn't start until 12.30pm today there was little hope of me making the summit and returning to the truck by dark, I stuffed the thought away for another day and walked to the point in the forks where I could see around the corner
the view to the west made me want to continue further, another valley surrounded by snow capped peaks, what could be better, but the truth was I was running out of time. It had been a great fact finding mission to an area I've never hiked before and one I will aim to return to for either a long summer hike or the ascent of Mt Fullerton
The return journey looked like being the same route in reverse so I opted to follow the creek when the trail turned into the forest, I hoped to gain access to that slot canyon I'd seen on the way in. The shade was welcome as the sun was blocked out by the peaks to the west.
On finding the end of the canyon it was a steep drop onto a wet tree truck wedged in the rocks then a hopeful dash across it before a jump to the next level down, it was pretty clear that this was a one way journey if I took it......so I took it and was surprised to find myself in one piece and still dry when I reached the bottom.
The canyon was very cool and wet but the grip on the rocks was pretty good even when they were soaked, as I headed down I hoped I wouldn't meet any of the more aggressive predators that frequent this area heading up
After a series of smaller drops I found myself faced with this double dipper, I couldn't reach the log to test its rigidity but I argued that as it was stuck in the rock at the far end it is likely that this end is wedged tight making it stable, I couldn't go back anyway so I lowered myself before dropping blindly onto the log.....it held, I took one step then jumped to the ledge between the two drops before bracing against the walls on both sides to lower myself in a more controlled fashion to the canyon floor.
Once through the double dipper and still surprisingly dry it was a great walk through the remaineder of the slot with just a few smaller drops to negotiate
When I reached the end of the canyon I heard a shout from above, it was an old guy called Stan who I'd met in the car park as I set out today shouting down to see if that was me in the canyon. I climbed back up to the forest trail and walked out the last 4km with Stan, he was great company and we swapped tales as we made our way back to the Little Elbow Campground.
I really enjoyed this fairly gentle hike, although 10 miles over loose rocks leaves you aware you've done it. The canyon was great and I even managed to stay dry through all my clamoring about, I think I'll be back along here soon.