Day 11: Sitka's Indian River Trail

Today, we tackled what we estimated would be our longest (in time and in distance) hike of the trip. The walk to Indian River Falls was an easy climb, only 700 vertical feet over 4.5 miles one-way. Our references estimated a 4-hour hike each way. The trail meanders along the Indian River for several miles before climbing up through the terminal rain forest of hemlock roots, loose rock, and swampy mangrove-type areas. I don't think they are considered true mangroves because of the type of vegetation and a hundred other criteria. If my friend Leigh Ann the wetland delineater were here, she could tell us.

The hemlock grow so tall and straight that even their lowest branches seemed to reach the sky. Many of them had enormous holes under them, as if all the trees were standing on the very tip top of their tippy toes to be taller than the next. Some holes were large enough for a person to squat or even stand under, but we didn't get any takers. Just in case the holes were being used by some other creature, I agreed that it was a good idea that we passed.

In muddy wetland areas where we might sink up to our knees, moss-covered boardwalks led the way. When we crossed the river and its tributaries, which we did several times, fallen trees had been converted into walkways, complete with sapling handrails. Before we even realized how long we had been on the trail, we started the slow, gradual ascent of the mountainside. And then we were there, at the base of Indian Falls, incredibly frigid snowcap runoff pouring out just inches from the end of the trail. Without even hesitating, we stripped off our shoes/boots and socks and waded across the calf-deep stream to a rock bar on the other side. It wasn't until we were halfway across that the temperature of the water truly sunk in, and it wasn't until we stepped from the water on the other side that our feet truly cursed us for what we had done to them. Even the smallest and smoothest of roots felt like daggers to our toes and heels. But the video I got as Josh crossed the stream made it all worth it. I'm trying to find a way to upload it. Stay tuned for a link...to somewhere??

A few of us were smart enough to bring our jackets and snacks with us, while others of us knew that warmth and sustenance meant walking back through the freezing water to the daggers that now awaited us on the other side of the stream. Our descent was quick, made even faster by a light drizzle of rain that coated the entire rain forest with a thick snot-like slippery coating. Oh, did I mention the super-sized slugs that we saw every few yards?

By the time we reached the trailhead, we had spent a total of 4 hours on the trail--not 8--and that included our 30-minute leisurely "swim" at the falls. What can I say--we're super hikers! Ha! Photos are on their way.