Rock on a Pillar, Juan de Fuca Trail
Posted by: 
arby101ca
N 48° 27.258 W 124° 11.150
10U E 412322 N 5367475
Rock on a Pillar is the local name for this naturally balanced rock at the west end of Bear Beach along the Juan de Fuca Marine trail
Waymark Code: WMPCRD
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 08/10/2015
Views: 8
This balanced rock is a classic example of differential erosion. The strata of the rock is more resistant than the underlying pillar. Along this section of the trail similar erosion of the lower strata has formed cliffs over 50 m high. The rock is about 4 meters in diameter. This balanced rock has survived many winter storms major earthquakes and tsunamis through its geological lifetime. The last megathrust earthquake of the Cascadia Fault was in 1701 and the next is due as they occur every 300 to 500 years.
The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is a 47 km trail along the rugged BC west coast. The trail is along beaches where possible but cliffs and headlands force hikers to climb through the woods of giant cedars Douglas Fir and Sitka Spruce. The trail is primarily used by backpackers as access for day hikers is limited due to cliffs. The trailhead is the China beach day use area, 35 km west of Sooke. The trail descends to Mystic beach along the beach and up into the woods to km 8 where it descends at Rosemond Creek to Bear Beach. Rock hopping for three km along the cobble of Bear Beach brings you to "Rock on a Pillar". Here at Ledingham Creek the trail ascends for the rugged section past the Magdelena Point. The 11 km hike from the trailhead typically takes 4 to 5 hours so Bear Beach is a popular overnignt camping location before the challenging 12 km hike over Magdalena Point to Chin Beach.
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