Climbing the Largest Spruce Tree in the Carmanah Valley

in ,

I'm excited to share that we have located, climbed, and measured the largest spruce tree in the Carmanah Valley!

The record-sized tree — whose mammoth trunk forks into multiple stems reminiscent of the multi-headed hydra of Greek mythology — grows protected within the Carmanah-Walbran Provincial Park in Ditidaht territory on Vancouver Island.

The tree was identified by myself and Ian Thomas of Ancient Forest Alliance while exploring the Carmanah Valley in the spring of 2022 and climbed later in the fall with the help of professional arborists with Bartlett Tree Experts. The images are being released for the first time today to celebrate Earth Week.

The monumental spruce measures 12.9 ft (3.89 m) wide near its base, 233 ft (71 m) tall, and has an average crown spread of 72 ft (22 m). This makes it the largest tree in the Carmanah Valley overall (despite the famed Carmanah Giant being taller) and the fourth-largest spruce tree on record in BC, according to the BC Big Tree Registry.

This giant is the most spectacular Sitka spruce tree we’ve come across in our decades-long search for big trees in BC. As huge as they seem from the ground, we often only see a third of a giant tree, which can extend hundreds of more feet into the air. Climbing into the canopy of this ancient tree was like entering a lost world. Its limbs were adorned with moss & ferns, and its massive trunk kept dividing into what appeared to be a grove of trees amongst itself. Eventually, we were rewarded with a stunning view over the Carmanah Valley, more than 20 stories in the air!

This climbing project was part of my work as a National Geographic Explorer with support from the Trebek Initiative. We extend our greatest thanks to the team at Bartlett Tree Experts as well for donating their skills and expertise to make this climb possible.

All climbing and filming done with permission from local governments. Low-impact techniques ensured the tree was protected.

See the Ancient Forest Alliance press release for the full story, and be sure to send an instant message calling for the protection of old-growth forests in BC.

See the incredible video of the climb below!

Finished Artwork for Sale

in

For those interested in purchasing a print that’s ready to hang, I’ve just added a few finished works to my store. These prints are mounted on aluminum die-bond, which makes the print appear to “float” off the wall. There is no glass, so there is no glare, which makes them great for bright areas. Local pickup in Victoria is free. For shipping costs elsewhere, please contact me at prints@tjwatt.com. Thanks!

Tidal Trees

in ,

Are you looking at a painting? A sketch? Or something even more incredible?

These “trees” were, in fact, all created naturally as water slowly trickled through grains of sand on the beach at Pachena Bay near Bamfield. While walking along the shore this past weekend, I was blown away by what appeared to be perfect drawings of trees beneath my feet. Big swirling trunks and branches arose, dotted with knots and other details. The combination of light and dark sands even made for accurate shading. Beyond individual trees, there were even whole “groves” of giants! I’ve seen simpler versions before, but nothing as detailed and realistic as this. Mother Nature never fails to impress.

Have you noticed these "sand" or "tidal" trees before? Whereabouts?

Presenting at the Kennedy Center in DC on "The Search for the World’s Biggest Trees"

in , ,

I was thrilled to be invited to the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, to share photos and speak on The Search for the World’s Biggest Trees! This was part of REACH to FOREST, a two-week event blending art, science, and culture in the nation’s capital. Long-time friend and forest ecologist Andy MacKinnon also presented as part of the Big Tree Hunters Party.

After that, we had a few days to tour the city! DC is an impressive and friendly place with 17 of the 20 National Smithsonian Museums. The Natural History Museum was unbelievable! Highly recommend visiting if you're in the area.

A big thanks to the festival organizers for bringing us out there and helping raise international awareness of the importance of old-growth forests in BC.

Hair Ice - This Rare Phenomenon Only Appears When Conditions Are Just Right!

in ,

Hidden among the rainforests of BC you can find wonders of ephemeral beauty and minute delicacy, and few of these are stranger or lovelier than the phenomenon of hair ice.

Also known as “frost beard” or “ice wool”, hair ice appears only on dead deciduous wood when the temperatures are hovering just below zero degrees and when the air is humid. At first, it looks like a silvery moss or fungus, but a closer inspection shows instead a mass of fine icy filaments. These are incredibly slender, about .02 mm in diameter. Densely packed, they form a pearly cloud of ice. The slightest touch of a warm finger or even a breath will dissolve this fragile sculpture like cotton candy on the tongue.

But where does it come from? This magical winter phenomenon, like so much that is strange and mystical in forest ecology, is associated with a particular species of fungus: a jelly fungus called Exidiopsis effusa.

Under ideal weather conditions, a process called “ice segregation” occurs. This is when water freezes on the outside of dead wood, sandwiching a thin film of water between this ice and the wood pores. At this “ice front”, water is then drawn up through the wood pores towards the ice surface, where it freezes and adds to the existing ice. Lignin and tannin from the fungus are found in the ice and are thought to work as a sort of anti-freeze, inhibiting the delicate ice from recrystallizing into coarser structures and helping stabilize their unique shape for hours.

Because hair ice is associated with a specific fungus inside the wood, the same pieces may produce hair ice year after year. Around Vancouver Island, these are commonly the dead branches of alder trees. If you are lucky enough to find it, take careful note of the exact spot as you may be able to repeat the encounter, even several years later, when the conditions are once again just right!

Have you seen this rare phenomenon before?

Pacific Storm - December 2023

in

A massive swell slammed into the coast from California to Alaska on December 28th, bringing with it monster waves of epic proportions. Swell heights off the west coast of Vancouver Island, where these were shot, reached 20 feet/6 meters. It’s such a raw and powerful experience to witness this explosive energy up close. The roars resulting from millions of litres of water moving with an incomprehensible amount of force are ferocious. They’re balanced by the delicate wisps and hiss of spray that kiss the air. It can hard to grasp the scale of the waves in these pictures but the biggest could have swallowed a small house. See the seagulls in some shots for scale

PSA: Always respect the forces of Mother Nature and keep yourself safe if venturing out in extreme conditions. Having experience with specific locations is important for better predicting safe shooting/viewing zones. Watch out for rogue waves, rolling logs, and flying debris. Never turn your back on the ocean and always have an escape plan. Then enjoy the show!

Washington Post: "'Freak of Nature' Tree is the Find of a Lifetime for Forest Explorer"

in , ,

Amazing!! See major US news coverage in The Washington Post featuring the giant redcedar tree I located on Flores Island in Clayoquot Sound, BC, Ahousaht territory. Hear thoughts and perspectives about the tree and conservation from Ahousaht Hereditary Representative Tyson Atleo as well.

The Ahousaht First Nation is at the forefront of old-growth protection in BC, with plans to protect the majority of their territory with several Provincial Conservancies which they are asking the province to legislate. This legal designation protects First Nations subsistence uses (hunting, fishing, foraging, cultural cedar use), co-management authority, and rights and title to the land. The Ahousaht land-use vision is also a great example of how conservation financing can support new legislated protected areas that protect old-growth forests while fostering sustainable, conservation-based economies that include businesses like the new Ahous Adventures.

The story was also featured in The Independent UK as well: Rare tree hunter in Canada finds ‘freak of nature’ 1,000-year-old cedar

Sea Wolves Howling on the West Coast of BC

in , ,

*Sound On* This encounter with wolves was one of the most magical moments of my life. We’d been walking down a remote beach off the west coast of Vancouver Island when up ahead we saw a pack playfully bounding through the intertidal zone and across the driftwood logs. Stopping a good distance away, we watched and waited our turn in awe of these beautiful creatures. One by one they left the beach, leaving one last wolf that started to howl. Soon the whole forest lit up with howls from all around, including from behind us where we hadn’t noticed any animals before.

It’s hard to put into words how powerful and primal an experience this was. Many in our group were brought to tears and I still get goosebumps listening to it again.

Eventually, the last wolf slipped back into the woods, and just like that they vanished, merging with the wilds which they call home.