The beautiful bonsai tree at Fairy Lake glows amidst the warm autumn colours. Port Renfrew, BC.
Landscape
The Golden Hinde – Vancouver Island's Tallest Peak
The Golden Hinde. At 2,195 metres (7,200 feet), it’s the tallest peak on Vancouver Island.
Rising from the rugged heart of Strathcona Park, this summit is composed of ancient volcanic rock known as the Karmutsen Formation – basalt that erupted over 200 million years ago when this land lay beneath the ocean.
Getting there isn’t easy, though. Most routes involve 50+ kilometres of hiking over five days, with exposed scrambling along the way. Not for the faint of heart!
I haven’t made the trek myself (yet), but drop a note below if you’ve taken in the view from the island’s highest point!
Volcano Lake ~ Strathcona Park
Like a sapphire set in stone, Volcano Lake shimmers deep within Strathcona Park.
Despite its name and crater-like shape, this alpine gem was sculpted not by fire, but by ice.
Carved by ancient glaciers, the cirque forms a dramatic bowl that now cradles the lake. Perched at roughly 1,300 metres and surrounded by rugged peaks like Puzzle Mountain, it remains one of the park’s most remote and awe-inspiring alpine lakes.
Pretty incredible peering into its dark blue eye from above! 🏔️
Tzela Lake ~ Strathcona Park
The turquoise waters of Tzela Lake shine like a heart-shaped jewel amid the rugged mountains of Strathcona Park 🩵
Almost candy-like in tone (rocket freezies?), the lake gets its creamy blue colour from “rock flour”, fine glacial silt suspended in meltwater.
Flanked by The Red Pillar and perched at 1,100 metres, the lake sits deep within the park. Be prepared for a long and challenging hike if you plan to visit. Getting a fly-by view was certainly the easier route! 🛩️
Sydney River Valley – Clayoqout Sound
On the western edge of Clayoquot Sound lies the Sydney River Valley, a fully intact rainforest watershed at the head of Sydney Inlet.
The steep, dramatic walls of Sydney Inlet have been protected since 1995 as one of Vancouver Island’s most striking fjord landscapes. But beyond the inlet, tucked deeper inland, lies an even greater rarity: an intact, roadless old-growth valley stretching unbroken from tideline to mountaintop. The Sydney River in Ahousaht territory is one of only five unlogged primary watersheds over 5,000 hectares remaining on western Vancouver Island — the rarest of the rare. Originally, there were 60.
The Sydney River is a true rainforest jewel, home to towering ancient trees and extraordinary biodiversity. The valley provides critical nesting habitat for the threatened Marbled Murrelet, supports rich runs of spawning salmon, and shelters black bears, cougars, & coastal wolves. It also harbours one of the rarest plants in Canada: the dwarf or Hibberson’s trillium (Trillium hibbersonii). Found in just seven sites across the country, three of them within the Sydney Inlet/River, this tiny, delicate flower stands as a powerful emblem of this vast rainforest.
For decades, the valley’s fate hung in the balance. While the steep fjord walls and estuary were protected in the existing provincial park, the expansive valley forests remained unprotected and at risk. In 2024, after years of advocacy, much of the watershed was permanently protected within the Kiišḥniqʷus Conservancy thanks to the leadership of the Ahousaht and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and support from the BC government. In total, 10 new conservancies were established in Clayoquot Sounds/, protecting 760 km² of land, marking a monumental victory for old-growth conservation.
Although few will ever set foot in this remote valley, it is reassuring to know that its ancient forests and wild creatures will continue to thrive, as they have for thousands of years — a reminder of hope in a difficult time for biodiversity worldwide.
Before visiting Ahousaht territory in Clayoquot Sound, be sure to see the Maaqutusiis Hahoutlhee Stewardship Society (MHSS) for information and stewardship fees.
New Print: Fro'zen ~ Fairy Lake
The famous tree at Fairy Lake dusted in snow during winter. With its zen-like presence, this little tree stands as a symbol of resilience, beauty, and peace—things we could all use more of right now.
Fro'zen
from CA$75.00
Port Renfrew in the Snow – A Winter Wonderland
Here are some snowy scenes from around Port Renfrew, Fairy Lake, and the San Juan Valley in Pacheedaht territory in February 2025. It’s rare for this much snow to fall and then stick around without melting for a while. The island is a winter wonderland right now!
Northern Lights Victoria, BC ~ October 2024
The northern lights paint the night sky in a dreamy technicolour display. On October 10th, Victoria was treated to another intense aurora showing in what has been an epic year so far. Walking through the misty oak meadow after dark was surreal, with the tree tops looking more like acacia trees in the African savanna than something from around here. Standing under the silhouetted branches, the aurora came alive, with bands of teal blooming overhead washed with warm hues of pinky reds. Impossible to capture were the rapid white pulses that looked like clouds flying by at light speed. Eventually, I found myself on a beach watching the show on my own at two or three AM. What a beautiful universe we live in!
