Forests

Black Bear Cub Climbing a Tree

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Cuteness alert! A baby black bear climbs a tree! 🐻🌲

This little cub on the west coast of Vancouver Island was likely born inside the hollow heart of an ancient redcedar, a favourite maternity den for mother bears in this region.

Newborn black bears are among the smallest mammals in proportion to their mothers. This cub likely weighed about 300 grams (just over half a pound) at birth, roughly one three-hundredth the size of its mother. These blind, nearly hairless little jellybeans stay in the den with their mother for 2–3 months before emerging as playful, fuzzy cubs.

Trees continue to provide safety as the cubs grow. At the first sign of danger, mother bears will send their babies scrambling up a tree trunk or use trees as a safe place for cubs while she forages nearby. In spring, black bears also visit hemlock trees like this one for a sugary treat, stripping away the outer bark of young hemlocks to feast on the sweet cambium when the sap starts to flow.

Thankfully, we got a surprise view of this little cutie from a distance without meeting Mom and then carried on our way. You never know what you might stumble upon while exploring old-growth forests! 🥾

Sydney River Valley – Clayoqout Sound

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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.

Port Renfrew in the Snow – A Winter Wonderland

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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!

My TEDxVictoria Talk: One Last Shot to Protect Old-Growth Forests in British Columbia

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I’m excited to share my TEDxVictoria talk, “One Last Shot to Protect Old-Growth Forests in British Columbia.” It is a visual journey through my work as a conservation photographer, big tree hunter, and National Geographic Explorer.

Like the famed TED Talks, TEDx events host speakers who highlight new ideas, challenges, or perspectives, but on a local level. This year’s theme was "It's up to us.”

I’ve done many talks over the years, but none made me as nervous as this one. How do you convey a topic as complex as old-growth forests and your life's mission to protect them in just 15 minutes? It's a lot of pressure – especially on a stage in front of 700 people! The opportunity to share my message, photos, and story with such a large audience, including the global reach that TEDx offers (40 million+ subscribers!), was too important to pass up on, though.

I’ve dedicated the past 15 years with Ancient Forest Alliance to exploring and documenting endangered old-growth forests in BC to help see them saved. From uncovering groves of ancient giants to trudging up steep mountainsides or slogging through soaked clearcuts, it's been a beautiful and, many times, heartbreaking journey.

It was an honour to share this story on the TEDxVictoria stage. I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please help expand its reach by sharing it with friends and family to help raise further awareness. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enF8Zf4EPNg

Congrats to the other terrific speakers, and thanks to the event organizers for including me, plus everyone's encouragement along the way!

Image of Giant Old-Growth Cedar Receives Award in Earth Photo 2024 Contest

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The awarded image, Flores Island Cedar, features an enormous redcedar tree I found – perhaps the most impressive tree in Canada – with Tyson Atleo, an Indigenous Hereditary Representative of the local Ahousaht people, standing at the base of the tree, providing a sense of scale.

I’m thrilled and honoured to have received an award in Earth Photo 2024, an international photography contest currently on display at the Royal Geographical Society in London, UK. My image, titled Flores Island Cedar, features a gargantuan redcedar tree – perhaps the most impressive tree in Canada – with friend Tyson Atleo, a Hereditary Representative of the local Ahousaht people, standing next to the tree’s base, providing a sense of scale.

The contest, which saw over 1900 entries from around the world and 11 award winners, celebrates photography and moving images that tell compelling stories about our planet, its inhabitants, its beauty, resilience and fragility. The winning images have attracted international attention, with high-profile features in The Guardian & CNN and locally in the Times Colonist.

Amazingly, the award announcement happened within 24 hours of the biggest old-growth protected areas victory in decades when, earlier last week, the leadership of the Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, and BC NDP government declared the protection of 76,000 hectares of land in new conservancies in Clayoquot Sound near Tofino, BC. Most of the lands committed for protection are comprised of some of the grandest and most intact coastal old-growth temperate rainforests on Earth, including this ancient tree.

It’s not always the case that the forests featured in my photographs have a happy ending. But in this case, I’m so grateful that they do. The tree pictured is the largest one I’ve ever found in nearly 20 years of searching for big trees in BC. It’s more than 17 ft (5 m) wide near its base, 151 ft (46 m) tall, & likely well over a thousand years old, given its size.

I extend my deepest gratitude to the Ahousaht & Tla-o-qui-aht people for their conservation vision and leadership. A special thanks to Tyson and the Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Guardians for their time spent with me in the woods.

See the other winning and shortlisted photos here: www.earthphoto.world/2024-shortlist-exhibition

If you’re considering exploring the lands and waters of Ahousaht territory in Clayoquot Sound, be sure to check out the Maaqutusiis Hahoutlhee Stewardship Society website for information on planning your trip: https://mhssahousaht.ca/


Climbing the Largest Spruce Tree in the Carmanah Valley

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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!

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

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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!

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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?