Landscape

Exploration: Hiking 50-40 Peak near Port Alberni

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In August 2016, my partner and I joined a couple of good friends to climb 50-40 Peak (elevation: 5039 ft / 1536 m) about 45 minutes beyond Port Alberni on southern Vancouver Island. It turned out to be an incredibly beautiful and wild place to explore, with stunning views of the nearby mountains like Triple Peak, Cats Ear, and Pogo Mountain. On day 1, with temps in the mid-’30s, we hiked the steep trail from the logging road up through the young forest and into old-growth, before reaching the stunning Cobalt Lake after about 1.5 hours. There’s no better sight to see than those cool, crystal-blue waters after a hot climb like that! We swam, cooked dinner, swatted mosquitoes (SO MANY!), watched the sunset, and camped overnight alongside the lake. The following morning we woke up early to see a beautiful sunrise bathing the spires of Triple Peak in a pinkish-red hue while clouds flowed through the valley below. After asking a big black bear to please head in the other direction as it wandered down the valley toward our camp, we ate breakfast and hiked the last 1.5 hours to the summit. The views from here were some of the most breathtaking panoramas I’ve ever seen on the island! If you’re looking for a highly rewarding day hike or over overnight camp, I’d definitely recommend this trail. Though it doesn't take too long, it does get quite steep in sections so hiking experience and a good level of fitness are recommended. A 4x4 vehicle with good clearance is also necessary to access the trailhead to Cobalt Lake. For more detailed info on the trails see: http://www.summitpost.org/50-40-peak/558245 Below are some photos from our journey!

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Carmanah Valley Research Climb 2016

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Over the July 16-17 weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to join a team of professional tree climbers and a UBC research student in the Carmanah Valley and photograph their endeavors.

The aim of the tree climbing project was to assist UBC Forest and Conservation Sciences Student, Vincent Hanlon in his somatic mutation research of Sitka spruce tre DNA. The climbing team, consisting of Jamz Luce, Matthew Beatty, and Ryan Murphy, used low-impact rope techniques to access and sample the highest possible new growth points in each tree, record specific sample location data, and to measure both the sample height and ultimate tree height. Over the course of 7 days they ascended 23 trees that averaged heights of 75 meters or 250ft, with the tallest (and largest by volume) measuring in at 84 meters tall. Their skills among the tree tops and dedication to helping further conservation and research efforts is something to behold. Trees were also accurately measure for submission to the BC Big Tree Registry.

The feeling of beginning on the forest floor, slowly ascending up the towering trunk of a centuries-old tree, before reaching the upper canopy at over 250ft in the air with panoramic views of a fully intact valley is an experience that truly defies words. It's humbling and beautiful beyond imagination. I can only hope that the photos captured here do it some justice. 

Thank you again to Vincent Hanlon, Jon Degner and Sally Aitkin at UBC Forestry for this rare and extraordinary opportunity and to the climbers for once again making access to this rarely-seen world possible.

Snapshot: Sunset over Port Renfrew Marina

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May and June have been incredibly busy months for me. I've been away from home almost non-stop which has meant little time for updates! Most of my time has been spent in Port Renfrew working on the construction of the Avatar Boardwalk, guiding writers and travelers to the various ancient forests, filming with drones, and exploring some new areas myself! At the end of a grey day last weekend I was treated to an incredible surprise sunset. Nice to see such rich colour out there :)

Exploration: Cheewhat Lake & Carmanah Valley 2016

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Over the May 14/15 weekend, three friends and I packed the van and made the dusty four-hour drive out to the Cheewhat Lake/Carmanah Valley region to pay visit to many of the country's largest trees. Around Cheewhat Lake grows Canada's largest tree, the Cheewhat Giant, along with the 3rd, 4th, and probably more of the largest western redcedars known. Thankfully, these are protected within the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. I had never visited the giant cedar at the north end of Cheewhat Lake before. It was bit of mission to get there as well as the road along Doobah Lake was quite grown in and the trailhead was nearly invisible but in the end we found it and boy was it worth it!! Such an immense tree!! The GPS coordinates for Canada's 3rd largest redcedar at the north end of Cheewhat Lake are: 48.70070, -124.75124 The trailhead is: 48.70175, -124.75104. The trail begins in second-growth before entering incredible old-growth that includes some unique culturally modified trees and ends at the lake. Near the Cheewhat Giant (GPS: 48.69395, -124.74459) we also found the remains of a half finished canoe in the forest. This forest, and the many giants it harbours, must be my favourite place on Vancouver Island.

The trip also included a visit to the breathtaking Sitka spruce groves found in the Carmanah Valley. Such a timeless place. Not far from the parking lot we also spotted an new giant cedar that was almost 40ft around! Sometimes the big trees are hiding in plain sight just waiting for people to find them. Felt great to get some bushwhacking in as well and rekindle the drive to start looking for new record size trees that may still reside in the dense rainforest landscapes of Vancouver Island! Now that the BC Big Tree Registry is online, it's also easier than ever to nominate new discoveries. See: http://bcbigtree.ca/

I'm forever grateful for the legacy left by the late Randy Stoltmann and amazed by the many big tree discoveries he made. Tragically, he passed away in an avalanche in the early 90's at age 31 - the same age as me. I can't help but wonder what it would it would be like if he were alive today. What questions one might ask him. What new discoveries he might have made in the last 20 years. He left behind such beautiful tales of explorations and is and true inspiration to all lovers of wilderness. We can still visit and enjoy the Carmanah Valley today in large part because of him, and for that and more I extend my greatest thanks.

Snapshot: Incredible Clouds Over Victoria, BC

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Here are some images of the incredible clouds and sunset in Victoria tonight as seen from Summit Park. It's pretty rare to see mammatus clouds and other stormy type patterns but the hot humid weather today put on quite the show! Wish we had unique and interesting weather like this here more often!

Snapshot: Amazing Rainbow near Port Renfrew

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While filming with a documentary crew in Port Renfrew last week, we saw one of the most incredibly vibrant rainbows that any of us had seen before. It appeared to be emanating right from the heart of the ancient forests on Edinburgh Mountain, the largest intact area of old-growth forest in the region, which we took as a sign of hope and good fortune. It doesn't get much more magical than that!

Avatar Grove in Winter

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Winter is one of the most beautiful and dramatic times of the year to explore ancient forests. During a visit to the Avatar Grove near Port Renfrew last week, an enchanting layer of fog and glowing light was softly sifting through the forest. It's hard to capture that truly magic feeling one experiences in person. So find time if you can and head out into the woods to lose yourself in winter wonder.

Capturing the Coast - 2016

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Here's the slideshow I created for Raincoast Education Society's second annual Capturing the Coast photo event in Tofino. It includes images of the many magnificent places I've visited along the west coast of Vancouver Island from Sooke to the Brooks Peninsula and everywhere in between. However, it also highlights the reality that some of these incredible areas are sadly still endangered - a fact I feel can't be ignored. The coastal landscapes of Vancouver Island are among the most beautiful and precious on planet Earth. Let's do all that we can to keep them that way. Music: Gidge - Norrland (https://atomnation.bandcamp.com/album/autumn-bells) Greatest of thanks to Nick Temos at Pacific Northwest Collective for providing the aerial flights as well.

Here's the slideshow I created for Raincoast Education Society's Capturing the Coast 2016 photo event in Tofino! It includes images of the many magnificent places I've visited along the west coast of Vancouver Island from Sooke to the Brooks Peninsula and everywhere in between. It also highlights however the reality that some of these incredible areas are sadly still endangered - a fact that I feel can't be ignored. The coastal landscapes of Vancouver Island are among the most beautiful and precious on planet Earth. Let's do all that we can to keep them that way. *Be sure to watch full screen with sound.