Climbing Big Lonely Doug - Round 2

Two weeks ago I had the incredible opportunity to once again team up with members of the Arboreal Collective to ascend Big Lonely Doug, Canada’s second largest Douglas-fir tree! Working with climbers Matthew Beatty, Aaron Kinvig, Elliot Wright, and James Frystak, we managed to capture some awesome images and incredible drone footage of the climb. Photographers Martin Gregus Jr & Sr from the One 50 Canada Society were also present to shoot photos for a future book publication of theirs.

In order to get the first rope in place, the climbers use a 12-foot slingshot to launch a weighted line precisely over one of the top branches. Then, using techniques that allow you to climb the rope itself instead of the tree, they ascend skyward without impacting the tree. The experience is both exhilarating and humbling (and a lot of hard work). Definitely stands out as a highlight of my life!

Big Lonely Doug measures 66 m (216 ft) tall, 4 m (13 ft) wide, and 12 m (39 ft) around the base. It stands alone in a 2012 clearcut in Port Renfrew in Tree Farm Licence 46 held by the logging company Teal-Jones, in the unceded traditional territory of the Pacheedaht First Nation band. Big Lonely Doug is a clear example of both the incredible grandeur and terrible destruction of BC’s endangered old-growth forests. Click here for maps and stats on how little old-growth remains.

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.
 

Press: Tall trees turning Port Renfrew into tourist hot spot

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Earlier this week I toured the Port Renfrew region with CHEK News for a video about how old-growth forest tourism at the Avatar Grove, Big Lonely Doug, and other nearby ancient stands has transformed the local economy. Dan Hager, the Chamber of Commerce president, speaks up for a Tall Tree tourism economy, while Ken Wu and myself speak about the importance of saving the remaining old-growth forests. The news clip also features some of my drone footage from the Walbran Valley!

See video here: http://www.cheknews.ca/tall-tree-turning-port-renfrew-into-tourist-hot-spot-143533/

Exploration: Limestone Canyon in the Walbran Valley

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The dense, old-growth rainforests of Vancouver Island harbour unimaginable secrets. But even if you spent every moment of your life exploring them, you'd never unearth them all. That ceaseless mystery of what might lie around the next corner, over the next ridge, or up the next river, consumes my thoughts night and day. So with some time to spare this past Sunday, myself and a friend made the 3.5 hour journey out to visit the Walbran Valley. Arriving late in the day, we took off quickly down river to see a new grove of big trees and an immense log jam that were recently found by others just within the park boundaries. The log jam - which almost defies comprehension - is found in what you'd normally expect to be a small forest creek. This 'creek' however shows clear evidence that it turns into a raging torrent of flood water during intense winter rains. From there, we rock-hopped our way further upstream, and what we stumbled upon here was like nothing I have seen before. As the creek narrowed, the walls rose into a solid limestone canyon, sculpted into fascinating shapes by years of erosion and polished white by the flow of water and logs. Waterfalls gently cascaded into crystal clear pools while logs perched on ledges 20 feet high in the air stood as a subtle reminder of the hidden power of the creek. Visiting this remote area during a giant storm would be an experience to behold. But as the light began to fade we were forced to return home before venturing much further up the valley, leaving the mystery of what lies beyond to the imagination until the next opportunity to explore arises.

Flashback: Gordon River Valley 2009

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In today's digital age there's rarely a shortage of new content to share, but that being said, there's always 100 fold more tucked away in giant hard drives, likely never to see the light of day again. So, as a fun and interesting way to share forgotten photos, stories, and moments from years past, I'll be posting 'Flashbacks' from my archives each Friday.

This set of images here is from late 2009 when I'd bought my first 4wd vehicle, a Subaru Loyale wagon, for $1,500 and began exploring the south island's backroads in my spare time looking for big trees and big stumps. These shots are from up high on logging roads in the Gordon River Valley near Port Renfrew. I was definitely pushing it back in those days with the tiny tires on sharp rocks but curiosity will often take you much further than logic and reason. Watch for more photos and snippets from the past each week.

Looking down the Gordon River Valley towards Port Renfrew from the Bugaboo Main region. The valley bottom old-growth forest - where Big Lonely Doug now stands alone in a clearcut - is still visibly intact in the distant center of this photo. I can't help but think how incredible it would have been to have found it back then...

When In Doubt, Watch The Sunrise

I love winter, with its 8am sunrises and dramatic weather. My favourite way to start the day lately has been to bike to the ocean and watch the sun come up. You never quite know what you'll see. This morning it was just me and the seagull on some rocks watching the colours explode :)