We forget sometimes the everyday power and ordinary wonder of immersing ourselves in the natural world. It’s a possibility, an opportunity, that is nearly always available to us. Authentic experiences of nature don’t require an epic excursion into the wilderness for days on end, into apparently pristine surroundings where all evidence of human incursion has … Continue reading
Tagged with Hiking …
Licorice Fern: A Buried Candy Store
As the winter season approaches, it may seem like the time for fresh plant life is over. Not so. While we may not be enjoying the same leafy profusion brought by those April showers (though truthfully, here on the West Coast they’re not always so very distinct from the January showers, the July showers, or … Continue reading
Ask Away! 10 Key Vancouver Island Forums
If you’ve got a particular outdoor activity in mind, sometimes the best thing to do before heading out is ask advice or snag some tips from the local experts. Here are a few suggestions for Vancouver Island discussion forums covering various outdoor adventures and activities. If you’re wondering about trail conditions in a particular area, … Continue reading
Have You Met Elk Falls Yet?
Confession: I have a deep and abiding fascination with waterfalls. On any road or hiking trip I take, if there’s any chance of working a waterfall into the mix, it’s got to be done. I love the sound of the rushing water, and its powerful plunge over a cliff edge or gentle tumble down a … Continue reading
Encountering the Ancient Trees of Avatar Grove
What better way to inaugurate a blog celebrating the dynamic nature of West Coast life than with an excursion to Avatar Grove, a recently discovered old-growth forest site on southwest Vancouver Island? Discovering Avatar Grove Avatar Grove was discovered by local environmental activists in the winter of 2009. Awed by the beauty and rich history … Continue reading