Many nature-loving, noise-hating outdoorspeople like myself dream of owning a remote, off-grid paradise in British Columbia. On paper, it sounds simple: a piece of raw land where you can build something out of Weird Homes: perhaps a cob house, or a hobbit house, an Earthship, or maybe just a simple cabin. Basically, a place where…
When you hike the same trail throughout the year, you begin to notice the rhythm of the land as the seasons pass around you. Mud turns to dry dirt, and leaves turn to barren branches. Wildlife, too, follows a cycle brought on by the turning of the earth as it follows its own trail around…
On the shores of Stave Lake lies a piece of old logging equipment, abandoned some decades past and left to moulder amongst the elements. Dubbed Rudy because of the name painted on the side, it was once a yarder used in logging operations in the area. Now a landmark for boaters as well as a…
Those who spend time in the forest come across all kinds of mysteries, from strange plants to puzzling animal tracks. One that hikers frequently come across is trees that appear to have been damaged, sometimes severely. The surprising thing is that some of the most severely damaged trees have been targeted by the smallest critters….
British Columbia is famed for its outdoor recreation, but people with disabilities still face significant barriers to accessing these experiences. Most of the province’s recreational infrastructure assumes that people are able-bodied. Spending time in nature plays a vital role in maintaining both physical and mental health. The Canadian Psychological Association notes improvements in attention span,…
As the cougar and I saw each other, I was suddenly very aware that I was deer-sized. It was on the shoreline below me, an embankment separating us. Typically, in wildlife encounters, an animal will run away from humans at first sight, but not this cougar. Instead, it casually strode towards me. In doing so,…
Hikers venturing into BC’s subalpine areas will inevitably encounter the whiskey jack, Canada’s beloved, cheeky jay. Unafraid of humans, they’re happy to land on an outstretched hand in search of food. These smiley, friendly, inquisitive little birds are irresistibly lovable, and the highlight of many a hike. It’s perhaps fitting that the whiskey jack was…
There is always chatter on the VHF radio up at the top of Johnstone Strait, off the northeast tip of Vancouver Island. The whale watching community in the area is a tight-knit one. If ever there was a whole lot of talk on the radio, it was a good indication that something was up. It…
The humpback whale’s breath reeked of dead and rotting fish. I wasn’t supposed to be that close, and I always taught my clients the same rules when it came to respecting whales. It was the summer of 2006, and I was working as a kayak guide off northern Vancouver Island. It was easy to follow…
My trail of choice isn’t necessarily my favourite, but it’s pretty, quiet, and convenient, shared only with a couple of other regulars and the birds and squirrels. Unless, of course, it’s New Year’s resolution season or mushroom foraging season. In the autumn, this area is a favourite of mushroom pickers. I took up mushroom foraging…
