Deep in a rather remote area of Vancouver Island cedar boardwalks meander through a grove of the largest trees found in Canada. Getting here is no small task and the trails overall are in very poor condition. For me, that is part of the allure. Walking through the overgrown bush amongst truly giant trees makes you feel so small and insignificant. The cawing of ravens or hooting of barred owls hidden within the canopy only occasionally breaks the beautifully eerie silence of these magnificent forests. Every time I make a trip out to the Island I always set aside a day or two to spend some time here. I find myself always excited to come photograph this area, but once I hike into the thick of the grove I struggle to take a photo that even comes close to doing this place justice. This is just one of those kind of places that must be seen in person to admire in its fullest.
Countless streams and rivers cascade over the moss covered limestone carving out canyons and waterfalls as they flow through the dense vegetation of the temperate rainforests of Vancouver Island. Gems like this are commonplace for those willing to explore off the beaten path. The love I have for the island grows stronger and stronger after every trip I make here. I could happily spend a lifetime exploring every nook and cranny of this magical place.
Located on the western coast of Vancouver Island, this tucked away gem off a popular beach is far from secret nowadays. During my time in the area, I thought I would take a few minutes and show my little girl the canyon for the first time and let her discover the waterfall within. Unsurprisingly she was enamored with the place and how hidden it was to the unsuspecting beach goers. To her it felt so special, like it was made for us, and only us. While she was petting every slug that stuck to the watered down moss covered walls I decided to take a few minutes and try to get a shot that was a little different than the norm. In reality, the options for shots are rather limited in here and the only choices that presented were the obvious, or the obvious. The Maiden Hair Ferns however, kept catching my eye so I decided to focus my perspective on the plants that call these walls home, rather than the waterfall. I’m not sure this shot is anything different than what every other photographer has taken here, but I like to think it is. Either way, we had a great time exploring what was familiar to me, but new and magical to my little girl.
