Magnificent Elk Falls
Elk Falls
One thing that I love about living on Vancouver Island is the proximity of wilderness. I live in town, but it doesn’t take long to get out into nature; rivers, mountains, waterfalls, primeval rainforest and great beaches are all close at hand.
Whenever I go to Campbell River I am impressed with the number of hiking trails that are only a few minutes from the city center. Elk Falls Provincial Park is certainly high on the list. The park’s 1087 hectares encompass a huge area, and feature a 122 site campground and a network of hiking trails including Quinsam River Trail, Kingfisher and Beaver Pond Trail, Canyon View Trail and Millennium Trail.
One of the park’s gems is Elk Falls, the park’s namesake, which plummets 25 metres into a deep, rocky gorge. According to the book Edge of Discovery (a history of Campbell River by Isenor, Stephens and Watson) the park was established in 1940. Prior to being declared a park, the area housed a camp for reforestation efforts. The “Great Fire” of 1938 narrowly missed the park, burning a swath of land that stretched from north of Campbell River south to the Courtenay area, almost reaching Comox Lake. Continue reading »
Take a “Wild” Flower Walk
Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum)
“Spring is definitely here,” I think, letting the little one run ahead of me down the path as I take in the fresh greenery and colourful wildflowers, while listening to a burst of melodious bird song. Today, we are heading out to see some of April’s finest flowers, and my two-year-old son Alden has volunteered as my spotter. We’re keeping a tally of the flowers we see, and making a few notes about the colours of the petals, shapes of the leaves, and general habitat.
The first flower we happen upon is the showy western trillium (Trillium ovatum). Trillium means “in threes” which is appropriate, since the trillium has three leaves and three petals. The broad green leaves, each with a drip-tip for our rainforest climate, are positioned about half way up the stem. The petals are white, but turn pink or purple with age. Peek into the flower’s center, and you will see the golden-yellow anthers laden with pollen. After flowering trilliums produce berry-like capsules, and each seed has an oil-rich appendage that is loved by ants. In carrying the seeds back to their nests, ants effectively disperse the seeds. Trilliums grow in moist woodlands near streams. Since the blooms often coincides with the arrival Robins, trilliums are also known as “wake robins.” Continue reading »
All About Ants
Thatching Ants (Formica spp.) become active in the Spring.
For many years now there has been a mounded ant’s nest on my mother’s property. During the winter months, birds peck and scratch at the nest looking for an easy snack. In the early spring, the ants begin to emerge, moving slowly. As things heat up, the nest becomes a teeming mass of ants in a frenzy of activity. These thatching ants (Formica spp.) are red and black and have never caused my family any trouble. Continue reading »
Beachcombing with Kids
A Collection of Beach Glass
On the weekend, we often take the kids up to “Granny’s house” at Miracle Beach. When we get there, our 2-year-old son Alden heads straight down to the beach. Who needs toys? The beach has everything a toddler needs. Pebbles, seaweed, shells, crabs, sticks of driftwood and other flotsam and jetsam keep Alden fully occupied. It’s not only fun, but educational too. We talk about the colours, textures and shapes of the objects that we find, and Alden loves to count and sort things into various piles. Continue reading »
Discovering Beach Pebbles
Assorted Pebbles rest on a Bed of Sandstone
I was walking on the beach on a sunny afternoon, listening to the repetitive sound of the waves and the slight crunching sound of my footsteps sinking into the pebbles. “People have stories, but do rocks?” I wondered out loud. I looked down at the pebbles, worn smooth and round by wave action and realized that all of these rocks must have come from somewhere, and may have traveled some distance to arrive at my feet.
Each pebble is remarkably unique. They may be striped, speckled, patterned or plain, and come in a range of colours: black, white, grey, brown, green, purple, pinkish and dull red. Surface textures vary also, some are smooth and fine-grained and others are rough or pitted. I often see people picking up pebbles, so I figure there must be others who find them as compelling as I do. Continue reading »