Here is a link to the BC Ancient Forest.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/ancient-forest/
While cruising through the Park, we stopped for lunch at Pyramid Lake, a spot of romantic memories for Gord and Dianna. The sheltered structure, shown below, was constructed in 1933 as part of an unemployment relief project. Back in 1962 Gord carved their names into the post of this very structure, and guess what - their names are still there! So both the original structure and their relationship has stood the test of time!
After a lovely lunch of dill pickle soup and a crunchy slaw we were on our way, but not very far. One cannot go through Jasper with Dianna and Sonya without stopping to shop, of course. Then on to McBride.
All in all it was a very good day, and it took us a mere 8 1/2 hours to travel 555 kilometers! You calculate the average speed!
After supper, we took a drive to McBride Peak. Gord and I loved the drive, Dianna and Sonya, not so much!
The agent at the visitors' centre told us that the view from up top was magnificent:
Well, I am sure that he was right. Regrettably, the heavy smoke occluded the view of the valley and the townsite. Still, it was a beautiful spot. The drive up was long, bumpy, windy and steep, as the markers showed that we traveled 6 km up with 1,200 foot gain in elevation - almost needing the four wheel drive!
The ride down was a lot faster, much to the dismay of the ladies in the back of the truck!
One thing that the smoke did was create an interesting opportunity for the light to play with the scenery.
The next morning we were off to the Ancient Forest, a temperate rainforest, the prime objective for the trip.
As you may know, most temperate rainforests are found by the ocean. However, the Ancient Forest is 800 km from the ocean, and the only rainforest in the world found so far inland. It turns out the unique topography of the Colombia Mountain range to the west and the Rocky Mountains to the east produces the perfect conditions for creating a forest like no other in the world. As the storms cross the interior mountain ranges they create a major zone of high precipitation, which supports the growth of Western Red Cedars and Western Hemlock, far from the ocean.
What about the fires! Well, it is a rare sight to see a tree scared by fire. The year round moisture of the Ancient Forest keeps those giants free from the dramatic effects of surrounding fires. Even though the rare tree is struck by lightning the moist ground usually provides a barrier to fires spreading to the surrounding trees.
Walk along with us for a while!
This is The (Big) Tree of Life. It is a Western Red Cedar estimated to be as much as 2,000 years old. Because cedars often rot from their interior core, it makes it difficult to estimate its age. The tree is 16 feet in diameter (5 meters). For the math aficionados, that would make it about 50 feet (almost 16 meters) in circumference. There are larger cedars around, but not many!
Throughout the area, there is a plant called the Devil's Club. The leaves grows very large and are equipped with thousands of thorns on each plant - which serve to keep all visitors on the trail!
If you were to run through this stuff, it would first tear your pants to shreds and then go to work on your legs. The forest protects itself, it seems!
Gord and I had an engaging discussion about elevation and distance!
We were all reminded of a Hobbit-Hole here. It just needed a door!
Actually, these reddish buttress roots are thought to provide oxygen to below ground roots in very wet soils. The cambium, the layer of living tissue just under the bark, effectively acts as lungs for the roots before they enter the soil. In 2006 these roots were covered in mosses and lichens. But by 2015, the protective bark and vegetation on the buttress roots had been worn off by the feet of many visitors - not a good situation!
The only challenging part of the walk!
Like all typical tourists we each had to take our turns sitting on the inside of this fallen tree - but it does provide some perspective.
Dianna and Gord standing at the summit of the trail just down from the waterfall.
This picture provide yet another perspective on the size of the trees in the area.
Yet another big fellow!
At one point in the walk, Sonya said that it felt like we were in a walk on the fictitious planet in James Cameron's 3D movie Avatar.
We hope you add this idyllic spot to your want to see destinations.
The next day we took off on another journey of discovery: the Terracana Ranch Resort, local artisans up and down the highway to Valemount, the Valemount Train Museum and Tête Jaune Cache.
The Terracana Resort is situated on 500 acres bordering the Fraser River. We walked through the property and down to the river, where boys will be boys of course, regardless of age.
Next it was off to Valemount, where Sonya absolutely had to buy another wooden salad bowl from a local woodturner. He and other local artisans have adopted a unique way of doing business. If they are not home, their kiosk is open so that you can walk right in and pick what you like. They use an envelope and drop box honour system for payment, even having a little change bucket at hand in case you need change! What a refreshing way of doing business!
Next was Bryan Hannis the Potter (Just Earth Pottery), who uses the same honour system. Bryan was at his shop when we arrived, so we were able to have a chat.
When asked about the honour system, he said that he has never lost anything, even finding $1,500 in his unlocked honour box. He said that often, people don't even bother taking change, so he is actually ahead money!
Bryan related the story of how he came to have three kilns, as you can see above. He struck a deal with the U of A who were selling a couple of old kilns. However, the elevator company, Otis, would not let him take them out, even disassembled. An inventive solution was required. So Bryan struck a deal with the crane operator working at the U of A Butterdome (then under construction). Yup, the crane operator extracted the kilns through a balcony and dropped them right into Bryan's truck. A way better solution than a brick by brick removal by elevator. Lesson learned - obstacles and impediments can become a route to much better solutions!
After we left the potter we required a stop at the Swiss Bakery (skipping lunch because life is short and you should eat dessert first!), then it was off to the Valemount Railway Museum.
This place is full of historical memories, with a wonderful model railroad and three floors of memorabilia from: the mining pioneer days, WWII, stories about Japanese internment camps, and a caboose you get to check out first hand! This museum is a real little gem in this tiny town of a thousand citizens or so. If you are in Valemount, it is a great diversion!
We hope that our blog inspires you to go see the Ancient Forest and some of the nearby communities that border the Fraser River. May you enjoy crossing up and down the Fraser River as much as we have on this trip!
Until next time,
Dianna, Gord, Sonya & Paul
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