Just this past week I finally fulfilled my hopes of seeing the incredible temperate rainforests of the Olympic National Park in Washington. And what a trip it was! There's a reason why three million tourists come to see the giant trees in this park every year. Here at home the BC government has done virtually nothing to protect and promote our ancient forest heritage where some of the biggest trees on Earth grow on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland. We need to push the BC government to ensure green businesses and jobs based on sensitive old-growth eco-tourism, value-added, sustainable second-growth forestry, non-timber forest products, and a diversified low carbon economy. Here are a few photo highlights!
The magical Fairholme Maple found at the west end of Lake Crescent.
A Roosevelt elk feeds in a lush stream bed near a giant Sitka spruce tree. Hoh Rainforest.
Late for a meeting...
A straight row of spruce trees that started out on the same nurse log years and years ago. Hoh Rainforest.
The Duncan Memorial Cedar - 3rd largest in the world.
A spiraling, unicorn-horn-like cedar tree!
The Kalaloch Cedar - the craziest looking tree I've ever seen!
A beautiful slow-moving stream filled with vegetation and crystal clear water along the Maples Glades Trail. Quinault Rainforest.
Oxalis and fern vegetation with giant Sitka spruces. Maples Glades Trail.
The world's largest redcedar tree! Quinault Valley.
And the world's largest spruce tree! Quinault Valley.