I’ve wanted to try snowshoeing for a while now, and so a last minute trip up to Mount Washington in Strathcona Provincial Park afforded the opportunity. I got the rest of the family settled into their respective activities and set off to the Nordic Centre to pick up my gear. On the suggestion of the very kind staff, I set off from Raven Lodge to combine Old Cabin Loop train along with Crooked Creek Trail.
I was surprised by how easy it was to get used to the snowshoes, but it was pretty simple and I was moving along at a good pace, stopping along the way to take photos.
It was gently snowing making for a enchanting scene and I will definitely go again as soon as I can.
We enjoyed a hike up to the Train Wreck near Whistler. It’s such an interesting contrast between the forest and the bright paint of the graffiti filled box cars.Our return along Trash Trail and the beautiful Cheakamus River rounded out a great family hike!
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
Train Wreck Trail near Whistler, British Columbia.
I’ve lived in Victoria for 28 years and how this gem of a park slipped under my radar is really hard to fathom! It’s a great park in Oak Bay with amazing views of the Olympic Mountains and also of Mount Baker and Victoria Golf Course! It will definitely be a regular place to walk with the family from now on!
I love the way golden light makes the coastal grasses appear to dance in this early morning shot of Cattle Point in Victoria, BC. The effort to get up early sure pays off!
My husband and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We decided to return to our honeymoon spot, Tofino, BC to celebrate together. On our honeymoon, my husband had arranged for us to go to Hot Springs Cove, a natural geothermal spring which is unique as the hot springs flow down a series of pools and meet the Pacific Ocean. The ocean tides flow into the pools cooling down the hot water. You can reach Hot Springs Cove via boat or float plane, docking about 2 kilometres away from the Hot Springs and reaching it then via a beautiful boardwalk trail through the forest.
Twenty five years ago, Tofino, was much less discovered and Hot Springs Cove was not yet popular with tourists. We were much less prepared for outdoor adventures at the time and I was ill prepared for the slippery boardwalk leading through the coastal forest. I remember slipping and sliding and falling several times along the way. But the Hot Springs were free of other humans and we had an enjoyable time in the mineral waters. I have looked fondly back on these memories over the year.
So, it was with great excitement that we set off, this time on a float plane to Maquinna Marine Park. It’s a 15 minute plane ride to the Park and the views are spectacular, and really this is the way to go if you can do it. We arrived midafternoon which was great because many of the charter boats leave by about 3 pm and so most of the tourist were leaving as we were walking in. This way we could spend some time enjoying this amazing place on our own. It’s rare that you can return to a beloved spot years later to still be blown away by it’s beauty. I’m so grateful we could go back and thrilled to spend time there with my one and only 25 years later.
Gorgeous boardwalkStellers Jay along the wayOur float plane leaving
We spent some time exploring some of the local parks today including the beautiful Goldstream Provincial Park. This time of year the moss is so bright and beautiful and the flow of Little Niagara Falls is pretty full with the seasonal rain!
I’m a little behind on this, but what another awesome year we had as a family! We were fortunate enough to travel a great deal and had a lot of fun along the way. Here’s some of my favourite images along the way.
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. – Albert Camus
Spirit Island has been on my bucket list for a while now, and so I was thrilled to be able to visit it this summer. It’s a gorgeous spot to say the least and it was made even better as I was able to go there with a few of my favourite people!
An explosion of epic colour as seen this past summer at Quadra Island, BC.
Overlander Falls on the Fraser River in Mount Robson Provincial Park. For those interested in the technical. This is a four shot panorama. I used a Lee Filter Little Stopper to obtain a 13 second exposure to smooth the water.
Kinney Lake along the Berg Lake Trail. A little piece of paradise.
We made a quick stop at Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park near Parksville, BC. With all the rain we’ve had lately, the water is really raging through the canyon. It was difficult keeping my lens clear at this misty falls!A beautiful morning at Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park.Radiator Springs in California Adventure, Disneyland.“How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! – John MuirBeautiful morning light dancing through my frame!
Buttle Lake in Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island at first light.
2016 is looking like a slower year travel wise, but we’re looking forward to more local adventures on Vancouver Island. Thank you for following us along the way!
Schooner Cove in Pacific Rim National Park is a great afternoon adventure suitable for families. It features:
Rainforest
Beautiful secluded sandy beaches
Tidal Pools
Box Island
Wildlife
Waves
2 kilometres one way with 336 stairs
Schooner Cove Trail, Tofino, Ucluelet, British Columbia
Schooner Cove, Tofino, Ucluelet, British Columbiaf
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.
Schooner Cove, Tofino, Ucluelet, British Columbiaf
Park at the well marked parking lot off of the Pacific Rim Highway (4) about 16 kilometres south of Tofino. Start off on a relatively easy two kilometre trail. The scenic hike wanders through lush rainforest before arriving at a spectacular beachfront area. You will pass giant cedars, a number of small gullies and over a few bridges spanning small creeks. Near the end of the trail you will pass a 600 year old sitka spruce. As you get closer to the beach the rolling sounds of the ocean will greet you.
The pristine beach offers amazing views including rocky outcrops that can be accessed at low tide, so check your tide charts before arriving. A long day of exploring awaits you as you walk south along the beach to Long Beach which is a 10 kilometre expanse of beach. Allow a lot of time, because you will love exploring this area!
If you plan to stay to watch the sunset, remember to bring a flashlight as the densely forested trail back to the parking lot gets really dark!
Life has been very busy, and my good intentions of updating this blog once a week have fallen by the wayside. But, here’s a little update on what’s going on in my world of photography.
Firstly, I’m taking a photography course at the local college. It is an intermediate course covering off such things as flash, and the Zone system. We’re also assigned a theme each week, so it gets me out shooting in that theme. Our images get critiqued by our instructor, which is a little scary (terrifying actually) but the only way you get better is by hearing the good, the bad and the ugly! I’m also connecting with other local photographers. It gets the creative juices flowing! So, in one of our sessions I mentioned to one of the other photogs my interest in one day getting a film camera. She said she had an extra and so a deal was struck! Next class she brings this baby . . .
It’s a Pentax Spotmatic with a couple lenses, extension tubes, and a bunch of other goodies! So I’m geeking out over my first film SLR!! It’s older than I am, but seems to work alright. I had to take it down to a local camera shop to get the battery compartment open as it was corroded up, and the light meter wouldn’t work. Ten minutes later, they had it cleaned up and it works! I have yet to have my first roll processed as I’m still working on it, but I like the way shooting film forces you to slow down and think about your shots. I also taught my daughter how to use it so here’s a photo of her shooting with it.
I’ve also been saving for a new Ultra Wide-Angle lens and finally had enough (and it was on SALE!) so I got the Sony SEL 10-18 F4. I’ve been testing it out of late. Here’s a few shots with the lens:
Taken at Cattle Point in Victoria, BC. I’ve been working at these long exposure shots to improve in this area of photography.
Taken at Cattle Point in Victoria, BC.
Taken at Cadboro Bay
Taken at Cattle Point in Victoria, BC
Mount Douglas, Victoria, BC
So far the lens is sharp and I like it. The wide angle is something to get used to but I think it’s a keeper!
I’m on Instagram now and have a separate account for my photography. You can find me at: Carrie Cole Photography
So that’s a wrap for now! Thanks for taking the time folks!
Carrie Cole Photography 