Salt Spring Photographer John Cameron
1:00 pm on the Pacific Circle Highway just before it was closed to traffic. And just before I turned tail for Salt Spring Island…
A 135 hectare fire 1 kilometre from Lizard Lake (27 kilometres SW of Cowichan Lake) was discovered Wednesday and the highway was closed to traffic. Here’s the BC Wildfire Service link for updated info. This is a suspected human-caused fire. Argh.
This may not look all that scary to you. But it sure was to us. What you don’t see is the deceivingly calm water hole just 20 metres upstream (there’s a sign that says no lifeguard on duty!) And the other thing you don’t see—is a very large waterfall just 10 metres downstream. There have been fatalities here.
This spring a 60 metre suspension bridge—65 metres above the canyon floor was opened to the public. Also new is a viewing platform at edge of the canyon wall. The platform provides an unimpeded view of the falls. Some snapshots below:
The falls and canyon under the suspension bridge.
The suspension bridge
The falls from the suspension bridge
Stairs to lower viewing platform
Lower viewing platform at canyon’s edge
The falls from the lower viewing platform
Really, really big trees. You have to walk among them to understand why so many people are fans of preserving the remaining first growth forests. These Douglas Fir giants, some over 400 years old survived one of BC’s largest ever forest fires, way back in 1938. It’s astonishing to see a massive Cedar beside one of the old Douglas firs and realize the Cedar has grown since the big fire.
By the way this is one of the trails in the day use area of Elk Falls Provincial Park, just outside Campbell River on Vancouver Island. There’s a view of Moose Falls from this point. There are three falls in the series, Moose, Deer and Elk. (vaguely similar to BC Ferries’ new ferry naming system…)
Stay tuned, more on Elk Falls coming tomorrow.
Saturday at 8:11 pm
A northwest sky along North Beach Road, Salt Spring Island
Saturday at 8:35 pm
The same scene from a similar position, 25 minutes later. The sun is behind the hills; the ominous clouds provide early darkness.
Ice Cream is a source of entertainment for those who eat it and for those who just watch.