Tag: MV J. Mattson
-
Lake Surprises
A stillness laid upon the lake, creating magical reflections of snow capped Insular Mountain prominences, exacting in every detail right down to fluffy white clouds. Perfect conditions for the kayaking & wildlife viewing we hoped to do. (Who could have imagined the wonderful fortune nature would bestow upon us today?) Magnificent Roosevelt Elk.
-
Douglas-Fir Flowers
Spring is a renewal time for Mother Nature, especially visible in the Pacific Northwest outdoors, we knew this and why we were out and about. Still, can you imagine our amazement happening upon a fabulous and unexpected curiosity: a “flowering evergreen tree”! We had no idea such flowers existed, yet here before us was a…
-
Turkey Vultures – Flying Environmentalists
We could see glimpses of the lake through a screen of Hemlock firs before we broke silently into the headwaters of our destination…. To our surprise a “committee” of a six medium sized brown birds greeted us, roosting along the edge of this remote lakeside bushed area. From a distance they looked like immature eagles,…
-
A Short Day on the Trail
Leave pavement behind and Nature miraculously appears… everywhere to the fortunate, affording many reasons to put on wool socks & hiking boots. Perhaps a Pine Marten, a Black Tailed Deer, a Barred Owl… So many possibilities fill our imaginations as Rosie, Chris, and I ready a daypack for a days adventure. So it has been…
-
Wool Pants & Suspenders
Yes I replied… wilderness camping allows me to throw away professional complexity and scars of emergency care by connecting with nature in wonderful natural environments… When a need to sooth a restless mind arises I simply put on “wool pants and suspenders and get out there” into comforting serenity.
-
The Quatse River
Nestled in the Pacific’s coastal paradise of beautiful North Vancouver Island, Kwakiutl traditional territory, is a small but mighty Quatse River system. It is made huge by an amazing diversity of plant, trees, fish, animal, and bird life found in the river and along its shores. This magnificent river is a glistening jewel in British…
-
Visitors to Hardy Bay
On this day winds were calm, sunshine high, a misty blue haze, and an outgoing tide offering a clear view of a multitude of fascinating shorebirds, foraging in Hardy Bay’s nutrient rich tidal pools. One’s imaginations is easily captured by a chorus of seabird sounds:
-
Nature’s Rare Hair Ice
Along side the Quatse River we noticed numerous small tennis ball sized white wavy beard like formations… attached to bark-less alder branch debris. On closer inspection these were fragile curly hair structures…. spectacular “Hair Ice” find! Touch them and they would melt and fall apart.
-
Suquash Shore
Our plans are to explore a remote beach area at an old mine site this afternoon…. driving to a coastal location well known for it’s abundance of shore life, including interesting weathered stone architecture of an abandoned coal mine….
