Golden Ears.

It was a moderately cold, slightly damp yet earnestly clear winter morning.

As we drove one and a half hours east into the mountains, the cityscape transitioned into countryside, massive highways became unpaved dirt, and an unmissable spirit of wilderness filled the air.

Here’s what we saw after…

turn your screens to landscape mode for the best viewing experience, thanks!

Moss and ferns engulf the forest floor under the canopy of the majestic coniferous trees at Golden Ears Provincial Park, typical of a pacific-northwestern coniferous rainforest.

The lower falls trail offers some spectacular views of the mountains from clearings along the way. The snow covered peaks tend to blend into the sky, especially on a cloudy day like this one. But when you do take notice, you can’t take your eyes off them.

As the trail reaches it’s destination, you can hear the falls roar it’s way down, while a spectacular mist of uber cold water rises and covers everything. It’s almost like hitting the refresh button after an hour of walking.

As the water settles after it’s thunderous descent, it takes on a contrastingly calm, almost introspective outlook…

When it finally meets Aloutte Lake, the small river carves out North Beach, a theater that showcases all that’s quintessentially pacific-northwestern: snowcapped mountains, flowing water and coniferous forests.

Golden Ears Provincial Park, BC. 
February 2016.