This sunday the 27th of Febuary a handful of hearty and dedicated nature lovers braved the wet, wild and typically west coast weather to join the passionate advocates of the Ancient Forest Alliance on a guided hike tour into a unique and majestically beautiful forest of ancient old growth red cedars and douglas fir North of Port Renfrew, that has come to be infamously known as the Avatar grove. The hike also represented a second successful organized collaboration with the Integreen Foundation’s Action first concert series, as all the hikers that attended not only enjoyed the amazing natural scenery, but also participated in a vital environmental action, by signing their name and title to a nation-wide petition aimed at protecting, preserving and ultimately saving this precious and endangered pocket of ancient temperate rainforest for future generations to come.
After a scenic two hour journey from Victoria to Port Renfrew, emotionally charged with the environmental call to arms anthems of John Butler Trio, discussions about the evolution of past and present civilizations and the stark visual contrast between the realities of the vibrant natural forest and barren decay of clear cut logging, we arrived at the Coastal Kitchen Cafe all stoked up and charged with a lively energy to take action and create some positive change. Inside the cozy cafe we rendezvoused with the other hikers, chowed down a delicious lunch and briefly heard from a member of the Port Renfrew chamber of commerce, who outlined the goal and efforts of the local businesses economic body to protect the Avatar grove as a “valuable” tourist attrition and investment. This unusual situation struck a chord with me personally, as it certainly is a positive step to see businesses supporting the protection of local natural resources, but it is also a shame to realize that the monetary gains to be made off tourists visiting the site is the economic rationality driving their support for the grove. What about the beauty, the wildlife, the ecosystem and the ancient natural heritage that the grove also offers? Its seems that mighty tourist dollars, rather than destructive logging dollars, may be Avatar grove’s greatest ally and asset.
Thus, we went off into the wilderness, with nothing but a convoy of six vehicles and two camera crews, to experience the mystery and magic of the Avatar grove for ourselves. A short drive later on slushy snow covered roads and across icy death defying bridges we arrived at our location, which to me did not immediately seem to be so spectacular at all, but a section of forest that resembled any other we had past along the way. However, a few short moments later as we entered the forest beneath a lush green canopy, it quickly became obvious to me why this location is indeed so special and unique. The ancient red cedars that stand in this grove have grown over literally thousands of years to become truly epic in their size, strength and spirit. Several meters thick in diameter, towering in height above me, the facts and figures that we use to measure and define these great trees can never actually grasp or compare to the true majesty and reality of being in the presence of these ancient earthly beasts. As we wandered through the grove and came upon the jewel in its crown, the so-called “gnarly” tree, a huge morphing mass of bubbling burls and twisted grain that invoked a hideous beauty, my mind also began to bend, twist and wander into the subtle consciousness of the tree and its history. I thought about the tiny seedlings of spinach I had germinated earlier in the week and tried to imagine the perilous pilgrimage that this ancient tree had endured over generations to flourish from a fragile seed in the undergrowth into the triumphant towering tree that stands before me. I tried to imagine the historic events and changes that this wise old tree may have witnessed in its vast lifetime and what wisdom it might share with me and all of humanity if it had the chance, what might this tree tell all of us if it had a voice? What might it think of us, an organism so small, with a lifespan so short (in comparison), yet consumes and destroys so much of the earth beyond our meagre needs. After completing the hike, soaked to the skin, we said our goodbyes and settled into the comfort of our car for the ride back to town, yet with these philosophical questions still irritating my simple brain I was inspired to write a poem about my experience in the grove.
In this temple of giants where I feel my true size,
I soon get the sense that this earth is alive,
with a heart and a soul that can simply provide,
all the food, love and shelter that we need to survive.
As man and moon force a change in the tide,
the day will soon come, when we will have to decide,
where your heart and faith and loyalties lie,
will you stand with the trees and choose the earths side,
or stand by in silence as she quietly dies.
Written by: Dave Pearson!
Lliam Hildebrand. Welcome to the Integreen blog. Check back here once in a while if you want to see what the green movement looks like in Greater Victoria!
