Clayoquot Valley Witness Trail a wild success
This summer, Wilderness Committee volunteers will be scrambling to keep ahead of the public that is clamouring to hike the Clayoquot Valley Witness Trail. The problem is that much of the trail goes over wet boggy soils that could be trampled into a mud wallow. Thus the need for cedar boardwalks.
Last year more than 10,000 volunteer work hours went into clearing the Witness Trail and boardwalking its first 2.5 kilometres. Much of the rest of the approximately 23 kilometre long trail must be boardwalked before heavy use damages the forest floor.
WCWC needs two things to finish the trail: donations to cover the $15 a day it takes to feed and provide supervision for trail building volunteers...and volunteers. WCWC's trail projects coordinator Joe Foy knows that both are equally important. As Joe puts it, some people have more time than money, others more money than time, and both are needed to complete this project. A $50 donation gets your name carved in a boardwalk plank.
If you visit Clayoquot Sound and have even half a day to spare, take a walk on the Witness Trail and experience just a bit of Clayoquot's ancient temperate rainforest. You'll know why there's the passion to protect it.
WCWC is building the trail with the permission of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, who are the traditional owners of Clayoquot Valley. Both ends of the Witness Trail- in the upper Kennedy Valley and along Desilero ("No Road") Creek-were flagged as logging road routes by MacMillan Bloedel in the spring of 1994.
Witness trail boardwalk features sponsorship planks.
Wild forested mountains occupy the centre of picturesque Flores Island - Ahousaht homeland.
EXPERIENCE MEARES ISLAND
-take a walk on the boardwalk!
You can see some of the largest western redcedars in the world along the beautiful 1.2 kilometre Meares Big Cedar Boardwalk trail. The work-of-art boardwalk was built in the summer of 1993 by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations. Revel in the surrounding rainforest as you make your way to the "Hanging Garden" tree, BC's second largest cedar. Feel the power of the ancient giants. It's an experience you will always cherish.
The 8,000 hectare Meares Island was declared a Tribal Park by First Nations in 1984. The Tla-o-qui-ahts and Ahousahts reconfirmed Tribal park status in 1993. Together, the Nuu-chah-nulth central region tribes have spent more than a million dollars on legal fees defending Meares from logging. The native owners of Meares welcome visitors who come to enjoy the beauty of their island in a non-consumptive way.
EXPERIENCE FLORES ISLAND
-take a walk on the wild side!
Over the winter of 1994, some Ahousat women of native and non-native descent developed an eco-tourism project to create employment, provide training and to foster awareness of their home, Flores Island. This spectacular 15,000 hectare island, mostly covered in ancient temperate rainforest, is located in the centre of Clayoquot Sound.
This non-profit First Nations' Ahousat Women's Initiative, called a Walk on the Wild Side, includes guided boat trips from Tofino to Ahousat, interpreted forest walks, exploration of wild west coast beaches, interaction with Ahousat artisans at their new Arts of Paawac centre and sumptuous seafood meals. Take this opportunity to experience Flores with its First Nations owners.
For information and reservations for Walk on the Wild Side, water taxi service to the Meares Big Cedar Boardwalk Trail, or for other Nuu-chah-nulth tours, call the Nuu-chah-nulth Booking and Information Centre at 1-800-665-9425.
For information about other eco-tourism opportunities in Clayoquot Sound, call the Tofino Chamber of Commerce Information Centre at 725-3414.
