Change is the only constant in nature. A forest is no exception. In fact, it’s at its best when living , growing, dying, and regenerating all at the same time.
Source: Info-graphic below
The fall is a time of dramatic changes in the Canadian wilderness. The leaves turn various shades of vivid colours when temperatures and light levels drop.
Beyond seasonal transitions, the forest also changes over long periods of time, and these changes can be observed when dramatic events like fires, droughts, logging, and storms alter the ecosystem.
I found the opening quote in this post when I came across an information board on one of the trails that follow the coast around Vancouver’s Stanley Park. It describes the changes that sections of this forest have undergone after three separate devastating storms hit the area in 1932, 1962, and 2006.
I cropped it for better readability
The tree graphics on the board tell the tale of forest growth. At a glance, you can see that when the trees are young and small, the forest has a diverse number of species, but as the trees grow and mature, the diversity is lost because of the limited availability of light beneath the canopy.
In an older forest, the biodiversity increases because many trees die as a result of bugs, disease, storms, and so on. The fallen trees become food and shelter while the canopy opens up and lets the light bathe smaller species in the understory.
I was planning on following the seawall around the ocean but sections of the seawall were closed, likely as a result of the recent windstorms that hit the area.
The fall on the west coast is not all about decay and death. There’s actually plenty of life blooming and growing along the trail.
This section of the forest is open to the ocean with winds from the South Pacific blowing moist air that deposit copious amounts of rain, particularly during the fall, winter, and spring. It’s no wonder that if you look closely, you’ll spot colours other than brown and yellow.
The Prospect Point lookout area on the northern end of the park has great views of the North Shore mountains, joined with Stanley Park via the Lions Gate bridge.
The trails are well maintained with many conservation efforts, which as you can imagine is a gargantuan task. This is why I think of this protected park as one giant garden. For the most part, the trails are easy to hike. My detour route included some steep places that made me wish I had my trekking poles but thanks to a guarana-infused energy drink I imbibed earlier, I was hyped up and ready for the challenge.
As I neared the end of the forest portion of the hike and moved closer to the shore, I could hear the drums banging rhythmically from the beach. Spontaneous bongo jams are common on this beach, and it seems that they're always happening all summer long.
Thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoyed the sights and sounds of this hike.
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