Ancient Tree Quest in Squamish Backcountry, British Columbia, Canada

We head into the backcountry near Squamish, BC, Canada on a quest for giant old-growth trees. We encounter many obstacles driving along the Elaho Forest Service Road (some hair-raising), before ending the journey with a BIG surprise.

#BritishColumbiaCanada #explorebc #Squamish

Timeline:
0:00 Introducing the adventure
0:19 Where we may find ancient Douglas Fir trees along the Elaho River (Squamish)
0:33 Some packing essentials for a backcountry adventure. These are some examples, but not a full recommended list
0:51 Let's go! First number of road condition surprises on the Elaho Forest Service Road
1:11 Do we go left or right? Forest Service Roads poorly marked
1:36 More hairy road conditions on the Elaho FSR and wildfire aftermath
2:04 Need to turn around as getting late and don't want to get stuck in wilderness
2:32 The scariest Elaho FSR wash out of the trip
2:45 A random stop along the Squamish Forest Service Road gives us a BIG and wonderful surprise.

Map book referenced: Backroad Mapbooks - Vancouver, Coast & Mountains BC

***Please keep in mind that road conditions, particularly on FSR roads, can change very quickly. Be cautious when exploring the backcountry. We stuck to the mapped roads (or spurs when we took a wrong turn) and encountered multiple road washouts from excessive rain and snow melt..

Recommendations on travelling safely and respectfully, particularly during a pandemic:
1. Pack essentials – If you’re heading to a more rural area of the province, stock up with the essentials before you leave home (i.e. water, First Aid kit, food, something to stay warm, spare tire, and a Clean Trip Kit that includes hand sanitizer, soap, gloves, masks, and toilet paper).
2. Stay apart, stay safe – Practise physical distancing and frequent hand-washing hygiene to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Follow the recommendations from the BC Centre for Disease Control to learn about preventative activities.
3. Leave No Trace – When exploring the great outdoors, always leave it in a better state than when you arrived. Respect the key principles of Leave No Trace, a set of seven guidelines for enjoying the outdoors responsibly while minimizing your impact on the landscape. Visit Leave No Trace and BC Wildfire to learn more. Bring a trowel and bury your compostable business (i.e. toilet paper, etc) if you are not taking it with you.
4. Be AdventureSmart – No matter what outdoor activity you are planning, you must be prepared. Remember to follow the three Ts—trip planning, training, and taking the essentials. AdventureSmart is a great resource to get informed before heading outdoors.
5. Let friends/family know where you are going and when you plan to return(even the rough idea)!

ABOUT
Hello, I’m Yasmin.
In the summer of 2020, desperate for a positive focus, I started teaching myself how to make and edit videos. A huge learning curve, but I love it!
My hope is that these adventures will inspire you to explore, to try new things and to challenge yourself. At the very least, I hope they provide entertainment and a wee escape.
Stay safe and stay curious.
Yaz