The west coast of Vancouver Island has long defied the changing moods of the Pacific. But sometimes the ocean shows its gentle side – as seen during the atmospheric evening at Clayoquot Sound near Tofino. The crescent moon hangs above the mountains while hues of deep blue and soft orange their spell on a couple standing at the dock, seemingly lost in the scene.
Yet the Pacific can be fierce. This is evident at Combers Beach between Tofino and Ucluelet, where countless pale tree trunks lie scattered across the shore. Carried inland by storms, these smoothed logs resemble bones – stripped and shaped by wind and sea.
A small river flows into the ocean here, and with some luck, one might spot black bears feeding on shellfish. We weren’t that lucky this time – but a young bald eagle circled above us, watching silently.
A few kilometers farther near Ucluelet, the coastline changes dramatically. Hiking the Wild Pacific Trail reveals rocky shores, rugged islands, and a charming lighthouse. Square and sturdy with a red cap, it still works in tandem with a foghorn buoy to warn ships of the treacherous shoals.
But not all ships made it. A little farther along the trail, a century-old shipwreck rests on the shore. At first glance, it may go unnoticed – but look closer: trees grow from its wooden frame, and the plants have begun to cloak the tragedy in a green shroud of forgetfulness.
And something else stands out: the scene with the offshore rock islands along the Wild Pacific Trail strikingly resembles a photo I took on the southern coast of South Korea – specifically on Jeju Island. That’s no coincidence: the renowned Jeju Olle Trail, which winds along Jeju’s coast, is officially partnered with the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet. It’s a symbolic bridge across the Pacific – connecting two shores, two cultures, and two nature experiences that I will explore in a future post.
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