April isn’t the best time to be in Canmore. My enthusiasm for skiing wanes, snow is melting exposing fall debris now wilted and mouldy and of course leaving a lot of evidence of Elk activity. Stewart and I travelled to Tofino via Nanaimo in mid April. A four day trip to Pacific Sands Resort in Tofino was a wonderful break from our long winter. We drove through three inches of wet snow and slush at the height of the pass on our drive from Nanaimo to Tofino.

It rained solidly for our entire visit. We were prepared; there is never bad weather, just bad gear. Armed with our tripods and cameras and Gortex rain gear, we spent much of our time wandering the beaches and ventured only briefly into the rain forest. The lack of light was challenging.

Large breaking waves are iconic in Tofino. Capturing their power against the rocks was made difficult by the dark grey blue skies. The off shore wind offers no resistance to the oncoming waves. I was mesmerized by the never ending action of the waves breaking and could have easily spent more time on these rocks if it hadn’t been for the heavy rainfall. The colour of the water reflected the grey blue sky and thick foggy clouds blocked the sun which we saw briefly breaking through on the horizon.

A soft “whoomph” as the wave breaks; followed quickly by an enormous display of water splashing upwards and over the rock wall creating a momentary foamy water fall .

Stormy days attract surfers at all skill levels. With water temperatures as low as 40 C, I wonder how the surfers stay warm in their wet suits.

The rain on Long Beach let up for about a half hour. The tide was out and the wind fairly calm. The wet beach mirrored the sky. A short-lived sense of calmness prevailed.

A very soggy wooden path leading back into the rain forest from the beach.

Shore lines are rugged with a lot of natural debris washed up upon its beaches. Sand banks are eroded away from the heavy rain and storm surges. Some trees succumb. Driftwood is everywhere.

We spent a morning walking in misty rain. It was a challenge to avoid getting my camera lens wet while making an image. Fortunately, my outer wear was up to the task of repelling water. I managed to stay dry but more importantly I was able to keep my camera dry by carrying it inside my jacket and removing it only when I had an image in mind.

Our four days at the Pacific Sands Hotel on Cox Beach was very relaxing. Our room opened up onto the beach. We had a kitchenette which allowed us to make our breakfasts and lunches. We ate dinners at local restaurants. We will travel back to the Pacific Sands Hotel for our 50th wedding anniversary accompanied by our children and their families in August 2024. I can’t imagine a more remote and interesting venue for this celebration.