This is a blog I wrote for Black Rock Oceanfront Resort’s blog.
Wild Winter Walk on Wickaninnish Beach
November 29, 2012
Winter brings on a whole different kind of beach. The gently swept sand of the summer has transformed into a wild battlefield. Waves that are white with nature’s fury slam into the beach, pushing drift logs into the dunes and dragging them back out to sea again with every surge.
A season’s crop of bull kelp has been torn from the seabed and washed into the shore. Hundreds of bull kelp form giant piles on the beach, tangled and twisted in each other. These are also pushed up the beach, and out to sea, and up the beach, and out to sea, tormented by the unpredictable swells and enormous tides that come through this time of year.
Today’s swell was forecasted at 5.6 metres. Massive waves were coming in at very short intervals. The waves were breaking so close together that it almost seemed like they were breaking into each other. It was messy, crashing, swirling white water almost as far as the eye could see. The ocean literally foamed with rage.
If you want to feel nature’s raw power, you have to visit the west coast in the wintertime.
We were going for a walk on Wickaninnish Beach in search of a snowy white owl that has been spotted frequently on the beach over the last couple of weeks. The friend I was with saw the owl three days ago, taking a rest near the sand dunes perched on top of a swaying cedar. We didn’t see the owl today. I guess they don’t like the rain so much.
The beach is a must-do on your visit to Ucluelet, no matter what kind of weather we are having. Winter weather brings more shells, drift wood, and all kinds of interesting items onto the beach from the far reaches of the Pacific Rim. The air is as fresh as it gets and if you’re prepared for all kinds of weather you will experience the true west coast in its rawest form.
The Kwisitis Visitor Centre on Wickaninnish Beach is open year-round, Friday through Sunday from 11:00am-3:00pm. This centre is a great place to spend a few hours on a rainy afternoon (before or after your beach exploration). This interpretive centre offers information, displays, and exhibits that focus on natural and cultural history of the coast. Stop in and talk to a Parks Canada staff about winter programming.
There are many trails and beach walks accessible from the parking lot at the Kwisitis Visitor Centre. Just south of the centre is the start of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trail. This trail veers off to the South Beach, a pebbled beach with interesting grey rock formations. The main Nuu-Chah-Nulth Trail leads through rainforest, bog, and towards Florencia Bay. It has interpretive signs explaining the flora, fauna, and First Nation’s history in the area.
Explore Wickaninnish Beach this winter!
Until next time,
Amy Hancock
