This morning I had the fortunate opportunity to fly from Vancouver to Terrace, BC on a clear and crisp October day. The two-hour flight path between YVR and YXT is up the west coast of the Canadian mainland over the Coast Mountains.
After 30 minutes of flying we were crossing the long fjord-like inlets Toba, Bute and Knight, that carve a path between successive mountain ranges along the coast. Each range features a spectacular drop to the the ocean from its glaciated peaks.
I was thinking that with any kind of luck we might fly right past the highest peak in the BC Coast Range, a rarely visible jagged spire with glaciers flowing in multiple directions from its base.
As Bute Inlet came into view, I could see the Homathko River at its head, and as we flew on, it was becoming increasingly likely that we would follow the river to the glaciers at the base of Mt. Waddington.
Wow — within minutes a steep glacier started climbing up and up from the Homathko River until it reached the base of Waddington, granite fingers with an ice coating, reaching to the sky. Amazing, we were flying at 16,000 ft. just above the Waddington summit of 13,000+ ft.
The near (southeast) side of Waddington holds the enormous Tiedemann Glacier, and beyond this point all the way to Terrace, is an almost unbroken series of ice fields and sharp peaks that define the wilderness of the BC northwest.
In the madness and technical focus of my daily work it is easy to forget the breathtaking natural beauty that exists in this part of world. I’m truly thankful that my job requires me to see it all in my visits to the 25 colleges and universities that make up BC’s public higher education system.
d.
“I love my job” Hey, you stole my line :->
You live in a truly scenic spot, Sylvia – and you get to work from there, too. Bonus!
d.
Canada seems even more beautiful when one is away from it. I never appreciated the natural beauty of Canada in the way I do now until I went to Beijing. The snow and the majestic mountains just takes my breath away. I am looking forward to my January where I will be able to return home for a bit and soak it all in! Your post was a wonderful reminder.
Thanks Iris. Yes, whenever I’ve been away, the return to the mountains and green hillsides of British Columbia fills my heart with joy. I get the same feeling when I travel through the high deserts of the southwestern US. I think I must have been a nomadic hunter in a former life, traveling between seasonal campsites, making my “living” in the outdoors.
d.
Wow – I really enjoyed reading your blog post & seeing that photo – thanks for sharing it
Mary
@MMaryMcKenna
Thanks Mary.
I wasn’t really trying to be a “BC booster,” although I love this province. I just got caught up in what was a confluence of synergies – clear day, perfect flight path, window seat and my iPhone in my pocket. I had to wonder how many times in life you get this fortunate doing your job.