Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/112499
editor���snote The Pacific Northwest has long been a magnet for human settlement and exploration. Archaeologists are increasingly convinced that the Pacific Coast was a major migration route for our late-Pleistocene ancestors, who emigrated from northeast Asia to the Americas millennia ago. And the Paleo-Native Americans, a culturally and technologically advanced people considered some of the most sophisticated hunter-gatherer-fishers in history, established enormous, permanent villages here 15 centuries before the first Europeans arrived in search of the infamous Northwest Passage. Yet ironically, what constitutes the boundaries of the Pacific Northwest has proven as elusive as the passage itself. Many define the region in simple terms: Northwestern America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and Rocky Mountains to the east. Still others add Idaho, Oregon, Washington and the Yukon ��� even northern California, western Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. Meanwhile, Pacific Northwest separatists argue that these areas have far more in common politically, culturally and historically with each other than with the rest of the U.S. or Canada. Let Cascadia secede, they say. And there is something to the notion. In addition to a shared indigenous and European settlement history, multicultural mix and culinary and artistic bent, the Pacific Northwest is generally more liberal than the interiors of both Canada or the U.S., with a long history of political activism and environmental protection. As writer Charles Montgomery notes, the region is also now a world leader in sustainable urbanism, shared mobility and livability (page 28). Vancouver even boasts the ���largest concentration of bald eagles on the planet��� just a few hours��� drive southeast of its increasingly dense urban core (page 24). Who knew? Anne Rose, editor arose@canadawide.com 8 WESTWORLD p08-09_Ed.Nt_Mlbg.indd 8 >> FA L L 2 0 1 2 mailbag Giant Hugs Thanks for Jim Sutherland���s ���How to Find a Big Tree��� (Summer 2012).��It inspired me to go find some myself, and I was thrilled and in awe once I did: i.e., North Vancouver���s massive firs and cedars in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, and the massive stumps!��It truly was a step back in time and definitely worth seeing. Anyone who isn���t an experienced hiker will want to be fully prepared, though. It���s a challenging hike with little or no ���trail��� underfoot; just scattered and sketchy flagging tapes on trees indicating the way up and down, and some element of bushwhacking. Grandpa Capilano, in Capilano Canyon Regional Park, is another must-see, and a relative easy, short hike.�� ���Mike Hanafin, Vancouver Editor���s reply: It���s incredible these behemoths have survived so close to a major city centre. Glad the end result was well worth the effort, Mike, and thanks for the reminder regarding trail conditions. We were thinking that inexperienced hikers or anyone unfamiliar with these trees��� locations would sign on with one of the guides listed in the article, such as bigtreehikesbc. blogspot.ca or ancientforestalliance.org. Because you���re right, these monsters tend to be located off the beaten path. As for armchair explorers, here���s BC Hikes��� guided trek to Grandpa Capilano for some video inspiration: bcaa.com/bigtrees In ���How to Find a Big Tree��� Jim Sutherland puts forward some dubious science. Trees cannot grow as big today for several reasons. First, glaciation took place a long time ago and is not relevant anymore. Second, we have 50 per cent more rainfall, which washes away nutrients and acidifies soil. Third, higher density levels mean reduced photosynthesis. Not good conditions for high growth. ���Doug Payton, via email Rally Racing,��� Summer 2012). The auto rallying community in Canada, including its sanctioning bodies, has fought long and hard to dissociate from ���racing.��� The most notable differences: rally cars never start at the same time, but are sent on their way at least one minute apart; cars rallying on public roads are not to exceed 10 per cent below posted speed limits and must obey all traffic laws; some touring events are not timed so cannot even be classified as a rally, much less a race. ���Bart Vogelzang, pastpresident, Island Rallysport Club, Duncan Editor���s reply: You���re right on all counts, Bart. We in media take some artistic licence at times, but we don���t want any confusion about the facts. Secret Coordinates Love your magazine and travel tips. Could you also include some small maps, though? Just to show where in B.C. the stories refer to? ���Dennis Knight, Chemainus Editor���s reply: We���ve had other requests along the same lines, Dennis, and we wholeheartedly agree that maps are important. We���re doing our best to incorporate more without losing any of our columns; space, unfortunately is always at a premium. Theatre in the Round Living in Roundabout Nirvana near Vancouver���s City Hall (Hot Topics, ���Circle of Life,��� Summer 2012), I witness drivers with absolutely no idea what to do in a roundabout. Many go clockwise instead of counterclockwise, but the most common mistake is not giving way to vehicles in the roundabout. I���d like to see ���Roundabout Ahead��� and ���Yield to Traffic in Roundabout��� signs.��Educational TV ads would be beneficial. Also, the City should impose plant-height restrictions for the centre of roundabouts and land adjacent to intersections. ���Dairobi Paul, via email Too Racy for Some I noted with barely contained horror that the word ���racing��� appeared on the cover, in the title ��� and worse, in various forms 12 times within Robin Esrock���s admittedly entertaining piece (���The Newbie���s Guide to To comment: Email us at westworld@bcaa or arose@canadawide.com. Or write us at Westworld Letters, BCAA, 4567 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 4T1 (fax: 604-268-5565). Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Ira Sutherland 12-08-24 7:37 AM