Rain forest renewal

Sunset, Jan, 2008

Nothing's more exhilarating than walking through a rain forest in the rain. Giant trees loom, impervious to the elements, while the dense forest floor absorbs every drop of the life-giving drink. In a good rain, the forest looks even greener; afterward, you might spot an immense raindrop hovering on a cobweb, a gem suspended in midair.

For the ultimate rain forest walk, visit Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park on British Columbia's Vancouver Island--one of the wildest, most rugged, and most remote old-growth forests in the West, and home to some of the tallest trees in the world. Stand among millions of mosses and ferns under cedars and spruces that are hundreds of years old for a humbling, thrilling perspective on our tiny place in the universe. About 12 miles northwest of Port Renfrew on the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island; bcparks.ca (search for "Carmanah Walbran").