This is the fourth in the series of volcanic blog posts comparing our experience in the Hawaiian and Chilcotin shield volcanoes. Originally, many millions of years ago, spores released into the wind from a fern in Southeast Asia were carried by air currents high into the jet stream, where they drifted eastward. Eventually they settled […]
British Columbia
Water Eroding Old and New Volcanic Landscapes

This is the third in the series of volcanic blog posts comparing our experience in the Hawaiian and Chilcotin shield volcanoes. After hiking over a very recent lava flow that added about 4 sq. km of land to the Island of Hawaii, we reached the coast. The following three images show ocean waves pounding this […]
Two Distinct Lava Features: Hawaii and the West Chilcotin

This is the second in the series of volcanic blog posts comparing our experience in the Hawaiian and Chilcotin shield volcanoes. One day, Rita’s aunt, Ruth Beauchamp (who lives in Hawaii), took us to visit Lava Tree State Park. It was like walking through a lava forest. When the Kilauea eruption sent red hot lava […]
Exploring Two Volcanic Landscapes: The Chilcotin & Hawaii

Nothing excites me more than hiking and exploring a volcanic landscape. In 2010 I published a major natural history coffee-table book on British Columbia’s volcanic plateau titled Motherstone. The most exciting explorations were within the three great shield volcanoes of the West Chilcotin; the Rainbow, Ilgatchuz and Itcha volcanoes. Last month, my partner Rita and […]