Cascadia, a dynamic region full of terrifying extremes and exquisite beauty.
At times it seems that the region is mythical, huge icefields span across the peaks of various mountain ranges, volcanoes simmer deep below potentially erupting at any time. There is rainforest surrounding the volcanoes and glaciers as the ocean mist scours the cliffs of the coastline.
This all sounds incredible, in this article we discuss the various aspects of the Cascadia region and the potential for disastrous events that could change North America forever.
The West coast of North America is a weird place. From the glaciers, volcanoes and rainforest to the elusive cryptids such as Sasquatch and the Ogopogo. There are lots of mysterious and exciting things to explore in Cascadia.
Glaciers
Snow, the gift that keeps on coming, once the temp drops below that magic number it falls and coats the landscape in a shimmering blanket of white. Glaciers are objects which contain heavily compacted snow. As the snow compacts it turns to ice, the air is squeezed out of the ice which causes the ice to have a deep blue colour due to the lack air spaces within the ice. The deep blue colour of glacier ice is one of the most beautiful sites in the world.
The glaciers form on the peaks and slopes of mountains, the high elevations form an accretionary zone where snow will fall, freeze and compact. There is not enough melting action to impact the glacier so it will proceed down the mountain or valley with the help of gravity. The retreat of glaciers will leave behind a scared landscape with many stories to tell of what happened beneath the ice.
It is a river frozen in time; glaciers serve as a log for geologic history of the earth. The ice can be thousands of years old and who knows what is contained within. We’ve all seen those alien and sci fi movies about the Arctic ice. The sleeping microbes that we awaken in our search for gold or oil.
Glaciers can move boulders, gravel and dirt all across the landscape scattering gold and other things throughout the region. They forge the landscape and leave behind many treasures to be discovered.
These frozen rivers have the ability to accrete and retreat as the Earth goes through cycles and all we can do is ride that current.
Volcanoes
The powerhouse of the planet, these are the continent builders that supply geologic material for continents! They can be underwater or above water; they are all methods for the earth to release pressure built up from gases.
They take form in many shapes and sizes and when they erupt, a discharge hot molten rock is expelled from deep within the earth. In this blog we touch on the volcanoes specific to the Cascadia region. There are many types of volcanoes that will be discussed in further posts.
Cascadia is littered with volcanoes from northern California up to Southern British Columbia. The volcanoes are stratovolcanoes, a type of volcano which is known for its iconic pointy appearance. The subduction of tectonic plates is what causes these mighty stratovolcanoes to form, as the tectonic plate subducts under north America it is burned off down below in the earth, this burnt off plate turned into lava which then rises to form the volcano.
Stratovolcanoes consist of many layers of material that have erupted over time. Capable of both effusive and explosive eruptions, they will erupt multiple times over the course of time causing the build up of various geologic formations. Typically explosive in nature, stratovolcanoes can be quite destructive and cause a lot of problems.
There are many volcanoes here, Mount Garabaldi, Mount Meager, Mount Baker, Mount Rainer, Mount Adams, Mount Hood, Mount Shasta and Mount Saint Helens are just a few of the many stratovolcanoes that dot the landscape. Some of these mountains such as Mount Shasta and Mount Rainer are over +14,000ft and have glacier icefields atop their peaks. Of course … there’s the mythology and mystique of the mountains each having its own lore and stories of things that have happened.
Mount Saint Helens needs no introduction, an active volcano with a recent eruption. It poses a significant threat in the future. Many of the volcanoes within Cascadia are high risk due to their proximity to population centers and the capability for explosive eruptions.
Next time you’re driving look for a tall and pointy mountain sticking up over the horizon. That could be a stratovolcano!
Rainforest
Not just in the Amazon or Asia! Believe it or not, North America has a huge rainforest system.
The world’s largest temperate rainforest, it stretches from California in the US all the way up the coast through British Columbia in Canada to Alaska where it ends. The rainforest has trees and plants that are hundreds to thousands of years old. Old growth tree species such as Douglas Fir, Cedar and Hemlock can be found throughout the forests. Lichens, fungi and mosses can be found all over the forest adding to ambience
The Columbia region of British Columbia contains an inland temperate rainforest which lies between the Monashee, Selkirk and Purcell Mountain ranges. It contains old growth cedar and is a huge part of the ecosystem of the region.
The rainforest is created by the rain shadow of the great coast mountain ranges. Systems of moisture are created in the Pacific Ocean and sent to North America. As the moisture hits the mountains it becomes trapped and then hovers over the region. This causes the western portion of Cascadia along the coast to receive heavy rainfall continuously which creates perfect conditions for a rainforest. The eastern regions of Cascadia on the eastern side are in stark contrast to the soggy coastal areas.
The rainforest is broken into various different divisions depending on the country and region. The great Bear Rainforest is runs up along coastal British Columbia. The Tongass National Forest covers the rainforest portions of Alaska. The Columbia rainforest lies a few hundred kilometers inland from the coast along the Columbia River.
Cascadia is surrounded by rainforest throughout its length. It is one of the defining characteristics of the Cascadia region. If it’s not raining, then it’s just not right!
Hot Springs
Born out of the geothermal circus below within the earth. They are naturally heated mineral water springs that occur in many regions throughout Cascadia. Hot springs are rich in minerals from the surrounding environment, the water flows out of holes or cracks in the earth. This water is heated by the geothermal activity of earth and can have a range of temperatures.
Think of them as nature’s hot tub! The water can be very hot or a pleasant warm temperature
One of my favorite things to do on a road trip! Going for a dip in the hot springs is a much need reprieve from the grind of the road and daily life. Scattered throughout British Columbia are various hot springs. Some are natural style hot springs which are isolated in the back country and see minimal human traffic and others are resort style which have hotels, restaurants and other amenities.
These hot springs can have cave systems, exotic wildlife and unique water composition which makes for a very memorable and relaxing experience.
Here is a list of some hot springs to try out and their locations:
Ainsworth Hotsprings – Ainsworth, BC (resort)
Liard River Hotsprings – Liard River, BC (natural spring)
Radium Hotsprings – Radium Hotsprings, BC (resort)
Halfway Hotsprings- Nakusp, BC (nature spring on dirt road)
Nass River Hotsprings – Nass River, BC (natural spring)
Fairmont Hotsprings- Fairmont, BC (resort)
Harrison Hotsprings – Harrison Hotsprings, BC (resort)
Keep in mind that there are many more hotsprings but these are the big ones that I have done and would recommend!
With all these incredible landscapes available within Cascadia, it is a place full of amazing things to explore and learn about. We have barely scratched the surface here and if you find this interesting make sure to check out my videos on these subjects.
With all these incredible landscapes available within Cascadia, it is a place full of amazing things to explore and learn about. We have barely scratched the surface here and if you find this interesting make sure to check out my videos on these subjects.
We head out and explore them out in the field!
This region continues to mystify and amaze me with its geology, history and adventure that is always around that next switchback!