Flying Over The Park
Being that I no longer live near Stanley Park, I haven’t visited it since the devastating storm that caused it significant damage. Today, while flying over to Victoria, I got my first look at the damage – and it is unbelievably considerable.
The entire slope adjacent to Prospect Point is completely devastated. And when I say devastated, I mean that it will take decades for it to recover. Were I to put it in the simplest of terms, it looks as though napalm were dropped on it and there’s nothing left save the odd, barren tree. The rest is just dirt.
I know that Rebecca has photographically documented some of the damage, and I wish that I had brought my camera with me, as my vantage from the back of the seaplane was perfect. I would imagine that a lot of debris and underbrush has also been cleared, which is why it looks so barren, but it shocked me nonetheless. If there is anything in Vancouver that could unequivocally be called its crowned jewel, Stanley Park is surely it, and it utterly stunned me when the plane banked portside and it came into view.
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September 16th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I’ve been avoiding it, it’s really devestating to see that… That must’ve been so eye opening to actually see it from that angle, all at once, taking in the entire thing….. overwhelming!!!!!!
Dude, I’m sure you have probably done this before, but just in case you haven’t, go to MIlestones if you get a chance.. Go at night… The parliament buildings are so BEAUTIFUL at ‘Night.
Beacon HIll Park is also beautiful.. the seawall is nothing compared to Stanley Park seawall but it’s quieter and staring out into the water without the mountains surrounding and just seeing the odd shit come by once in a while is so unbelieavably calming….. I always get a sense of calm on that seawall because it’s not overcrowed, ever!!! Have fun!!!!!! I was born in a beautiful place… It’s too small for me now but it’s so great to visit!!!!!!
September 16th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Oh my GOD>> I had a whole thing writen up, not sure why it didn’t post…….. DAMN….
And now no time to retype it but will say one thing again,
If you have never been to Milestones at night, it’s so beautiful there.. The parliament buildings are lit up and it’s something to see…. Window seat please!!!
Also, it must have been so unbelievable and overwhelming to see the entire damage in Stanley Park, all at one glance…..Hope you enjoyed your plane ride!!!
September 16th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
I haven’t seen it yet. I just fired up google maps trying to see if it showed the damage, but the satellite image must be old.
September 16th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
is it worse than Barrier back in ‘03? I thought I had woken up in a twisted Hellish parallel universe. Fire. Fire. And more Fire.
Avalanches in Roger’s Pass. Storms. Fires.
Mother nature does quite a job on BC.
September 16th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
** oops, I meant to say ’ship’
p.s. This is definately not a plug for a good coffee shop in Vic (the coffee sells itself and the place is very successful) , but if you’re staying near Tyee Road (the area has been compared to Yaletown), check out Buon Amici’s Coffee.. The owners are Italian and know their coffee. They just won some award here at the Western Regional Canadian Barista Competition! (www.buonamicis.com)
Just in case you are lookin for a good cup o Java before your gig tomorrow night, dude!!!!! Their tea’s rock, too!!!!!
September 16th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
[quote comment="26336"]I haven’t seen it yet. I just fired up google maps trying to see if it showed the damage, but the satellite image must be old.[/quote]
Google maps is at least a year behind.
Breaking news is that there’s a huge tree on fire in the park, along the Bridle trail. I bet they’re going to need to make a parking-lot size clearcut in that area now - you know, just to be “safe” :-p
September 16th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
This is a breaking story, so not sure if you will get anything on Google, but there is a fire burning in Stanley Park that just started….. I hope it does not spread and isn’t as bad as it sounds.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
i recently saw stanley park this summer for the first time since the storms. i realized how the park has always been so groomed and preserved and such a constant gem in our city, i’ve never really viewed it as a piece of nature but more of a developed area. it really brings the reality of how vulnerable nature, and therefore, the beauty of vancouver is, and how we take that for granted.
September 16th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Two summers ago, the Bow river in Calgary flooded pretty badly making its way into parks, streets and houses. It rained for 30 days non-stop and the night that the river flooded everything, the sun came up again and it was one of the most amazing sunset I’ve seen.
That night I was down to Bowness park taking pictures with the cold water up my waist trying to capture some beauty out of this mess. Ended up painting a series of landscape out of this, just to show others the beautiful side of it. Because in all things, there is always one after all.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
We experienced similar damage to Point Pleasant Park here in Halifax back in 2003. It has been a landmark of our city for decades and the majority of it was destroyed during Hurricane Juan that passed through that year. Such a shame.
September 16th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
CTV reported a fire in Stanley park today possibly started by an arsonist. They are still investigating the cause, but people in the park reported hearing what they thought was an excelerant igniting. Like the park needed any more devestation
September 16th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Some people are such A-holes.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:08 am
last weekend i took a long walk around the park for the first time and i have to say that its a nicer park than any i’ve been to in any other city, even with the devastation. when you’re there it almost feels as if you aren’t in the middle of a massive city. if you haven’t done so yet, and you’re in the area, go check it out. (also the aquarium there rocks)
September 17th, 2007 at 9:40 am
I am so excited to be going to the show tonight in Victoria, so I’m just wondering how it could be that neither of the shows in Victoria are listed as sold out. Has the shows page just not been updated, or is there something seriously wrong with my fellow Victorians?? See you later Mr. Good, I’m off to try vainly to concentrate on getting some work done!
September 17th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
it is unreal what happend to stanley park!..i had only seen pictures in the paper online cause i was in brandon at school…and then when i got back home and was actually in the park…..damn! they have done a decent job cleaning it up but that is alot of trees!
on a side note i was also curious as to how many people will be at the vic shows, they prolly just arent sold out cause of the back to back nights! anyways, im making the always rad ferry trip tomorrow to see matt for the first time!….gonna be a good road trip, kinda glad i have to do that since van city sold out like hot cakes at 1030 am!
September 17th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Nature gives so much more than it takes away, but still on occasion has to show us how fallible we are. It’s amazing how humble we feel after nature sends it’s message. It’s also amazing to me that so often in the middle of destruction there will be one simple but beautiful symbol left, be it anything from an unharmed child to an old sacred looking tree we are always left to wonder, question and appreciate.
September 17th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
yeah…the wind storm was bad enough on the region, but the west side of Stanley Park seemed to be hit by a micro storm. We drove though and had a look. Sad
September 17th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
I agree it’s sad to see just dirt and empty space where there used to be forest and life. Reminds me of going home to Prince George for a visit and seeing the parks completely changed after they had cut down trees infected by the mountain pine beetle.