The Hollow Tree

Barry and I spent one last morning together, as he was kind enough to take me on a tour around the perimeter of Stanley Park, stopping here and there to a quick look around.  Unfortunately, it was raining (and continues to rain) so we didn't get to do too much exploring.

Barry showed me the devastation caused by a huge wind storm in 2006 that knocked over more than 1000 trees in the park.  There were places along the road where once you could only see a forest, and where now you have a clear view of the ocean.

One of Vancouver's first tourist attractions is called the Hollow Tree.  It is a more than 700-year old red fir that has a hollowed out trunk.  The tree was nearly uprooted in the storm, and was scheduled to be taken down because it was a safety hazard.  Fortunately, the tree was saved and re-enforced so that it remains a beloved attraction by locals and tourists alike.

It's really hard to convey how big this tree is.  I hope these pictures give you a bit of an idea.  Can you imagine what it would have been like to see this tree when it was alive and complete?