West Coast Trails

Jocelyn Timmermans
19 hours ago
3 min read

May 27-28, 2026 -- Long Beach area between Tofino and Euclulet -- final set 2

I felt quite small beside the intimidating power of the sea. I could watch it for hours, waiting for the big one - a wave that would give me an awesome photograph. I didn't catch one but all the more reason to return. For Brigitte it had been 40 years. For the rest of us, one.

Tidbits of history revealed themselves at Radar Hill, the Canso Bomber site and the Wild Pacific trail.

Group shot: Brigitte G, me, Denise D, Sue A

May 27 -- Radar Hill

In 1941 during WWII an airfield was established in Tofino, BC after the Pearl Harbour incident. Radar Hill Station was constructed at the same time. These areas were setup to keep a Japanese invasion at bay.

A short drive off of Hwy 4 and 100m walk to a north-facing historical viewpoint.

The memorial plaque at this viewpoint read: April 22, 1951 Chinese & North Korean troops attacked American & South Korean troops (ROK) north of Seoul. After heavy losses of the ROK and withdrawal of the American army, the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) as well as British and Australian came to aid the war. The 23rd, following a relentless attack, the ROK were forced to retreat down the Kap'young River Valley, protected on both sides by the Australians and Canadians. The Australians were then also forced to retreat. Outnumbered and about to be overrun, the PPCLI ordered allied artillery fire and mortar on their own position. The bombardment forced the Chinese to retreat. Honoured for their exceptional bravery, the PPCLI received Unit Citation from the president of the USA, the only Canadian battalion the ever receive this award.

Canso Bomber Ruins Trail

Stats: 5.3 km / 106m gain / 1:30 hours

A short drive back down the hill got us to a larger parking lot beside Hwy 4. We walked parallel to the highway before branching off onto the Canso Bomber Ruins trail.

A military bunker. Not sure what it was used for.

Most of this trail wound through bog scatted with boardwalks.

7-pic slider of WWII Canso bomber

One night on 10 February 1945, a Canso bomber plane was flying out to do duty with a crew of 12 onboard. The Canso was loaded with 3,400 litres of fuel and 4 100-kilogram depth charges. Heading out in the dark at 11pm to return to Coal Harbour up north on Vancouver Island, the plane malfunctioned and the port engine lost power. The Canso was falling 300 metres a minute when it hit the trees and crashed. The quick thinking of pilot Ron Scholes who stalled the plane to slow it’s descent was the reason that all 12 crew members survived the crash.

After crashing the fuel spilled out and the wreckage was in flames. Unable to reach the Tofino air field by radio, and unable to send up distress flares due to the fiery wreck, the crew used parachutes to create a tent and await rescue. The next morning they heard a plane take off from Tofino and launched a flare at a distance from the wreckage. The plane above sent down a parachute flare in response that by miracle did not hit any of the spilled fuel.

Eleven hours after the crash the entire crew was rescued, the army detonated the depth charges – leaving the 6 metre crater that still exists today, an retrieved the remaining electronics and guns outfitted on the plane.

Alpine Bog Laurel

Wandering through the quaint town of Tofino.

Sue cannot walk past garbage. She will always pick it up. Plastic is her pet peeve.

The rhododendrons were in full bloom and bursting with color.

This momument was created in 1984 to protect the ancient rainforests of Clayoqout Sound and Mearse Island. She is named the Weeping Cedar Woman. Tears stream from her eyes to represent the sorrow she feels at the destruction, her right hand is upheld to say, "Stop!" and her left hand points to the earth. The 21' body were carved from one piece of a 300-year old windfall red cedar.