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Chasing Clayoquot: A Wilderness Almanac
First published in 2004, and now with a new introduction by the author and a foreword by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., this book of natural history, environmentalism, and politics explores one of the Earth's last primeval places: Clayoquot Sound. Pitt-Brooke takes the reader on 12 journeys, one for each month of the year. Each journey covers the outstanding natural event of that season, such as whale-watching in April, shorebird migration in May, and the salmon spawn in October.
- GenresNonfictionCanada
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2005
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93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 4, 2012
Chasing Clayoquot is a book I have read several times over. If you are a fan of Wade Davis you will relate to David Pitt-Brooke and his approach to exploring the deep unseen world of this ecological gem, and part of my west coast backyard. In his book, Pitt-Brooke defines his home in months of the year and describes the life-cycled of the Clayoquot region of Vancouver Island, near Tofino.
It is poetic at times, horrifically threatened and a world unto its own. My own experiences as a sea kayaker paddling the waters of Barkley Sound and Clayoqout Sound, both described in his book, I have come to know more about myself in the quiet coves, and wild outer reaches between safe landings. The backdrop to my journeys have been the natural wonders of the area. This book takes my own views and broadened them to the hidden things that I always knew were there, but had no voice to describe them.
I give it five stars. I would give it more if I could. The book is a testament to the place so threatened by our vicious needs for materials, and food. It gives the place of Clayoquot that I love so dearly a clear voice.
It is poetic at times, horrifically threatened and a world unto its own. My own experiences as a sea kayaker paddling the waters of Barkley Sound and Clayoqout Sound, both described in his book, I have come to know more about myself in the quiet coves, and wild outer reaches between safe landings. The backdrop to my journeys have been the natural wonders of the area. This book takes my own views and broadened them to the hidden things that I always knew were there, but had no voice to describe them.
I give it five stars. I would give it more if I could. The book is a testament to the place so threatened by our vicious needs for materials, and food. It gives the place of Clayoquot that I love so dearly a clear voice.
December 1, 2007
This book, written in elegant but readable prose, transports the reader to one of the world's most pristine wilderness areas. Each chapter represents a new month, tackling issues of wildlife and the region's native peoples. Beautifully written. I spent my honeymoon on Chesterman Beach, picked up this book and loved it.
July 21, 2011
This is the most luscious book I've read. While non-fiction, you can dream of the virginal places that the author describes throughout an entire year. You will yearn to be at his side, fighting the battle to save the gentle forests of Vancouver Island.
If you are a treehugger (even at heart), a well-intended hippie, or a fan of Julia Butterfly Hill, this is a must read!!!!
If you are a treehugger (even at heart), a well-intended hippie, or a fan of Julia Butterfly Hill, this is a must read!!!!
April 19, 2025
When I found it in a coffee shop/swag/kayak shop in Tofino, I suspected then that I would love it - but had no idea it would make my heart and soul swell every time I not only pick it up, but even see it on my table.
I love and keep a phenology so this book spoke to me on that level. It is wondrous in its ability to transport me not just to another biome, but to another time.
David Pitt-Brooke captures the myriad connections, going back thousands of years, that make the west coast of Vancouver Island so remarkable. From tiny herring roe and plankton, to mass migrations of salmon, whales and birds - every living thing plays a role in this remarkable ecosystem.
He ties the indigenous communities and lifestyle into the natural history of the environment. His deep respect for this world is apparent in every word.
Initially I started reading the book, like you would any other.
I quickly grasped the treasure of the book is it is divided into months. So now, my weekend morning tradition is to sit on my stoop, surrounded by my natural world, and submerse myself into the current month’s natural history of Clayoquot Sound.
One other fascinating aspect of this book? The brilliant and passionate forward is written by none other than Robert F Kennedy, Jr. Incredibly surreal to read his younger self’s love for the natural world.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of the book and immersing yourself into this unparalleled ecosystem.
December 19, 2019
What an enjoyable read! I'd been to Tofino and then found this in a Victoria bookstore. So glad that I did. This explores the beautiful landscape of the Clayoquot Sound with poetic insight balanced with science and ecology. A romp from beginning to end.
June 22, 2016
A good idea but pretty dull in parts. Some of my favorite passages:
Unfortunately, speed, convenience and comfort come at a price. When we travel in motor vehicles we alienate and isolate ourselves from the natural world. Technology is an impediment to intimacy. We arrive as intruders, foreign objects, and the natural world recoils. Sensible creatures run, hide, abandon all their ordinary business to focus anxious eyes on the sudden apparition. Motor vehicles are extensions of the artificial environments human beings have constructed fro themselves, little pods of mobile habitat. When we travel in a machine, we never really leave town...
Here on the west coast of Vancouver Island, even a four-wheel drive needs a clear road and, arguably, anything at the end of a clear road is not worth seeing.
(p 40)
The huge school of herring is moving so smoothly and in such concerted unison that individual fish hardly seem to be swimming. Rather it's as if they are being drawn along by some sort of uncanny current, magnetism, gravity, whatever. The spacing and coordination are so perfect that the school changes direction as one organism. It all looks so effortless that I have to think about how amazing this is. All of those thousands of fish, complicated manoeuvres, sudden changes of direction. But no collisions. They are not banging into or sideswiping one another. There aren't any pileups ore melees, not even any close calls as far as I can see. It's as if each fish were an automation under the absolute control of some mastermind.
(p 71)
These effects are not confined to molecules of seawater. The whole planet creaks and flexes like a wooden boat in a storm. We ourselves are less firmly attached to the surface when situated on the near or far side of Earth, relative to the Moon. In fact, when the moon is directly overhead, we are lighter by about ten milligrams- weight watchers take note- feeling that tendency to drift up into a tighter orbit.
(p 130)
It's important to understand that a wave is not an object but an event: a progressive or propagating impulse, like a line of dominoes falling one after another. It is the event that moves down the line, not the dominoes. Water moves only in a limited way with the passage of a wave. A chip of wood floating in deep water traces a vertical circle as each wave passes: it moves toward an oncoming wave, rises to meet the crest, is carried on the crest back over the top of the circle, and ultimately subsides toward its original position as the wave passes on.
(p 134)
Unfortunately, speed, convenience and comfort come at a price. When we travel in motor vehicles we alienate and isolate ourselves from the natural world. Technology is an impediment to intimacy. We arrive as intruders, foreign objects, and the natural world recoils. Sensible creatures run, hide, abandon all their ordinary business to focus anxious eyes on the sudden apparition. Motor vehicles are extensions of the artificial environments human beings have constructed fro themselves, little pods of mobile habitat. When we travel in a machine, we never really leave town...
Here on the west coast of Vancouver Island, even a four-wheel drive needs a clear road and, arguably, anything at the end of a clear road is not worth seeing.
(p 40)
The huge school of herring is moving so smoothly and in such concerted unison that individual fish hardly seem to be swimming. Rather it's as if they are being drawn along by some sort of uncanny current, magnetism, gravity, whatever. The spacing and coordination are so perfect that the school changes direction as one organism. It all looks so effortless that I have to think about how amazing this is. All of those thousands of fish, complicated manoeuvres, sudden changes of direction. But no collisions. They are not banging into or sideswiping one another. There aren't any pileups ore melees, not even any close calls as far as I can see. It's as if each fish were an automation under the absolute control of some mastermind.
(p 71)
These effects are not confined to molecules of seawater. The whole planet creaks and flexes like a wooden boat in a storm. We ourselves are less firmly attached to the surface when situated on the near or far side of Earth, relative to the Moon. In fact, when the moon is directly overhead, we are lighter by about ten milligrams- weight watchers take note- feeling that tendency to drift up into a tighter orbit.
(p 130)
It's important to understand that a wave is not an object but an event: a progressive or propagating impulse, like a line of dominoes falling one after another. It is the event that moves down the line, not the dominoes. Water moves only in a limited way with the passage of a wave. A chip of wood floating in deep water traces a vertical circle as each wave passes: it moves toward an oncoming wave, rises to meet the crest, is carried on the crest back over the top of the circle, and ultimately subsides toward its original position as the wave passes on.
(p 134)
January 19, 2011
Still reading, but the book would have shone with some serious editing.
Slowest read in awhile. Some parts shine, only to be mired in pointless narrative.
- this book is only 287 pages, but it has taken almost a month to get through. There are moments when the writing is evocative and worth reading; however, overall, the text needs an editor. There are much better naturalist-oriented books out there.
Slowest read in awhile. Some parts shine, only to be mired in pointless narrative.
- this book is only 287 pages, but it has taken almost a month to get through. There are moments when the writing is evocative and worth reading; however, overall, the text needs an editor. There are much better naturalist-oriented books out there.
Want to read
September 1, 2011A friend of a friend wrote about this area where I first fell in love with BC!
September 11, 2014
I was transported to west coast Van Island!
September 20, 2020
An amazing book that shares so much information about Clayoquot Sound and the surrounding areas. Yes, there is some complex scientific information in this book, especially the part about the weather patterns but the author does a great job in breaking it down for everyone to understand. If anything, I wish there were photos to accompany some of the passages but that's why you should read this book if you plan on visiting Clayoquot Sound so that you can seek out these natural miracles that occur during your visit! I enjoyed this book so much that I read it twice this summer!
November 26, 2021
Picturing the places brings me some welcomed calmness. I like how the chapters are organized but found myself wanting less of a deep dive into a particular species that occurs in some of them and more discussion of the time of year reflected by the chapter. In that sense the geographic parts were my favourite.
January 11, 2020
What an interesting idea for a book about a place. Skimmed some of the more sciencey sections - especially the glaciers bit - but I deeply loved the chapters on herring, whales, and migratory birds. It's inspired me to look at the place I live in with new eyes.
January 30, 2020
Great book. Very enjoyable mix between history, natural history facts, and adventure stories.
August 17, 2024
Fun to follow each month of the year in one place. Nice format and interesting info.
February 8, 2013
Another must-read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews