News, the President’s Tree has fallen.
On the way into Tahsis, you will come across one of Vancouver Island’s big trees, which is called the President’s Tree. This is a big tree. It grows right alongside the road with ample access to it. This tree was dedicated to the President of the Tahsis company, J.V. Christensen.
The President’s Tree is over 300 years old, and to the residents of Tahsis, it is the welcome mat as they return home. Tahsis is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island. There is a good gravel road that runs from Gold River to Tahsis, but when I was a boy, there was no road then, and you either flew or took the Uchuck boat into Tahsis.
Black bears can be seen in the spring, summer, and fall, and cougars, wolves, deer, roosevelt elk, weasels, raccoons, and mink can also be found in and around Tahsis. Marine life includes killer whales, the harbour porpoise, the gray whale, the humpback whale, sea otters, sea lions, and harbour seals, which are all quite common at different times here.
Migratory hummingbirds gather in great numbers in Tahsis, usually from March until late June. According to oral history from the first peoples, hummingbirds have been doing this for thousands of years. Many other birds live or visit Tahsis, enough to satisfy even the most dedicated birder.
Tahsis itself is absolutely beautiful. There are breathtaking mountain views, some of the best caves on the island, and world-class wildlife viewing.