It's not easy to get a photo in the middle of a storm with hurricane force winds.​

I made this trip up to British Columbia with my good friend, Emile Hawley.  We left SF about midday and drove in shifts all night, finally reaching the ferry out to Vancouver Island early the next morning.  After a brief rest on the ferry, we had another 4-5 hours driving up and over the mountains to the small town of Tahsis, where we met my old friend Clay Hunting, who picked us up in his zodiac and took us out to his surf camp on Nootka Island.

We were the only visitors at the camp.  The place is amazing.  You sleep in tree houses just steps from one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  There is no civilization at all on this massive island - just you and the bears, bald eagles, whales and salmon.​

That night a huge storm hit, with winds hitting 70 MPH.  We thought the whole damn forest was going to blow away, and us with it.​  The next day the weather was equally fierce, but after being cooped up by a wood stove for most of the day, I threw my camera into a water housing and walked down to where the river flows into the sea.  I took this photo while almost lying down, with a wave rushing towards me and throwing pebbles in my face.

You can see more photos of my Canada trips by clicking here.  You can also view the Water Portfolio here.​