Ocean to Alpine: A British Columbia Nature Guide

Susan Brown is a B.C. horticulturist, permaculture designer, and early
childhood education instructor.

The subtitle is somewhat misleading in a book that might more accurately
be described as a guide to sites and places in British Columbia, with
annotated bird, mammal, and plant lists. The editors have called upon
their connections with the B.C. Federation of Naturalists, the
provincial museum, and local natural-history and conservation societies
throughout B.C. for on-site contributions by locally knowledgeable
people.

The province is divided into five broad areas; some are identified by
name and regional map, while others follow a kilometre-log format. The
emphasis is on the more heavily populated regions of the south and
southwest. “Further Information” listings provide contacts for
advance trip planning, while color-photograph sections illustrate the
kinds of scenes and some of the plants and animals that may be viewed in
the province.

Because coarse-scale location maps are given only for the five broad
regions mentioned, more detailed maps should be used in conjunction with
the guide. While a road map would do, the British Columbia Recreational
Atlas (published by the B.C. Ministry of the Environment) would best
complement this book.

Canadians from all regions and international travelers will appreciate
the guide as both a holiday planner and an informative on-the-road
companion. It will appeal to those interested in hiking, fishing,
canoeing, kayaking, and birdwatching, as well as to picnickers and
relaxation seekers who want to get off the beaten path and into our
wildlands.