The last stand for old growth: As the chainsaws close in, land defenders refuse to look away

On a dirt road above the Walbran, forest defenders maintain a vigil for what’s left of the old growth. McLure Road is an hour and a half from Lake Cowichan, the last town before the trees close in for good. It runs west off the pavement and up into Pacheedaht territory, past clear-cuts stubbled with slash, until it forks toward a gate the logging company put up after it won a court injunction. Beyond that gate is what’s left of the Walbran Valley’s old growth — western red cedar and Sitka spruce that were standing before Confucius, before Christ, some of them. Just short of the gate, off a s…