5. Double rainbow at Chasm Provincial Park – ‘What does it meeeeaaaannnn?’

I arrived at Chasm Provincial Park just in time for evening golden light. I’d driven out of a rainstorm near Williams Lake, but still wasn’t counting on the double rainbow that appeared. What does it meeeaaan? (Richard McGuire Photo)

This is Part 5 about my trip to British Columbia’s interior temperate rainforest and the Cariboo region in June. See also Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

I had aimed my arrival at Chasm Provincial Park to coincide with “golden hour,” that time before sunset when the low-angled sun turns to orange.

I watched the shadows move across the sharp cliffs as the sun lowered.

I’d just driven from a rainstorm to the north near Williams Lake – Chasm is just north of Clinton. I was lit with bright sun as the storm abated, but dark clouds hung in the distance.

Suddenly, as remnants of the storm drifted past me, a rainbow appeared over the cliffs. Soon I could see the double.

But ever since the “double rainbow guy” meme of 2010, all I can think of when I see a double rainbow is that guy, who was overwhelmed by the double rainbow he saw it. He sounded like he was tripping on acid, but he might just have been mesmerized by its beauty. Double Rainbow Guy, aka Yosemitebear62, has had well over 46 million views of his shaky YouTube video.

The Painted Chasm is impressive in itself even without the double rainbow, though I would reject the comparisons some make with the Grand Canyon – it’s on a much, much smaller scale and its formation was entirely different.

The chasm is said to have been forming for more than 16 million years, especially during lava flows around 10 million years ago that created basalt formations. It was later shaped by glacier flow during the much more recent ice age.

I only observed the chasm, a steep, rocky valley, from the observation areas at the top. There are limited hiking opportunities, but much of the park is inaccessible.

The double rainbow made a fitting end to my trip around Central B.C. I was up early the following day to drive back to Osoyoos.