 |
| Heading to the trail |
As you might imagine, there are quite a few seniors in this part of the country who watch the weather forecasts all week long, with interest in what will happen on Thursday, our regular hiking day. We head out, rain or shine, but lately it's been rather soggy, even when we are looking forward to a dry day. We went on this hike to
Lost Lake last December, and it was much rainier than usual, even for us. It never stopped all day and we were all pretty miserable.
 |
| Al at trail junction. We went the other direction, of course. |
Today was much, much better. Although the six of us who showed up for the hike never saw the sun, we only had the occasional raindrop on our way to the lake. From this sign, we went off to the right so that we could make a loop around the lake, then from this point retracing our steps, which Al calls a "lollipop" hike (in contrast to a loop or an out-and-back).
At our lunch spot, having covered more than five miles by this time, we were happy to sit down and have a rather leisurely lunch, especially when compared to our
last visit to the lake. Before we started out today, I put out a request to the Universe that by the time we reached this spot it would be 11:45am (it was) and that rays of sunshine would break through the clouds to warm us (nope).
On our way back to the sign, we saw this incredibly large tree that had toppled over some time in the past (you can see Al on the right for perspective). The root system didn't extend deep enough into the ground to keep a windstorm from taking it down. The ground is almost always damp here, and the roots didn't extend very deeply into the soil. It's been a few years since it happened, but it is still terrifying to think of what it must have been like when it blew down.
We saw signs of spring all over. In the middle of this picture, you can see a baby skunk cabbage just poking its sprouts up through the very boggy environment, which is perfect for skunk cabbage. You'll be seeing more of these as the weeks go by, I'm sure. Little buds on the trees were just beginning to show themselves, and we even saw a couple of stinging nettles a few inches high by the side of the trail.
All in all, it was a really wonderful day, but after ten miles and 2,300 feet of up and down, I'm pretty tired as I sit here in my chair, writing this post. Feeling pretty satisfied with myself, too.
:-)
from non-stop rain, to no sun - next time should be glorious! :)
ReplyDeletethat root system is huge! love the bright green moss.
(yes, i'm probably first.)
I was feeling proud of our 4.2 mile hike today, with 250 feet of elevation gain. I guess I'm still not ready to join your group.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness that is one huge tree taken out by the wind. Amazing. That green mossy looking stuff makes my heart go pitter patter. I love the moss found in the PNW.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great day. Things will be improving from now on for your trips. It might still be raining but it will be warmer.
ReplyDeleteits cool to see those signs of spring isnt it? what a lovely lunch spot as well....
ReplyDeletecome on spring...
That was quite a workout today. You deserve to be tired, and proud of yourself!
ReplyDeleteThat tree is enormous! Can you imagine the sound it made when it came down? Unless there was nobody there to hear it and then we don't really know for sure if it made a sound. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou deserve to be both proud and tired (exhausted even). Thank you for taking us on this trek - it is truly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI wonder whether the tree was relatively shallow rooted just because you get so much rain? Ours need to drill towards the centre of the earth in their hunt for moisture.
That tree is humongous compared to the human being standing next to it. Not my kind of weather, but glad you had a good time, DJan.
ReplyDeleteThat's some tree DJan - WOW, it must of made some noise when it came down - I love the greens in your mossy photo with the bit of skunk cabbage poking up through the ground. The weather can only get better from here on in. We finally have the sun shining after just over a week of extreme northerly winds and heavily clouded skies. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteI would dearly love to be a senior in Washington right 'bout now. I would cherish all the rain, AND the hikes and scenes.
ReplyDeleteI read and learned a long time ago, that if you water a tree much too much the root system doesn't 'dig deep enough' to find moisture. So guess that's why it toppled over. The base must be MASSIVE.
I'd go crazy hiking all those miles to such a beautiful spot and then NOT HAVING MY FLYROD....:)
ReplyDeleteYour trip once again shows how you all profit from the exercise and the beauty of nature as a group. It must be so much ahrd work and fun at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThat was quite a walk. I hope you just put your feet up and had a nice glass of wine.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, that must have been some storm to have taken out that tree. Maybe one day soon Mother Nature will give your group a nice sunny day.
ReplyDeleteDifferent trees have different kinds of roots/root systems. Oak have several long roots with one being a tap root that helps to anchor it solidly. Pines have a lesser tap root system and lots of horizontal roots. In wind storms our pines will sometimes go down..but it takes a real wind to blow over a Oak.
ReplyDeleteThat is a massive tree..a Cedar or Douglas Fir? I am certain it has more of a root system than your photograph shows..those roots were just severed off when she/he toppled over. Trees are amazing..
Moisture loving trees usually grow in a moist environment...the ones that struggle to grow in a moist area..soon die out.
The worst thing I have ever seen is people that stake trees and don't allow them move in the wind. Moving in the wind helps to make their root system stronger. I always want to leave notes at trees that are staked...especially the ones that are staked for years and years..sometimes trees just need to be trees and sway in the wind.
Sometimes there can be hidden reasons why one tree goes down in a storm and other do not. Insects, tree disease..how they are growing..single trunk versus a double trunk. Okay end of tree lecture:)
Another great virtual trek with you. Beautiful photos and along with your description, it all makes me feel like I'm right there!
ReplyDeleteDJan, I love your pictures... and really like making them *bigger* - makes me feel like I'm right there too. That picture of the fallen tree with the man beside it is terrific! If he wasn't there in the pic to give it perspective, it wouldn't seem so fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI think you could tell a tale of Lost Lake and Bridal Veil Falls and still not be able to narrow down the location to fewer than twenty states. Hey, I hear redwoods have a root system about a foot deep and a mile wide, too. At our cabin we lost a bunch of trees all in one day, because they drag each other down with them, with all their shared shallow roots.
ReplyDeleteThe amazing part of your hiking adventures is the "rain or shine" part. You sure did have gorgeous scenery though. I remember seeing skunk cabbage in the Northwest and wondered if they really smell bad.
ReplyDeleteI hiked to Lost Lake over fifty years ago, when I was a student at Western. I had two memorable experiences...I slept outside alone under the stars and all niight I heard frightening howls (coyotes? wolves?) and then when I hiked out, I encountered a porcupine! More memorably still, a pack of dogs (or wolves?) came running out of the forest and one ran over and bit me on the leg? Since I had two pairs of heavy jeans on, he bite was not serious. I never hiked by myself after that.
ReplyDelete