Quinault Rain Forest or How to Cure an Atheiest

We started out on a two lane road from Quinalut Resort. ( you can click on these pics to go to full size).

Charlie was agin our Guide for the Quinault Rain Forest tour.

There has to be Thousands of water falls in the Olympics.

MossQuatch

Over 300 species of moss in the rain forest

Had to cross a small stream to see the recently spawned Juvenile Salmon.

They were so small it was heard to see them till the guide threw a little fish food in the water and they attacked it.

All the Water of the Quinault Valley Flows into the Quinault River.

Chester Wilson's firewood hauling truck as a memorial to Chesters Life as a woodsman.

Lots of money being spent to restore the log damns on the Quinault River. Pelt Hunters from long ago depleated the area of Beavers who built natural log dams and provided safe havens for the salmon returning to spawn. The log dams provided shelter fron the swift currents of the river allowing the salmon to rest and have enough energy left over to make it to their spawning grounds. I guess they are betting with a little help the resident Beaver Population can finish the project.

The Olympic Rain forest have the highest Bio-density of any rain forest on Earth.

All this life force surrounds you as the spirit of the rain forest.

Red Alderwood

As we continue our tour circumnavigating Lake Quinault, the road turns to a narrow gravel lane with lots of pot holes.

Super Lush undergrowth.

At the very bottom left is Lake Quinault, you can see the extensive River Valley: The Quinault River (/kwɨˈnɒlt/ or /kwɨˈnɔːlt/) is a 69-mile (111 km) long^[2] river located on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. It originates deep in the Olympic Mountains in the Olympic National Park. It flows southwest through the "Enchanted Valley". Several miles aboveLake Quinault the river is joined by its main tributary, the North Fork Quinault River. The main stem Quinault River above this confluence is sometimes called the East Fork Quinault River. Below the confluence the river marks the boundary of Olympic National Park for several miles before emptying into Lake Quinault. After the lake, the Quinault River flows southwest, reaching the Pacific at Taholah. From Lake Quinault to the ocean, the river is contained within the Quinault Indian Reservation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinault_River

Bridge over July Creek

July Creek See: http://youtu.be/KIzkM2Lp5Nk

When the Western Red Cedar Falls it stays around for a very long time as insects are not interested so it takes a long time to melt back into the forest.

Filled with the Spirit of the Rain forest. 

Looking South towards Lake Quinault Lodge

No matter how hard you try it seems impossible to capture the height and greatness of the trees

A whole other ecosystem exist in the canopy, this small piece fell why we were there and Charlie took the opportunity to teach us 

The road narrows to one lane.

If we get a chance to come back we will  take some of the long  day hikes.

Charlie Teaches us about the major trees in the rain Fores, Big Douglas firs, western red cedar and pacific silver fir dominate themain forest upper canopy.  Adding to this rich dark green are the moisture dependent Sitka spruce and the western hemlock. The forest canopy is open, allowing streams of sunlight to reach the forest floor.  These huge conifers along with the big leaf maple and alder along the river bars comprise first impressions for those visiting the Quinault Rain Forest.

Nurse Log

It is clear I am not a descendant of Ansel Adams but I figure what I cant do with quality I should try and do with number.

The Quinault will soon run full with the Winter rains.

Quinault Rain Forest or How to Cure an Atheiest 
http://www.quinaultrainforest.com/pages/rainforest.html

No words or pictures can adequately provide you with the experience of being in the Quinault Rain Forest. Our Guide Charlie is sure this is the Mother of all Rain Forest. IN short he says due to the Geography of this particular River Valley on the Olympic Peninsula, this rain forest benefits the most from what Mother nature bestows on these lands. One can only wonder what it must have been lik before all the clear cut logging and hunting several species into extinction or near extinction.Since this is the Only rain forest we have ever visited we are unable to dispute the claim, but what we both know is the Spirit is what you feel the most here. I told the Admiral " I am pretty sure you could cure a Atheist in just a few hours here".