 |
| Varied Thrush |
 |
| Looking for baby Salmon |
 |
Lots of Waterfalls on the shorter hikes but if you are willing to do the three day hikes you can get to the Big ones.
Here is a short clip of this one near the Forest Road http://youtu.be/-6Gh1zzwxUE |
 |
| The Admiral spotteed the American Dipper Bird |
 |
Mary told us that it was the only bird that walked under the water feeding. It is 16.5 cm long and weighs on average 46 g. It has long legs, and bobs its whole body up and down during pauses as it feeds on the bottom of fast-moving, rocky streams. It inhabits the mountainous regions of Central America and western North America from Panama to Alaska. This species, like other dippers, is equipped with an extra eyelid called a "nictitating membrane" that allows it to see underwater, and scales that close its nostrils when submerged. Dippers also produce more oil than most birds, which may help keep them warmer when seeking food underwater.
|
 |
| Quinault River Looking South This water comes from the high peaks of the Olympic Mountains. |
 |
| Looking North as the River heads the short distance to Lake Quinaut. |
 |
| This Log will definitely be on a beach of the Pacific Ocean by the end of the year I am sure. |
 |
| The Alder Trees dominate lower elevations along the rivers and creeks. |
 |
| More sunlight reaching the ground when it is flatter. |
 |
| Some type of Shelf Fungas |
 |
| The las time we were on this road there was no direct sunlight and everything was wet, including us. |
 |
| This Big |
 |
| New trees growing from the host of an old decaying trunk. |
 |
| No shortage of firewood. |
 |
We saw the sign besides the road directing us to the Largest Western Red Cedar Tree in the World so I made the climb.
It has a 63.5" circumference, 19.5 feet diameter |
 |
| and 174' tall. |
 |
| Pretty sure a Leprechaun lives here |
 |
| It was a long way up so I took the trip back down.#1 |
 |
| #2 |
 |
| #3 |
 |
| #4 |
 |
| #5 |
 |
| #6 |
 |
| #7 |
 |
| #8 |
 |
| #9 |
 |
| #10 |
 |
| #11 |
 |
| #12 |
 |
| #13 |
 |
| Finally Down. |
 |
| These Hummingbird Feeders are not that busy, there is the real thing everywhere. |
 |
| An Indigenous Craft |
 |
| The easy way to bird here is to sit in a chair with a fine ale and see what drops by the bird feeder. |
 |
| There is that Varied Thrush Again |
 |
| See what I mean about trying to find a bird here? |
 |
| The Largest Sitka Spruce in the world with a 55'7" Circumference, |
 |
| The Beavers a busy here. |
 |
| 191' tall |
 |
| 17.68' Diameter |
Self Guided Tour on the Lake Quinault's North Bank in the Rain Forest
After a great Morning with Mary the naturalist and a picnic lunch we jumped in the family truckster and drove the forest roads to the North Shore of Lake Quinault to repeat the guided tour we took the last time we were here. This time it was sunny and warm. I asked Mary what is the best time to visit the rain Forest in her Opinion and she said Now, the late spring since everything is blooming I guess and it is dryer for sure. I think I would agree but there is something very special though being in the Rain Forest when it is Raining, after all that is when the Qi seemed just as intent and this world is definitely happy when it is wet. The ecosystem varies certainly by the different elevations and I can't help but wonder what some serious hiking would be like here. There are trails that are 3 days, a week or longer and take you to most of those elevations and of course the time of year is hug, just a couple of months makes a big difference. I would spend a winter here just to see what 25' of rain is like.
There are 5 of the worlds largest trees here near Lake Quinault, we did not see the Largest Western Hemlock, Mountain Hemlock or Douglass Fir. The are a total of 8 in the Olympic Forest see
http://exotichikes.com/8-giant-trees-on-the-olympic-peninsula/
We had to break this trip up into 3 post due to all the pics, The next Post, "Two Roads" is all about the trip home.
No comments:
Post a Comment