Redwood National Park
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Tall Trees Grove Redwood National Park |
June 21, 2017
My day begins at the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center, located a mile north of the dilapidated community of Orick. Access to today's venue is freely available; but a permit is required. Printed on the paper is the combination for a padlock on a gate to the trailhead.
On my way up Bald Hills Road, I spot some lovely foxglove flowers that I resolve to photograph later. The gate itself already is open, because someone is coming out. Another driver coming out volunteers to lock the gate, so I manage to pass through without even getting out of my car.
Six miles of dusty dirt road get me to the trailhead parking lot, which is nearly full. This condition contradicts the wishful thinking of those who write the park brochures.
Getting started
Entering the cathedral
Trail anomalies
I am over here on the coast right now because the air
temperatures are projected to get only in the low seventies;
at home it is 30-35 degrees hotter this week.
Many trees here are more than 320 feet tall
Because others ahead of me are opting for a clockwise loop, I will go the other way.
Interesting colors in the bark
Douglas Iris
Swordferns are everywhere
Off to the right, a meadow is basking in some actual sunlight. An unofficial path through the bushes gets me over there.
I hear water running
Redwood Creek
A few hikers are sitting on the beach downstream; I head over in that direction and find something else instead.
A bridge to nowhere
I cross the bridge, but can see no evidence of a clear trail on either side. This must be part of the Redwood Creek Route that necessitates a lot of sloshing through the water itself.
Daisies in the meadow
Lichen and moss
Not particularly tall, but interesting
Lots of moss everywhere
Another short spur leads over to a section of the creek where a bunch of people are swimming. The woman in blue invites me to go in, but I reply that she might not like that. When she asks why, I tell her that I wouldn't be wearing any clothes; and that seems to satisfy her.
The temptation is great
Actually, I am hoping that my motel has a spa; but it probably does not. I never expect much from a Rodeway Inn.
Of course, in one respect any trail such as this is something of a
"seen one, seen them all" affair. Actually, though, there are a
few numbered attractions along this trail; but I failed to pick up a
brochure at the trailhead. One such identification probably is
for the Howard Libbey, which in 1963 was the tallest known tree at
367 feet and made its way onto the cover of National Geographic
Magazine. It must be right here, near this sign.
And all the while the Hyperion Tree, at 379 feet, stood just a
quarter of a mile away (and still does). Subsequently, the top
of Libbey died back about ten feet; so it now ranks in
34th
The climb back to the trailhead is dispatched in short order.
Lately, I seem to be able to handle most any 700-foot ascent
without breathing hard or even slowing down — especially
at sea-level!
§: Well, this walk was as expected — a lot of tall
trees and a few flowers. There is something magically humbling
about being in groves such as this.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty | |
| Solitude |  |
On the way up US-101 to my lodging in Crescent City, I pass by the famous Trees of Mystery, where one can take a gondola ride through the forest canopy. I never have done that myself.
Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe invite visitors to stop
The anachronistic nature of the lumberjack legend is especially evident here on the north coast, where the modern focus is on conservation rather than on wanton harvesting.
