(click to enlarge and get full effect)
For anyone who doesn't know Mt Rainier is a volcano, one of many here along the Pacific Coast...
Returned now from Mt Rainier National Park. I went to see the Grove of The Patriarchs, a small grove of old growth trees standing since 1000 years ago when a fire went through the valley killing off all the the older trees that came before them.
( thanks for the suggestion Linda) I had not been to this part of Rainier yet.
I'm not showing the Patriarchs here, just some other large trees in the area. The reason is the Patriarchs are guarded by unsightly wooden pathways and porches and rails to keep people from damaging the trees. It is so sad we can't even manage these days to leave them alone, and just look at them without making a man made environment for them to survive in, just to protect them from people who touch and climb until they are worn smooth and damaged by roughness.
I apologized for us all. The old trees are huge and beautiful, yet unsightly due to the 'fenced in look' surrounding them.
Mostly I took photos of these other Cedars and Douglas Firs. Very large too, and beautiful.
The first one is a Douglas blocking the trail. It's texture is so deep and it is so amazing.
The other two photos are one Cedar ( Western Red, Thuja Plicata). Too large for one photo.
Please look at the posts below this one to get an idea of what we are doing to our environment and what has been done in old growth and how it affects us.
I'll be visiting some more "big trees" to show soon..until then, here is a Steller Jay from the park, Michelle. I could almost sprinkle salt on it's tail I was so close.
