Saturday, August 24, 2013, Hall of Mosses Trail at Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Forks, WA

The ranger-led hike at Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, WA, yesterday was one of two the park service offers. It was so great we went back today to go on the other hike. This one was on the Hall of Mosses trail. Even though we had already hiked this trail, we thought we would learn more with the ranger along. We were right! Ranger Laura repeated some of yesterday's information but had much more. We saw several people we recognized from the hike yesterday, so it wasn't such an odd thing after all.

 

The average annual rainfall at the Hoh was illustrated graphically with the sign over my head. I guess you would have to really like rain if you lived here!

In the visitor center, they had several displays that showed how much impact the environment has on how big the tree will grow. So if you are ever a tree and you want to be big you want to be close to sea level and not too far north. 

Ranger Laura is telling the tale of why the mice hide in the Douglas Fir cone.

Joani thought the color was not quite right on her camera. Checking the on-screen help guide, we found how to change the white balance in program mode. It made a huge difference, as you can see, in the two unretouched pictures below. She was a lot happier photographer today!

"We" didn't fix my problem, David did.  I so appreciate having a genius on board!

This little gnome was posing for her mommy. A very adorable and cooperative 2-year-old!

I want to come back someday to see these Bigleaf Maples in the fall.

Oops. I googled "Bigleaf maple fall color" and alas, they don't impress.

Well, they impress year round with their size and ability to support massive amounts of moss!

Joani found the extremes of bus travel parked next to each other. One a crowded, smelly, noisy bus you probably wouldn't hitch a ride in no matter how desperate you were and the other one a nice school bus conversion. 

Where did all the hippies go?  Out west!

We loved the Red Alders flanking the road into the park. At the place we stopped, we heard rushing water and thought it was the river behind us, but finally realized there was a small stream running nearby.

Red Alders look so much like Aspen or Birch, but the white on their bark is a lichen.

Red Alders take over when the big trees fall down and open the canopy.