These are both taken in the rain forest up the East Fork of the Quinault River valley at Graves Creek Campground in Olympic National Park. I am always impressed with the way the trees get covered with moss.
Early Spring in the Rain Forest
Rainforest Moss
These were all taken in the Graves Creek campground in the Olympic National Forest, at the end of the South Shore Quinault Road, where the East Fork Quinault trail begins. There was still a little bit of snow here and there along the road, but it was definitely starting to look like spring. It’s pretty amazing how the moss covers so much of the trees and ground… but that’s what happens in a rain forest.
Ira Spring Wetlands Trail
During the recent stay at Kalaloch, we took a day hike on the Ira Spring Wetlands Loop Trail. Ira Spring was one of my photo idols growing up as a kid. He and his brother Bob were famous local photographers, and with Harvey Manning, put out a pile of hiking guide books: the 100 Hikes in Western Washington series. Ira was also one of the co-founders of the Washington Trails Association. So I was pleased to be able to hike this trail that was named in his honor. It is located at the beginning of the Bogachiel River trail … just before it enters the Olympic National Park. It is a wild, seldom visited rain forest valley.
Backlit Moss
I was visiting an old friend and walking around his property when we all noticed the sun shining through the moss coating the trees. This may need you to click on the image to get a bigger version to really notice it … but it was quite a nice effect.
Taken with my medium format Pentax 634N camera on Kodak Portra 400 film.
Big Rocks
This big overhanging rock lives along the Staircase Loop Trail (about a 2 mile loop) in the southeast corner of the Olympic National Park. The trail is heavily used, especially in the summer when the campground at Staircase fills up. It’s a great walk through old growth forest without much elevation gain.
I have visited the area year ’round and have wondered if the overhang provides shelter for any critters during inclement weather … besides hikers. I’ve never seen any, but I expect that critters leave when hikers show up.