Spring In The Old Growth Forest

Spring in the old growth is one of those hard to beat things in life. A walk or hike up there is one of the best reasons to miss work. Just call it a mental health day.

This shot was taken just down river from Sahalie Falls on the McKenzie River in the Oregon Cascade Mountains.This is about 60 miles East of Eugene. Once the snow gets out of there and you can get in to park there is parking at the turnout for the falls. From there you can hike up or down stream.

Any of these old growth forests are a sensory overload on a damp spring day. Take in all of the different colors of green with your eyes.The smells of the cedar, fir and vine maple mixed with the moss and years of fallen needles on the ground will get your nose going. It is kind of like a mix of the smells of fresh cut Christmas trees and a good compost planting mix in your garden plot. You will want to wear boots and bring your walking stick. Things can be plenty slick even on the trails. This brings me to a point.. If you walk off of the trail, please watch where you are stepping. There is a whole world of moss, wild flowers and fungi down there under your feet. They are all part of what make an old growth forest what it is. Don’t forget to leave your iPod at home or at least in the car. The sounds of the ravens, wood peckers and deer are natures music. Take them in and enjoy them. Oh, listen for hummingbirds while you are up there! We carry a feeder in the motor home and not a camping trip goes by while the migrants are here that we don’t have hummers at the feeders.

This will be posted on Mother’s Day. If yours is still around and you can, giver her a call. As the song says, “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” I really miss being able to call my parents just to say hi.

Image info for those that may care …

• Camera: Canon: EOS 20D
• Lens: Canon: 28-125mm IS USM
• Exposure Time: 1/30 Sec.
• Aperture F 7.1
• ISO 200
• Flash: Not Fired
• Tripod: Used

Have a great week!