Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
A Mental Health Day and a Long Hike
Yesterday I decided to take a respite from politics and other woes of the world. I went on a hike with my brother on the Lower Salmon River Trail on the slopes of Mount Hood. The River was high in the aftermath of a big Pacific storm that had just swept through dumping about three inches of rain.
The hike is known for its huge trees. This Western Red Cedar is easily 500 years, and maybe as much as 800 years, old.
The exposed roots of a tree downed many years ago.
Large trees which fall in the forest eventually begin to rot, and other plants begin to grow on them. Such trees are called “nurse logs”. Western Hemlock has a particular affinity for growing in nurse logs and old stumps. The nearest of these three hemlocks is probably about 100 years old.
This Pacific Yew is also growing out of a nurse log. Some may remember that about 20 years ago this species of yew was discovered to have anti-cancer properties. It was harvested to make medicine until a synthetic could be manufactured.
Shelf fungus are common on dead trees. A number of different species grow here, some getting as big as half a dinner plate.
Prime mushroom season is October and November, but this beauty was alongside the trail.
This gnarly old cedar is standing sentinel alongside the river.
I hope you enjoyed the hike as much as I did.
Published in Environment
“Back East” means anything on the east side of I-5. My wife was born in Nampa, ID and moved here at the age of 1. Easterner. Tater-Head.
I may have grown up in Canada but I was born right here in Oregon, by golly!
Except I live on the east side of I-5, Happy Valley. But I’m a fifth generation Oregonian.
Something to be proud of – so are my kids. My Great Grandfather Trullinger was born in Union Mills (just outside of Mulino in ). There’s an interesting piece about the Trullinger family in Lewis McArthur’s Oregon Geographic Names. The patriarch – Isaac Trullinger came for a land claim in 1847. One of his son’s – Otto – was my Great Grandfather. One of Otto’s daughters was my grandmother, who was born in Molalla, my mom in Oregon City. I was born in Portland as were my son and daughter. My father (in Eugene) and his mother (in Willamina) are also natives.
Mom has recently moved into a care facility in Garden Home so I’ve been wading through a lot of old family documents and photos she has. Fascinating and yet kind of sad. I don’t know of any Trullingers still living in the area, although I did find an arrest story for a 19 yr old with that name in Douglas County recently. Not pursuing him to see if he’s related. Mom’s maiden name is Rayburn and the Oregon branch of that name has expired as well.
Yep. He is a good Doc but a better man.