The Barri (more than one Barrus): Spring Break Day 4--Big Basin

This morning we got up and had cereal, then packed up all our stuff to head south towards Monterey. Being in redwood country, I wanted to see some big trees. I also wanted to listen to General Conference which continues today, and as we weren't going to a church to watch, and I hoped we could listen in the car as we drove to a state park, wander around for a couple of hours, then get back in the car and listen to the afternoon session. Unfortunately, my plan did not see fruition. The only radio station broadcasting conference in our area was on satellite radio, and while the car did have the capabilities, it did not have the subscription. So no conference.

This is Brandt helpfully getting ready to go.

For the past three nights I have shared a bed with Blythe, Baby Keybug, Hoot,

the blue kiki, and a bear.

Blythe moved around a lot more than the others.

Our drive inland took us through beautiful country along a twisty road. Brandt ended up back in the front seat because he was getting car sick, and I had to put down the book I was reading aloud because I was getting car sick too. We opened up windows to get fresh air too. It was obvious when we hit redwood country because the trees were suddenly really, really tall with large trunks. Then we got to Big Basin Redwoods State Park and were astounded by how really, REALLY, REALLY big the trees actually were. They were amazing! Tall and beautiful with moss and lichen growing on them. Even the sad remainders of those that had fallen over were impressive. I took lots of pictures, but they don't do the trees justice by any means. The brochure we got about the park says that not only are there cool trees to see, but there are also banana slugs around. We saw several of those--large bright yellow slugs, slime-ing along the forest floor. I thought it was interesting to note that coastal redwoods receive much of their water and nutrients from fog drippings. A 2010 Berkeley study found that the coast now has 75% fewer fogging days than it did a century ago, so while mature redwoods can survive, fewer foggy days mean fewer seedlings mature into trees.

We didn't venture far into the park. In fact, we stayed close to the visitor's center and did the lovely "Redwoods Loop Trail." Kent didn't feel it was appropriate to actually hike as it is Sunday. However, we saw enough. The trail passed some of the biggest trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and had numbers that pointed out interesting facts. It was beautiful and serene and the trees, though very tree-y, were unlike any others we had ever seen. I was amazed! It was wonderful to be in nature, appreciating God's creations.

There will now follow lots of pictures of trees.

Banana slug

Looking straight up.

I think it's very interesting that the branches of redwoods are so far up the tree.

This is a spider's web reflecting in the sunlight.

Someone is poking a banana slug with a stick.

The guilty party shall remain nameless.

Lichen and moss growing on the side of the tree.

They really are amazing trees.

Here are some amazing kids with a fallen tree.

Sitting on the same tree.

This is an example of redwood burls. They are common throughout the forest and are dormant buds.

The burls around the trunk of this tree, called the Animal or Zoo Tree, were thought to resemble animals.

What animals do you see?

This is an example of a fairy ring.

Circles of trees like this are also common.

They indicate that a large redwood stood here for centuries, then died and slowly decomposed.

The redwood trees that surround the circle are offspring from the root structure of the parent tree.

We are standing at the base of Chimney Tree. It is a testimonial to the durability of redwoods. This tree, which is still living and growing, is entirely hollow from base to top. It is theorized that several successive fires over the years ignited the tree's heartwood, and this burning eventually created a perfect flue or chimney effect. One tree in the forest is recorded to have smoldered and burned for 14 months before the fire died out. Below is looking straight up the tree. Still growing!!

This tree, however, did not survive repeated burnings.

It is dead.

Blythe is photobombing, though I don't think she meant to.

I took a second picture without her, but it was blurry.

Sorry Brandt.

This is the Father of the Forest.

It is estimated to be 2,000 years old.

The diameter at breast height is 16ft 10in, and the circumference at the ground is 66ft 9in.

It is 250 feet tall.

That is one big tree.

Not too far away is the mother of the forest.

The diameter at breast height is 15ft 3in, and the circumference at the ground is 70 feet.

This tree was once the tallest in Big Basin, at 329 feet. But the top broke off in a storm, reducing the height to 293 feet.

To quote from the trail guide: In its continual quest for light, the redwood adapts to this loss by growing a new trunk upwards from an existing branch. The Mother of the Forest has two new trunks growing, and may someday be the tallest tree again.

Go Mom!

We are standing on a huge stump, probably eight feet off the ground.

We climbed up using hand holds carved into the sides of the trunk.

We continued our drive south west to Monterey. We stayed at a charming little hotel called the Deer Haven Inn, a short walk from Asilomar State Beach. After getting settled--the children were thrilled that our room had a fireplace--we went and got some dinner, then headed to the beach to watch the sun set. It was chilly and the waves were ferocious, pounding into the beach. It was also windy, so the tops of the waves were wispy as the wind whipped them. We were awed by the beauty of the trees in the forest, and then awed by the beauty of the beach. The children dug in the sand while Kent and I watched the water and the sunset. We walked back to the inn happy and a big chilled. It was a lovely end to a beautiful day.