Moments in Dirt and Ink

Headwaters Forest Reserve Click for map I decided it was time for a pilgrimage to the spot of old growth coastal redwood trees they'll let the public visit regularly, at least if they're on foot and without a dog after the bridge at mile 3. They do give the bikes parking just before the curve down to that bridge, so one can bike most the way. I wouldn't, but one could. I hoped the South Side Trail would be open. The BLM website suggests it could be in May if the water is low enough. The docent led hikes on the Salmon Creek side of the Reserve (plus an extra birding walk by Ken Burton to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Reserve ) have started. (I should finally do one of those, but I would have to rely on a fellow hiker and likely stranger get from the meet point to the trailhead.) Paved big trail at the start of the Elk River Trail. The South Side Trail was still marked as closed as I passed. I wanted to take it on the way back, so I held...

Headwaters Forest Reserve ( map link ) I was experimenting with the Seek app from iNaturalist (I'll say something about it at the end) and remembered to check on the fetid adderstongue. I found a couple leaves approximately where I remembered, then a couple seed pods getting a start, then a burst of flowers! Well, three. Not great, but not bad. A second plant had one more. Blooming fetid adderstongue was meant to be my trigger to go looking for them above the Elk River last year . I spotted them near the Eel River mostly in seed and jumped for it worried it was getting late for their season already. I see so many more seed pods developing than flowers. There weren't a lot then, at least not that I found. I decided to try it again, but didn't expect much. According to the plant phenology reported on iNaturalist observations , February is by far the biggest month to find blooming, falling off sharply by March. I was actually the thought of maybe seeing salmon run ...

Headwaters Forest Reserve (map link) Since I had spotted the single blooming fetid adderstongue (and the two already seeding!) near Avenue of the Giants, I decided to head up one of the only real climbs around Eureka to see if I could find some more. I had seen many of them before, but all with drooping stalks to seed pods in May and June. It would be something to see all of them when the stalks are stiff and holding up flowers. Unfortunately, wheels were starting to turn and I might not be around for the more opportune time after mid-February. I started up that first paved mile. The South Side Trail was closed, of course, so there was no going around it. The barn along the way used for educational exhibits. The nearly obscured South Fork Elk River water level isn't very high at the moment. The paved ADA accessible portion of the trail ends at Falk after a mile. It gets a little more rolling for the next two miles. There is a slick mud section where land slides have ...

Headwaters Forest Reserve (Arcata BLM) (Map link.) I've got the Elk River Trail penciled in for February to try to catch the fetid adderstongue (specifically Scoliopus bigelovii ) in bloom, but by that time the river will be high again and the South Side Trail closed again. To see what it offers, I would have to get out much sooner, so I did. The South Side Trail provides a longer dirt alternative to the paved first mile of the Elk River Trail. Well, unless you are dog walking or bicycling. Neither are allowed on any of the trails south of the Elk River. They're less serious about being a reserve on the north side and allow leashed dogs along with bicycles. Just a little of the information available at the trailhead and the start of a mile of ADA accessible trail. A few feet along, there are signs marking the west end of the South Side Trail. The second is a long explanation for why dogs, no matter how small or leashed, are not allowed on the south side. One hopes i...

Headwaters Forest Reserve Click for map. I think I have missed fawn lily (AKA adderstongue) season, which is very strongly April. There's still some to find into May. Thinking of fawn lilies made me think of the Elk River Trail, although the splotchy leaved things there are actually fetid adderstongue which is a different group of the lily family. It would be cool to see in bloom, too. The flowers come February and into March, so it's even more missed. On the other hand, it's a good hike and the bypass at the slide area should be less treacherous now that it has been mostly dry for a few weeks. I headed south to spend the afternoon on a long hike to a tiny loop under old growth redwoods. Beside the citizen science sign for the bigleaf maple , I could see flowers blooming and leaves filling in the gaps. It's hard to get a good look at flowers hanging so high up. Along this wide, paved road. The first mile is ADA compliant. Flowers that don't belong...

Headwaters Forest Reserve Click for map. I need to get a hike with some length to it, so I started looking for things accessible via CA-36, then gave up and went out for another Redwood AdVentures Quest (link to interpretive trail brochure) . It seemed a bit of a gamble, but it's close enough to just go for it. There would be no good parking if they closed the gates, but they have not and there are spaces available. Bathrooms are closed, but the trail is open. I'll hike the South Fork Elk River up to its little bit of old growth once again. Just a bit of warning on entry. Plenty of parking. Most of it is on the other side of the trees, but some is to the right and by the pickup. New signs include "pack it in, pack it out" on the garbage that isn't getting collected and "social distancing" requirements. This trail includes a mile that is wheelchair accessible. First up, that Quest. It says to start at the Quest box a quarter mile alon...