Monday, May 28, 2012

Coast Redwoods

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Stout Grove Memorial Trail, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Stout Grove Memorial Trail is the next ancient growth coastal redwoods trail we explored after the Simpson Reed Grove Trail, both of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in the Redwood National and State Parks area. The picture above may not look different from the pictures in the Simpson Reed Grove Trail, but definitely the experience was different. If Simpson Grove trailhead is right next to highway 199, the Stout Grove trailhead is 0.5 mile down the shoulder of Howland  Hill Road. Howland Hill Road is unpaved and amidst the woods. It was a one of a kind experience driving, squeezing between, and zigzagging through the woods. After parking at the dirt turn out, we had to descend 0.5 mile to the trailhead without seeing the redwood groves first, the trail almost parallel to the river. But after a half mile descent, the spectacular Stout Grove loop trail greets our hearts with a warm welcome, suddenly, the trail meanders on these giant and tall trees.
Standing amidst these tall trees is like going back in time. The coastal redwoods forest contains descendants of some of the oldest plants on Earth. I know some left comments in my previous post envisioning dinosaurs crashing through this forest. This is not a far out thought, since fossil records show relatives of today's coastal redwoods thrived in the Jurassic area 160 million years ago. In fact, in one of my upcoming posts, I will share a place within Redwood National and State Parks where Steven Spielberg shot some scenes for the Jurassic Park movie. However, while the dinosaurs have long been disappeared, the coastal redwoods continue to thrive only in this part of the world.
California's North Coast provides the ideal environment for the coastal redwoods to thrive. The cool, moist air coming from the Pacific ocean keeps the trees continually damp, even during summer droughts. Fog accounts for 1/4 of the precipitation needed so that these mighty coast redwoods can survive. Even in the height of the summer, the temperature here is just in the 50s ( mid 10 Celsius and below) with occasional 60s, and during the winter, it does not get colder than below 40s ( does not go below freezing). The Pacific ocean provides a temperate climate for this ancient forest to thrive. 
There are three members of the redwoods family, these are the: 
     1) Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) - found in California coastal fog belt.
     2) Giant Sequoias ( Sequoiadendron Giganteum) - found in California's Sierra Nevada.
     3) dawn redwoods  ( Metasequoia glyptostroboides) - found in Central China.     
Though sequoia and redwoods are often used interchangeably, but the two are very different trees. If the giant sequoias are the biggest trees in the world in terms of volume, the coast redwoods are the tallest trees. The giant sequoia can live up to 3200 years, the coast redwoods can live up to 2000 years. The giant sequoia reproduces by seed only, whereas, the coast redwoods reproduce by both seed or sprout. 
Here are some more pictures we've got from the Stout Grove Memorial Trail
Looking at the Tree or Looking for an Opportunity to Shoot?
(the 2 pictures that follow were shot from where I was standing in the above picture)
Hikers in the Midst of Coast Redwoods
Ancient Coast Redwoods
Just Having Fun
A Walk at Stout Grove Memorial Trail
For my next posts, I will cover what else are at home other than the coast redwoods at Redwoods National and State Park. We will explore the ocean, the one that consistently supplies this ancient coast redwood forest with thick fogs even in the summer to survive.
False Klamath Cove, Redwood National and State Parks
thick fog hugging the hills and dampening the coast redwoods)
More of Redwoods National and State Parks to come.......
sources: 


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16 comments:

  1. Look at those trees? They are so huge and gigantic! It only looks like they're one of the oldest trees too? Oh my...wild forest with wild trees and flowers...but..it is still sooooooooo beautiful!!!

    By the way, thank you so much Betchai for your wonderful comment about Daniel's little brother! It means alot!!

    Enjoy the weekend!


    Debbie :)

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  2. hey, beth! more trees? you are one lucky girl to be so close to nature and not get any itch (knock on wood!) yup, i can believe the 160 million years ago...amazing, amazing shots!

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  3. I have always loved these giant trees. They're almost unreal to me because I've never personally seen them. Your pictures help bring them closer to reality for me.

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  4. that park has good temperature! how about mosquitoes? is it the same as the other park? It must be really good hiking there having that nice touch of temp.

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  5. Awesome post, betchai! The trees are just marvelous, and huge! Your photos are just fantastic as always. Love it!

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  6. Holey moley, those trees are beyond huge and so gorgeous!! WOW

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  7. Wow, I love the second picture looking up into the trees. Interesting to learn about the different types of redwoods. Looks like a wonderful adventure.

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  8. OMG, you're dwarfed by the gigantic trees. It's like scenes from The Lord of The Rings, lol.
    And hey,Betchai,I'm so glad to finally find you at Entrecard and Adgitize now. More people will be able to read your awesome posts. Your photos could do well for postcards.

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  9. thanks a lot everyone.

    @ Deb, yes, they are among some of the world's oldest too.

    @ Che, yes, more trees and there are still more :)

    @ Rochelle, yes, I am trying out Entrecard and Adgitize, hope I do well :)

    Thanks again all for your comments and the inspiration they bring.

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  10. Ah, Betchai, those trees are so stately and gorgeous. I love the angle of the second photo looking up to the trees adorning the sky. Wow, wonderful pictures. I'd so much love to be there.

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  11. I think I only can find the size of trees in our Gunung Tahan National Park. Cerok Tokun should be as "young" as me. By the way, LOVE all your trees, send my regard to them.

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  12. Miss Beth,
    Love those trees! They are the living testament of life's unquenchable soar to the skies, of life's determined effort to thrive and to succeed.

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  13. I can almost smell the park through your pictures. I love that woodsy, musty, green smell.

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  14. Betchai, you have a great knack for composition. these huge trees arre a challenging subject as we all will try somehow to include as much as we can in the shots. All of these photos are lovely as well as the post itself.
    Beautiful blog

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  15. Wow! So huge and tall, these trees! Would love to be there among those giant trees!

    Jurassic Park is my favourite movie of all time! Didn't know they shot some scenes from the Redwood National and State Parks!

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  16. Nice redwood story. The photo of the flowers hugging the ground is pretty nice too.

    Almost every time through the redwoods, I stop at Simpson Reed trail. And would likewise each time at Stout Grove if it were right right along 199. Get into Stout Grove about 2 to 3 times per year though.

    MDV

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THANK YOU SO MUCH!!