Hangin' in the Redwoods

Last month I went north into Humboldt county after my week at the Sea Ranch. This is a classic picture that I thought I had blogged before, but I can't find it in past posts. The Solara is in the town of Weott, on what used to be the main drag. However, in 1964 the Eel River flooded just a bit. Blow up the pic and you can see that there is a high water marker on the pole just to the right of the car, about 30 feet up. Incredibly, this marks the flood crest! It occurred around Christmas that year, and wiped downtown Weott off the map. The town was rebuilt higher up the hill to the right. I don't remember the exact number, but the river was at least 50 feet above flood stage! It's off to the left of the picture...and way down an embankment. For an account of the same flood in the Portland OR area, reference the posts from July 2007.



This pic is actually in Mendocino county, on the Little River in Van Damme State Park. The trail goes for miles into the heart of the forest, through beautiful and peaceful second growth redwoods. About two miles in there is a trail camp where you can pitch a tent by the river in a fine setting.















Now here are the BIG trees. This is Humboldt Redwoods State Park, near Bull Creek west of the Eel. This is the largest grove of old growth redwoods in the world...and of course redwoods are the tallest trees in the world. So if you want to see a lot of really tall trees, this is the place. The trees evoke majesty, awe, and peace. Many in this grove are over 300 feet tall.