For the fourth year in a row I did the Cedar River Watershed Education Center’s (CRWEC) ‘Among the Ancients’ old growth forest tour, led by the inestimable Clay Antiou. As always, it was an awesome seven hours in the watershed – lots of learning, some hiking, and the rare chance to be able to experience the otherwise off-limits Cedar River Watershed, the water source for about 1.4 million people.
As before, our first stop was in a second growth forest, so we could see the difference. This stand of trees also features a great view point:
We then headed up the road to the Lost Creek old growth stand. I wish I had the words to describe how beautiful and humbling it is to be in an old growth stand:
Clay gave us an overview of why old growth forest has a particular set of fauna that rely upon old growth trees to survive. It is sad that our logging has decimated the old growth, and now human-induced climate change is also having a negative effect. I wonder how long old growth stands will survive at all?
From Lost Creek we traveled up to the area of Findley Lake. The drive there features some bone-rattling, chasm-edged high altitude thrills, with unbelievable views. Just across from where the vans were parked is an impressive peak that looks like it would be a great challenge to tackle:
Part of the group at Findley Lake:
Along the trail to Findley Lake we came across an amazing purple mushroom. No one could identify it so a picture is going to be sent to a mushroom expert and when we get the answer I will update this post:
Another first-class CRWEC tour. I am already looking forward to next year’s crop.
Update 11/23/2020: I circled back with Clay about the mushroom and he sent me this link: https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Cortinarius%20violaceus
It is Cortinarius violaceus, AKA the purple cort. Very cool, thanks Clay!