Redwoods, Bigfoot and Banana Slugs

(2023 Alaska Revisited Ep 10)

Our redwood travels began with Humboldt State Park, located in northern California, more inland and south of Redwoods National Park.  With more than 17,000 acres of ancient coast redwoods, the park protects the largest remaining old-growth redwood forest in the world.

We drove the 32-mile Avenue of the Giants, surrounded by the immense trees, some just a few feet from the road.  After setting up camp for the evening, we walked a short ways to the Founders Grove. 

We saw our first ‘up close’ view of a redwood, the Founder’s Tree, towering more than 346 feet above us, with a diameter of almost 13 feet and circumference of 30 feet.

Although we visited the redwoods twice before, we were once again awestruck and could only say ‘WOW!’ 

It is hard to describe the ‘feel’ of the redwood forest.  The air is still, sounds are muted and the lighting subdued.   Time seems to stand still. 

Perhaps this is the closest place on earth to what it’s like to be in God’s presence.

The original redwood forests must have been amazing.  Only 5% of the original redwood forests remain – many are in redwood groves where the giant trees are preserved and protected for us and future generations. 

In 1917, prominent visitors to the area found the trees were not protected.  They formed the Save the Redwoods League and in 1921 the first grove was purchased by the League in what is now Humboldt Redwoods State Park.  Since then, the League has raised millions of dollars to protect more than 170,000 acres of redwood land in 35 California state parks, and Redwood and Sequoia National Parks.

From Humboldt SP we drove several hours north to Redwoods NP.  

The world’s tallest tree is at Redwoods NP:  nicknamed Hyperion, it stands more than 380 foot tall. Although the tree’s location is secret and not open to public viewing, there are other huge trees that can be visited.

We camped in Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP, where the redwoods are co-managed by California and the National Park Service. 

In the Stout Grove, we both stood at the base of one tree, with arms extended and fingertips touching.  We didn’t come close to covering the face of the tree.

Nearby, fallen redwoods extended for hundreds of feet across the forest floor.  They take many years to decompose.  Pat was dwarfed by the roots of one fallen tree. 

A few miles away, we camped at Prairie Creek Redwoods SP and visited the Big Tree Redwood Grove along the Nathan B Drury Parkway.  The trees can be viewed after a very short walk from the parking area. The Big Tree is a mere 286 feet tall, shorter than other redwoods we visited, but still tall indeed!

Critters in the redwoods – Big Roosevelt Elk and tiny banana slug

From the campground we enjoyed another impressive site – a herd of Roosevelt Elk casually grazing on a nearby field.   At the advice of rangers, we maintained a safe distance from the large animals.

We learned it is hard, if not impossible, to adequately photograph a redwood tree.  When standing at the base and looking upward, the trees seem to touch the sky. 

Bigfoot Sighting

When we finished the Pacific Coast Highway and neared the redwoods, we came upon this:

We passed this tourist trap in 1995 while on vacation and a large wooden bigfoot statue next to the road caught our attention. Twenty-eight years later we learned the old, decayed bigfoot had been removed and will be replaced with a new bigfoot. I guess Bigfoot ages like the rest of us.

Meanwhile we had to settle for a smaller bigfoot.

10 Weeks of RabbiTRAILS

We’re nearly finished wandering the west and will soon continue north to Alaska.

Next Week:

RabbiTRAILS in Oregon and central Washington, including magnificent coastal views, the biggest waterfall in the world and an impressive dam.