The Story of Trees

Hiking in the Forest

When I'm hiking in the forest I notice a lot of things.  Because of the peaceful surroundings I'm able to take in the sounds, the smell and the environment.  I think one of the things I enjoy most is the environment.   When left alone, a forest can grow, mature, die and start over again.  

Over the last couple of years, I've really noticed this more and more.  And I'm always amazed when I see old trees surrounded by much younger trees.  It always makes me wonder what is their story.

The Majesty of Trees

I love to photograph old / big trees.  When I do - I always stop and take in their structure, their location and their surroundings.  Many times if you look around the tree - most trees around it are younger growth trees.  I then often wonder, how did this one tree or this group of trees survive?  What was here before that only this tree is left?  Did someone plant this tree?  How old is this tree?

Old growth tree - Long Lake Campground

Photographing old trees in just the right light can always make it look powerful and strong.  And then makes me wonder will the other trees around ever get the chance to get that old and big?  Or will someone, some day come along and cut it down.

The view from the Ice Age Trail @ Holy Hill

Maybe a little philosophical - but old trees are like the heart and soul of what holds a forest together.  Without them and their presence all we'd have are young trees and forests.  The magic would be gone.

30 Nights, Rain and Best Day of Summer

So if the title of this blog doesn't say a lot. 

30 Nights

• I have camped 30 nights in a tent (and it's only August 5th)
• 6 of those nights were in a tent hiking up Mt Kilimanjaro
• 1 of those nights was snowshoeing up in the Kettle Range in February and camping on a ridge overlooking the mountains and summiting Mt Wapaloosie the next morning. 
• As of today (Aug 5th) - the only month in 2012 I have not camped and slept in a tent was in January (need to work on that for next year).
• It has only rained during 3 of my camping excursions (sprinkles on Kili, Memorial Day weekend and this weekend - very unusual for me)
• I have visited 19 State Parks / Forests (that I can think of) and camped in the 10 of them (some 2 times).

Rain

Rain - with the droughts we're having, I've only seen rain really two times this entire summer so far while camping.  Memorial Day weekend and the storms that came through which caused me to spend over 8 hours in a 2 person tent with 2 dogs.  We all got good naps.  And then just this weekend we have a brief 2 hour storm that went through (again, good nap time).

For me - that's just really unusual.  I'm so prone to camping and hiking in rain that this has just been a weird summer.

Best Day of Summer

Since it's been dry with no rain - I think this horrible heat we've been having all summer goes along with the drought.  Hiking in heat with dogs makes for short hikes before we all start to get over heated.  Today (Sunday Aug 5th) was probably the best day for camping and hiking all summer.  Woke up this morning to 64 degrees and it didn't move much.  Went for hike in the woods with the dogs with the brisk wind and cool temps and just didn't want to leave. 

If this is what rain brings - bring on the rain and cool temps.