CALIFORNIA: REDWOODS NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS, Day 2 Part 1, Stout Grove and False Klamath Cove

 August 9, 2020

Our second day in the Redwoods started out with a misty, magical morning. Look closely at his photo:

Did you spot the small elk herd? Eagle-eye Bob did and stopped to take some photos.

Of the entire trip, the next two hours hiking a 1.5 mile loop trail in Stout Memorial Grove in Jedediah State Park were my favorites. The original 44-acre grove was, ironically, donated to the Save the Redwoods League by Mrs. Clara Stout to memorialize her husband, lumber baron Frank D. Stout. More acres have been added over the years.

We had gotten an early start, and the sun was just beginning to make its way down the trunks from the very top of the overstory.

The light filtering through the branches and needles was as glorious as any light streaming through the most beautiful stained glass windows in a cathedral.

For the first hour or so we seemed to be the only people in the park. Such an incredible experience.

Looking heavenward . . . 

. . . up . . .

 . . . up! The average height of these trees is about 300 feet.

I was astonished to learn from Sam that the pinecone carrying the seeds of the giant California redwood is about the size of my fingertip.

Imagine the crash when these mighty ones fell.

But they serve an important role in building up life in the understory.

There are a thousand stories in these tree rings, and I wish I could read them.

Can anyone tell me what caused this bizarre malformation?

I know I have included a lot of pictures of tree tops, but my eyes kept being drawn upwards.

In the other hand, the ground was interesting too. Every fallen tree is a work of art.

This one left a hole where it used to stand.

It's huge trunk stretches for what seems like forever into the forest.

Ah, Nirvana.

Four-foot-tall sword ferns create a mini forest under the redwoods.

Contemporary art by Mother Nature.

This is what Lilliputians must have felt like next to Gulliver:

By the time we were ready to go, more people had arrived and the sun had made its way through the tree tops and almost to the ground.

Back on the highway, we headed south, making our next stop at False Klamath Cove. There were a handful of people out walking, but they were few and far between.

It is hard to resist tide pools during low tide.

Well, it was time for lunch.  We encountered this wonderful elk statue not far from where we ate.

Gotta love this sense of humor.

And I love the dedication plaque. John Stephen Nash looks like someone I would have enjoyed knowing.