Portland Oregon Redwood Forest Excursion | Seeking Sasquach in Sequoias | Giant California Redwoods

Entering the edge of the Redwood forest was like stepping into the movie Jurassic Park. Seriously, an overwhelming expectation of a dinosaur sighting at any moment caused a thrilling sensation in the bottom of the stomach. An emotional experience hard to describe. The height of the forest canopy was tremendous like walking the streets of New York City beside the skyscrapers, you couldn't help but stare straight up into the canopy above. These Giant Redwoods tower over the rest of the forest. Their significance is staggering. At the base of the reaching giants exists lovely ground covers and giants ferns.

Taking one step at a time, breathing the fragrance of the deeper woods offers a sense of awe that transcends into wonder. The wonder percolates within your mind, opening the imagination to various interpretative sensations. One could almost hear the conversations of thousands that walked beneath these remaining ancients and feel the communication taking place between them. It gives one the feeling of being the outsider among close friends.

Rounding the twenty foot reach of the first Giant Redwood were the next generation of Redwoods, only quarter the size of the parental woods, awaiting a drink of the sunlight above that would take centuries of aspiring to the highest heights of the others. Standing among them as small glimmers of diffused light provide a shaded ambiance. Though sheltered from the elements of the outside world and somewhat hidden, you feel vulnerable to the forest. Shadows seem to catch your minds' eye and cause the imagination to wonder what was just there...watching....perhaps just out of eyesight or around the huge tree in the distance. Quiet sound is how I'd explain the sensation. The peaceful silence is loud with emotional translation, a deafening stillness. Only a small rustle of the far reaching tree tops could be heard. Dense population of giant ferns shield the forest floor causing difficult navigation around the trees.

There were several parking areas along the roadway provided by the National Park service that offered walking paths to experience the canopy of the Redwoods. At the end of the one of the pathways sat a local volunteer park ranger available to answer questions while studying her maps and reading charts. She was a delight, we thought how lovely it would be to have a job like that every day.

Sequoioideae - subfamily of the cypress family consisting of several varieties

• Sequoia sempervirens = coast redwood, these get taller some 379 feet and living over 1000 years.
• Sequoiadendron = giganteum, giant sequoia or sierra redwood, these get wider and more dense naturally grow in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
• Metasequioa = dawn redwood, native to China and the shortest of the redwoods growing to 200 feet.

Though the ancients put off a multitude of pine cones, only a few seedlings ever become a tree. The pine cone needs a harsh drying out like that of a fire to release the seeds from the cone that can take up to 20 years to release. Once released the seeds need areas where the forest floor has no competitive plants for water supply. This creates a huge problem. Therefore, the national forest service actually facilitates controlled burning to achieve the environment conducive to sequoia reproduction in a natural environment.

I brought a seedling home as big as my finger in 2009 and today it survives in my kitchen window reaching about 15 inches tall. The instructions stated to keep it indoors for a couple years until it is big enough to transition outdoors and survive the winter months. I plan to enjoy it for a few more years and than possibly donate it to the local arboretum. Hopefully they will plant it and it will grow to the towering heights of its ancestors. I am afraid if I plant it in my community it will eventually be cut down because of its potential size. It is fun watching the stages of growth as it goes from a seedling into a young tree.

After walking through the Redwood Forest we were ready for our next adventure as we continued west towards the coastline of California for a picnic lunch on the shoreline. Since the morning started out cloudy and the forest was shady and dim, we hoped for sunshine. As we approached the ocean the sun shone bright and breeze blew lightly so stopping to take a few pictures of the ocean scenery was a must do. It was so interesting to see the forest in the near distance from the ocean's edge. As we cleared the forest and approached the ocean a lovely field of cows grazed the grasses of field as the gulls flew above them on the winds off the ocean. Thrilling sensations once more. Such a dichotomy from a few moments before. How diverse the landscape can be in a few short miles of road along the California coastline.

We continued North along the coastal highway and enjoyed the scenery along the way most thankful for the sunshine on our faces. We found a nearby coastal community with a park to explore and a bench to enjoy sandwiches and a glass of wine jjust feet off the shoreline. A most delightful afternoon. As we rested in silence just soaking in the sun and processing the events thus far, we mentally and physically lavished in the experiences of our excursion.

Desparately seeking Susquatch, are you kidding?  We asked the local park rangers if they ever saw a susquatch and they just smiled.  Both of them however, did say that others they know have seen what they believe to be a sasquatch.  I can tell you that I had no desire to find out for myself.  There are some compelling sites to check out for yourself.  Have fun learning more about the screaming sounds of the sasquatch the native indians talk so much about.

Susquatch Sites:

The California Desert Susquatch

California Central Valley/Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Encounters

Curious Educator on the Trail of Bigfoot

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The text and all images on this page, unless otherwise indicated, are by Lisa Storck who hereby asserts her copyright on the material. Should you wish to use any of the text or images feel free to do so with proper attribution and, if possible, a link back to this page. Thank you.

© Lisa Storck 2011