Arcata, California March 9, 2009

The Flint Ridge Trail in Northern Humboldt

This was one of the better hikes I've been on. It went through several distinct environs, old growth and second growth redwoods. The round trip is 11 miles and it is a fairly rugged climb up, but easy climb back down. It begins a few hundred feet from the shore and goes inland, coming out at the end of the Klamath river.

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Prairie Creek Redwoods in Northern Humboldt has a huge network of trails that go on for over a hundred miles. This hike was just a two mile segment of a bicycle trail that eventually ends up on the beach.

One interesting thing about these rain forests is the opportunism that plants employ when one of these Redwood giants dies.

Several pictures show how one or several trees grow on the fallen redwood giants. Some are "stumps" that tower nearly 100 feet, then at the top have new redwood or spruce growing, running its tap roots like plumbing all the way down the exterior of the redwood until they disappear into the ground.

Even while they are alive the redwoods are coated with layers of life, from the fungi to the ferns and lichen.

Hidden World War II History in Northern California

There were several attacks on the West Coast during WWII. Hundreds if you count the incendiary balloon bombs that were launched and drifted to forests and fields, mostly in Oregon. Out of thousands of balloons launched only 300 made it to the mainland. Most of these exploded harmlessly, but some caused forest fires and one even killed a family of six people in Oregon.

The Japanese actually launched a Zero-type aircraft from an I-25 submarine and dropped two incendiary bombs about 30 miles away from these buildings. Although it might seem like it was a mistake, the Japanese were targeting the forests with incendiary devices to spark wild fires and take resources away from the war effort. The same sub that launched the plane then sank two tankers, one just off the coast of Crescent City.

These attacks prompted the construction of this anti-aircraft and surveillance base that is still very well hidden just south of the mouth of the Klamath River in North California. Two buildings disguised as farm houses are perched on the cliff's edge on what is now called Coastal Drive, the old Route 1. It seems few people in this area know about the buildings, or even the Coastal scenic drive that runs along the ocean cliff's edge for about 10 miles.

Inside they housed a diesel generator, electronic equipment and two .50 caliber anti aircraft guns. This was part of a larger communications network that served as an early warning system in the event of an invasion.

These is more about this attack and some of the other events that occurred during World War II in Southern Oregon and Northern California here

This is an update to an earlier post

Table made from English Walnut

This table was made by a friend from English Walnut. It has two 2' x 6' x 4" thick slabs of wood, solid 4" sides and pull out drawers. The coffee table weighs over 600 lbs. The tree that made this was cut nearly 50 years ago. The tree was estimated to be over 100 years old when cut down.

The top slab is actually a mix between two kinds of Walnut. You can see the contrast in the grain color and pattern. These radiate out from the original grafting staple, still in the wood. For the past two years, the table has been featured at the 9th Avenue Art Gallery in Chico, California. $16,000.

Ghost town of Helena, abandoned mines

Helena is an old mining town near Weaverville, off Highway 299 in Northern California. There are only a few buildings and chimneys still standing. These photos were taken in 2007. Since then a wildfire passed through and these structures may now be gone as well.
There were also some abandoned mine shafts nearby. Some filled with water, some had very precarious supports that looked like they could crumble at any time.

Lost Man Creek

Table Bluff Mountain and the South Spit of Humboldt Bay

Mad River Beach, mouth of Mad River

This is what a dead whale looks like after 30 days of sitting in the sun and rain. the animal washed ashore on January 20th, 2009.These photos were taken February 25. There was very little left of the 60 foot mammal. It was virtually un-identifiable. Two fin whales have washed up on local beaches in the last four years. Their cause of death was unknown.

The first fin whale that washed ashore has been buried in the sand. Apparently, micro-organisms will clean the flesh, they will dig up the skeleton and place it in our local natural history museum.