Washington and Oregon 2012 - Hoh Rainforest

Ever seen the movie "Avatar"?  Well if you ever want the closest analogue to that mythical place on planet Earth, go to the Hoh Rainforest.  Cradled in an ancient glacial valley, the Hoh Rainforest receives around 150 inches of rain per year.  It is one of the best remaining examples of temperate rainforest still standing.  The trees are covered with different species of mosses and ferns, which add a texture so rich in greens and other hues that it will take your breath away.  Most of the pictures my wife and I took were of trees and mammals, however, I did get a Hairy Woodpecker.  I include some of the pictures I took earlier that morning before we broke down camp at Lake Quinault.

Female Common Merganser on Lake Quinault.

Common Raven at Lake Quinault.  These guys make the most funny sounds.  Also seen that morning were Hairy Woodpeckers, a Belted Kingfisher and Stellar's Jay.

Douglas Squirrel pic followed by female and male Black-tailed Deer.  We, unfortunately, did not see the Roosevelt Elk, a subspecies common to the Olympic Peninsula.

Great shot of a Douglas Squirrel in the moss taken by my wife, Jenny!

Shots of the doe and young buck also taken by Jenny.

Hall of Mosses!

The Hall of Mosses is a trail at Hoh Rainforest that includes the most heavily epiphyte-covered trees.  This is where you feel like you are in the movie "Avatar".  Jenny's grandpa once visited this during a drier year and he recalled that the mosses were all "shriveled up" and barely visible.

Maples covered red moss!

Jenny named this "the Chandelier".

Looks like a praying mantis...you think so?

Brian thought this looked like the Chiquita Banana Lady walking away from us.  He was spot on!

A panoramic shot of the stand of maples in the Hall of Mosses.

More Hoh Rainforest pictures...

I named this "Elephant's Back" because the grass growing on this huge fallen tree reminded me of an Asian elephant's hairy back.

Thumbs up!

Brian and I standing by the Hoh River.  Great shots Jenny!

A nursery tree growing an adult tree!  This adult tree started as a sapling (as seen below) on the trunk of a fallen tree.  Its root system eventually grows around the nurse tree.  The nurse tree provides the sapling with nutrients until its roots wrap around and penetrate the ground. 

My friend Brian, on left, is several inches taller than me.  He is just much farther back in the picture, which makes me look taller.  Perspective "tricktography"!

Absolutely stunning stream, probably a tributary of the Hoh River.

Pictures of the Hairy Woodpecker (Coastal Pacific Group, CPG) at Hoh Rainforest.  The only bird I saw the entire time we were there.  :(

Our next stop was Marymere Falls outside of Port Angeles, WA.  Highlight of my next entry.