Larger Than Life

A stroll through a redwood forest is a special experience. They have a particular aura about them that is difficult to pin down with words, they teem with great variety and composition. I believe it is important to write about what makes redwood forests so special. Just to give you an idea, one tree easily dwarfs my rucksack at the base of the tree.


For starters, these forests contain more living biomass than any other ecosystem on earth, 10 times a tropical rainforest! Although a tropical rainforest may triumph the redwoods by their complexity. Redwoods are so immense they alter their surroundings, creating niches for a plethora of other organisms. Such as the banana slug, which is an astonishing 6 inches long!


Another element of wildlife worth mentioning is the presence of northern flying squirrels at the redwood forest. Probably similar to their eastern counterparts in the red spruce forests of high-elevation West Virginia, the northern flying squirrel is a quiet gliding mammal that swoops from branches in old growth.

The wood of redwoods is full of tannin, a toxin that makes it resistant to damage from pathogens, as well as rot. That is why redwood is a splendid timber species, aside from the enormous pores of the heartwood that characterize it. Since redwood are so resistant to rot, downed trees often take centuries to decompose, slowly releasing nutriets for the next generation and acting as "nurse logs" or habitat logs for new trees and plants to grow.

The weather was so beautiful in the evening I decided just to sleep outside. Below is quite a nerdy self-portrait of me and my camp site.


Perhaps you are wondering, what is the secret of the redwoods? How can they grow so BIG? One reason is their well-develped system of water works. Redwoods only grow as far inland as the effect of the ocean, so when the cold and moist ocean air meets the hot valleys of CA's central valleys fog occurs. Drought is common here in the summer time and the fog aides redwoods immensely. In fact studies have shown redwoods may even extract water from the fog using their leaves. An old growth redwood forest even generates its own fog by the individual trees transpiring, this fog acts as a sort of blanket to hold in the heat of the day below, many species depend on this effect. Redwood forests are amazing in their ability to moderate climatic extremes.

The redwoods carefully evolved traits are perfectly suited to its range and it thrives and dominates, allowing it to grow very old, perhaps a few thousand years! I thought the biggest and perhaps oldest tree in the park was this one, I am not sure of it's name, but it was truly colossal!


Nearly 14 feet in diameter! Absolutely a "larger than life" specimen!

I am not an expert on redwoods or trees for that matter, so if you're an expert or know more, please post a comment, I am eager to learn more about this fascinating ecosystem!