Kansas girl visits the Quinault Rain Forest

In July of 2009 my family traveled to Washington for my niece's wedding, this was my first trip to the northwest.  I loved almost every moment of it, including the nearly 4000 mile round trip. This trip included travel through 10 states. 

Following the wedding my husband and I traveled to my brother's home in Ocean Shores Washington, located on the Olympic Peninsula.  The first morning my brother, Tom, and I set out to explore.  He suggested we go to the Lake Quinault area, and he knew I had never been to a rain forest, and suggested we visit the Quinault Rain Forest.

As we pulled into the parking lot, a light rain began, I guess this being a rain forest that was to be expected, but we were prepared and began the loop.  .  I grew up in western Kansas, and the big trees we had seen in other parts of Washington and Oregon did not prepare me for the magnificence of this old growth forest. The tree stump pictured below was probably 8 feet tall and that big around. There is a Hemlock tree growing on the stump. 

Tom standing on a tree stump over 10 feet tall. 

The Forest had suffered severe wind damage during a three day wind storm in December 2006, there was much damage, but the National Park Service simply cleared paths, they did not remove the damaged trees.   I think this added to the memory and the scope and size of these trees.  This video is from exploration less than 6 months after the storm, paths had been cleared by my visit in 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWjh13xLJBY

Here is a tree that was cut and removed from the path, looks like someone was chopping fire wood.

If you would like more information about the Quinault Rain Forest visit: http://www.quinaultrainforest.com/
http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/temperate-rain-forests.htm

I found several interesting video's none probaly as good as what I should have taken, maybe I can create my own one day.  In the meantime, please enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pTUJtIs2tI&feature=related