At the end of Summer, family visited and we took a romp up some local trails to view Wallace Falls. It happened to be the first rainforest weather we’d had since 90F last May. Here we were, four months later, drifting up into misty tree tops while viewing and listening to falling water over rocks and leaves. Truly, these are The Cascades, and even with little precipitation over the season, these major basins further up the mountain climb were still slowly releasing groundwater surpluses, which feed crucial rivers in The Puget Lowlands.
Wallace Falls State Park stands at the edge of some serious timber harvesting forests, so it’s easy to see a forest in recovery side by side with heavily cut woodlands that look more and more mono-culture with each harvest. The park demonstrated the diversity in age and species of a forest allowed to grow without human dictation. There is still much evidence of the logging legacy, from railroad grade to old roads just beginning to disappear into the undergrowth. Classic old growth stumps with plank holes, testify to the colonial resource extraction in billions of trees. Most of the original woodlands here were cut- the main trunk wood hauled off to coastal ships and on to developing towns and cities. Then the stripped land was burned to make way for settlers, people unable to survive in overpopulated Europe, where land abuse had already destroyed their own homelands.
Much of the land, being so expansive and often quite rugged, regrew new trees, but within another generation, those too were cut, and the land burned again to clean out the debris cluttering the landscape. Well, that debris was the topsoil making engine of the forest, and with the entire understory turned to a thin layer of ash, third growth trees continue to struggle, stunted and often wind blown, modern forests here in The Pacific Northwest are a shadow of their former selves. This similar fate befell land across the world as humanities dominion mindset excused mass extraction for short term gluttons, while our very ecosystem was torn apart for petty convinces that are now killing us with growing success. Today, the last trees of old are continuing to fall, only now machines do all the work and expedite the process. Yes folks, around the world, the last old trees are being cut as I type this, and none of us will stop the madness. It’s moment of reflection like this which help me see the true cost of our modern living, and know we’re on our way out. We’ve abused our relationship with our home, and will face fatal consequences. So, go take a walk in the woods when you get a chance.
Parks and preserves will continue to be public places to see nature, even a deeply scared landscape will eventually rejuvenate if left to do so. Our short monkey minds can’t quite grasp centuries, let alone last week. Ecology takes millions of years to reset. Our little blip here has been a massacre, but not all is lost. People also do great things, yes, but our context blights, we have to mitigate ourselves. Education has become the enemy, because when you truly know a thing, you have to acknowledge yourself. Every bit of space we can give back to allow restoration while we decrease our own footprint, is the only way to truly live as part of a thriving ecosystem we can appreciate and enjoy.
Deception Falls is another park further up rout 2. It’s a drive by viewing on the south side of the highway, or you can stop at the interpretive trail on the north side of the road for a short walk and more stunning views. This lovely cascade seems tame today, but in a major rain event it crashes violently down the jagged rocks and even throws water out onto the edge of the highway at peak flow. This glacier fed stream has an icy blue color, which continues down into catchment pools below. The interpretive trail explains the water is sterile, fresh off the peak, and without enough living content to facilitate fish. It’s got to spend some more time mixing with the soil, bacteria, and other living organisms of the land to become active. Melted ice water is quite cold, so if you want to take a dip, make sure you bring a set of warm cloths to change into and don’t stay in long.
Deception Falls also hosts a very special tree that is sadly, now one of a kind in these mountains. The western white pine once dominated much of the western forests here in The US. Then a blight arrived on the leaves of imported currents and in a generation, the trees were ravaged. The United States declared war on currents in an attempt to save the pines, but it was too late. The timber industry watched the rust blight spreading across the country, and western white pines vanished like The American Chestnut. Today, there is one lone mature white pine standing quietly in this grove at Deception Falls. It survives as a loner, and continues to remind us of nature’s resiliency, and vulnerability.
After the wander through Deception Falls, we took a short cruise down The Old Cascade Highway to view some standing giants, though they were all second growth trees- there are no old growth stands left in this area. To us, the larger trees are still impressive, and the area is protected now, so that forest should have time to grow. The old trees stand thousands of years; few are left, but planted every day brings us closer to old growth in generations to come. In a few miles of driving one of only two east/west accesses in our state (year round), there are echos of old in a forest of youth. Places protected now, are in these flowing surfaces. Buffers and set backs should reflect wetlands, water tables, and sheds. Our ability to restore space for nature must also fold in recovered wildlife numbers. Without the elk herds in the thousands, mature trees will be few and far with open grazing paths and understory browsed down, and in check with slow burn natural fires.
Human development (encroachment) has limited these natural systems and diminished habitat productivity, demanding restoration of vast landscapes for long term human survival and quality of life for all. The scientific affirmation through generations brings us to a great understanding of our actions, and consequences- both good and bad. How do we start towards restoration and revitalization of our environment, and selves? Begin with the very terra firma you stand on and track the ownership and greater biome surrounding said space. For this biome, rainforest remains a present possibility, and EEC Forest Stewardship plants towards a return of some evergreen treetops with flowing streams, vernal pools, and mushroom springs.
Note- the biome link above steers you to “deciduous forest” in Washington, but note the “other” category in “rainforest”:
That’s right- TEMPERATE! Hence the conifers and waterfalls of our beloved home range- The Cascades. What a wonderful wander and fresh look at our surrounding forest places and publicly protected spaces here in Western Washington.
EEC Forest Stewardship 