Awsome Forest

We  have been here in southern Washington for only four days and have had rain, fog, wind and sun and not all at the same time, fortunately.  On the sun day which was Saturday we visited Seaquest State Park hiking trails. Parking on Silverlake side of the highway (504) we headed through a tunnel under the highway and entered the campground and hiking trails. 

  

The trails are not difficult and wind through the tall treed forest. The further we walked into the forest the darker it got. All the trees were covered with a moss similar to a Spanish Moss that we saw in Georgia, but here even the trunk were covered. 

We had the feeling we were on an other planet. We were the only people on the trails so it was easy to stop walking and stop the rustling of the fallen leaves under foot. The silents was soothing and tranquil to the point of unbelievable.

 

We used a map supplied by the park ranger at the visitors centre to stay on track as there were many juncture, Ts, and Ys. Luckily no dead ends.   

 

We saw the smallest of mushrooms growing from the moss on trees. There may even have been a Bigfoot hiding behind one of the trees in the next photo.
   

 

So all in all it was a very nice sunny day that we spent in the dark forest.

 Until next time remember "Discover It and Live It"

Mt. St. Helens Visit

Can you remember where you were in May of 1980?  I was in Edmonton and Lorraine was in Regina.  The photo below was on display at the Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument taken May 17, 1980, the day before it blew its top.  

We are now traveling south to spend the winter in warmer climates and along the way, in Washington is Mt. St. Helens. We are at the same name RV Park just off the I-5 in Castle Rock, WA. The first day of our stay we stopped at the Mt. St. Helens Visitor Centre where the young ranger showed the route to the view point and a live camera shot of the mountain and it was in the sun, a good thing. At the lower altitude we were in a fog so it was nice to see that the sun was out and no snow up higher.

The higher we went, the more we could see of our destination. There were many view points along the road. The RV Park is at 550 ft elevation and signs on the way told us the 2000, 3000, and 4000 ft. points. On arriving at Johnston Ridge Observatory we were 4,314 ft. above sea level and the temperature was 1C with a cold wind. It reminded me of summer hikes in the Canadian Rockies where you start the day in sunshine and when you get to the top it's snowing. Well today we didn't have any snow.       

From the top the view was fantastic. The info sign were set up along the train for a very informative self guided tour.  

While at the top we saw a plumb of white coming from the crater that we assumed was steam from the volcano its self. I was able to take the very clear shot of the snow capped mountain. 

   

So until next time remember "Discover It and Live It".

Myra Canyon

Our last day in Salmon Arm we drove to Kelowna and headed up the mountain to Myra Canyon where we walked the rebuilt trestles along the Kettle Mountain line.      

In 2003 a forest fire swept through the Myra Canyon and destroyed the trestles. Since then they have all being rebuilt and are use by bicyclist and walker to enjoy the views of the canyon.

 

We were only able to walk 2.5 Km along the line before it was time to return the way we came and get back to Salmon Arm. Today we head farther west to Chilliwack, BC and spend time there adventuring that area.

Until next time "Discover It and Live It".    

Unknown Flower Update

September 4th, 2012

Last time I posted I needed information on an plant that I had found along the path we regularly walk.

Well I have that information now thanks to Glen of Regina, his Website "Gardening on the Prairies". Glen said he had never seen this plant as it is very rare.

"Pretty sure your plant is Hyoscyamus niger (Black Henbane). There's a photo in "Wildflowers Across the Prairies" (now out of print). Budd's Flora of the Canadian Prairie provinces lists it as rare, Flora of Alberta lists it as occasional. Habitat listed is waste ground, roadsides, and gardens. It's introduced (is a non-native weed), and poisonous. Check Google images for "Hyoscyamus niger" and you'll see some photos similar to yours. Good find, I haven't seen it before."

Thanks Glen.

I went back to the location and it was still blooming. Here are a couple more shots of it and one beside my bike helmet to show the size of the plan. Sorry Glen I didn't have a ruler, I guess my foot would have worked too.

In the top photo is the plant and where it is situated to the path.

Toxicity and historical usage. From Wikipedia.org

Apothecary vessels for Hyoscyamus preparations, Germany 19th century it was historically used in combination with other plants, such as mandrake, deadly nightshade, and datura as an anaesthetic potion, as well as for its psychoactive properties in "magic brews." These psychoactive properties include visual hallucinationsand a sensation of flight. Its usage was originally in continental Europe, Asia and the Arab world, though it did spread to England in theMiddle Ages. The use of henbane by the ancient Greeks was documented by Pliny. The plant, recorded as Herba Apollinaris, was used to yield oracles by the priestesses of Apollo.

The name henbane dates at least to A.D. 1265. The origins of the word are unclear but "hen" probably originally meant death rather than referring to chickens. Hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and other tropane alkaloids have been found in the foliage and seeds of the plant. Common effects of henbane ingestion in humans include hallucinations, dilated pupils, restlessness, and flushed skin. Less common symptoms such as tachycardia, convulsions, vomiting, hypertension, hyperpyrexia and ataxia have all been noted.

Henbane can be toxic, even fatal, to animals in low doses. Not all animals are susceptible, for example, the larvae of some Lepidopteraspecies including Cabbage Moth eat henbane. 

It was sometimes one of the ingredients in gruit, traditionally used in beers as a flavouring, until replaced by hops in the 11th to 16th centuries (for example, the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516 outlawed ingredients other than barley, hops, and water). 

In 1910, an American homeopath living in London, Hawley Harvey Crippen, allegedly used scopolamine, an alkaloid extracted from henbane, to poison his wife. 

Henbane is thought to have been the "hebenon" poured into the ear of Hamlet's father (although other candidates for hebenon exist).

So until next time "Discover It and Live It" 

Fall Flowers

August 31, 2012

Today being the last day of August I wanted to say something about the flora still in bloom here along the Bow River. We consider them to be our wild garden and have watch them bud in the spring and now as they protect themselves from frosty over night temperatures. 

The Common Sun Flower is still doing the daily dance of following the sun from morning till night.  

This plant has beautiful veined cream coloured flowers that have been out since July. But we can't find it in any of our wild plant books. If anyone can enlighten us we would be greatful.
  

So until next time remember "Discover It and Live It".

Fog along the Bow

Aug 26, 2012

We walked along the Bow River today in a fog. The river definitely has a different feel to it when you can't see beyond the shore. I can imagine the mountain peaks rising up on both sides and the fog obscuring them from view. 

Then the warming sun pushes the fog away and blue skies appear. Then the mountains disappear and you have to take off the now too hot coat your wearing.
 

So have a warm day under the sun where ever you are. Remember to "Discover It and Live It"

Walk-A-Bow

Aug 25, 2011 

Today was one of the cooler nights we have had while here in Cochrane. The over night low was 4 deg. C. So we let the sun come up before we went on the morning ritual walk. From the camp we either head West or East along the path in the free run dog area. Today we went East. 

The river was a lot lower than it was in July, as is evident by some of the alternate pathway having less water and no flow at all. The shot below is one of those path ways not flowing but not yet completely dry.
 

 Next to our campground is the Spray Lake Saw Mill Family Sports Centre. The grounds maintenance person created some flower beds this spring and sowed wild flowers inside them. They are now blooming with a variety natural flower. From a distance (the Road) they look like a bunch of unkempt spots. But up close it's a different story.  

The weed, as I call it because I don't know its' name, below has now gone to seed. This one and many others grow along the 2K Bow walkway. This one may disappear  with a heavy wind and next summer there maybe more of them        

So until next time "Discover It and Live It"