Humboldt Redwoods State Park: Part 1

45 ft cbh

I went to Humboldt Redwoods State Park yesterday to resume searching for redwoods with a circumference at breast height of over 40 feet in this one particular section of forest. I thought the search would be coming near an end, but there were so many enormous trees in this spot that I spent the entire day without walking more than a quarter mile.

40 feet, 4 1/2 in. cbh

42 feet, 10 in cbh

40 feet, 5 in cbh

What made the day even more special is that this area is located across the creek where I usually camp. For an entire year, I've been wondering what the forest looked like over there. Well, now I can say that it holds what I think may be the most 40 foot circumference trees in the smallest amount of space that I have seen so far.

52 feet cbh. Any tree over the 50 foot range seems to be very rare here.

42 feet, 6 in cbh (double stem)

When I arrived at the park Saturday morning, the last of the morning's fog was just starting to burn off. The forest was cold, and I had to cross the icy cold creek in my crocks. I didn't see anyone all day.

40 feet, 12 in cbh (double stem)

enormous base and roots of fallen redwood

My focus was mostly on the trees, so I didn't really see much else. It appeared that there were less mushrooms than when I visited at the end of November last year. I didn't see any wildlife, amphibians, or fish either.

43 feet, 1 in cbh

46 feet, 2 in cbh

After about five hours of searching, I measured 17 trees with a cbh greater than 40 feet. I still hope to finish the overall search before leaving for the Continental Divide in June. Looks like it will be at least three more trips.