Letter From Clearwater

Yesterday, we wanted to go hiking/camping, so we headed up the east side of Mt. St. Helens with the aim of taking a view of the lava dome(s) from Windy Ridge and hiking to Harmony Falls. However, after tootling for an hour and 45 minutes, we found that the road to Windy Ridge was closed. We very nearly lost our spirit. However, we had a frisbee in the trunk, and some lunch, so we parked for a while, stretched our legs and ate.
During lunch, I read the Volcano Review and found that various other roads were closed (hwy 25 almost should be, it is so rough in places). Luckily, last summer, Tom came down and we discovered some cool places along the north fork of the Lewis river, so we headed out there and finally got some hiking in. A short hike to Curley Creek Falls, which is a minor falls, but interesting since it gushes under a stone arch just before dropping into the Lewis. Last summer, it wasn't gushing at all, it was dry as a bone.
During the hike, Jamey and Arthur took an interest in what Heidi and I could tell them about the plants, which turned out to be a fair amount. Although there was a plenty I wished I had my Pojar and Mackinnon for. Both Jamey and Arthur can identify Pseudotsuga mensiezii and Tsuga heterophylla by their needles. They can also pronounce those names!
We sniffed the California Vanillaleaf flowers and found them most pleasant. We talked about how Salal doesn't need a lot of light, and so is suited to live in the understory of a Pseudotsuga forest. Similarly, Acer circinatum and Tsuga are tolerant of low light. But Tsuga is capable of shading out Pseudotsuga, given enough time.
Anyway, both the kids were impressive in their interest-level and ability. Jamey continued to probe me for each plant's strategy and abilities, while Arthur delighted in confirming and reconfirming his grasp of the difference between the above conifers.