I stumbled across a sea of sword fern that is showing signs of drought during my annual field campaign last month. Along the Damnation Creek Trail at Del Norte Redwoods State Park, the typically green carpet of sword fern was undeniably …
In my last blog I introduced you to Betty Thompson, a 66-year-old woman from Georgia with cerebral palsy, who was about to realize her lifelong dream of seeing the redwoods. In June, Betty and her friends embarked on a weeklong …
This week, I celebrated 10 years of coast redwood forest research and had the pleasure of climbing into an old redwood at the Grove of Old Trees in Sonoma County. This little-known forest is where I learned to climb …
The AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is dedicated to the millions of Americans whose lives have been touched by HIV.
It’s no surprise the redwoods inspire people in many different ways. The biodiversity of plants and animals inspires scientists, the towering red-hued trunks of the trees inspire artists, and the fallen logs and clear creeks inspire an adventurous spirit in …
Out in Tuolumne County, near the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, is a Western juniper tree known as the Bennett Juniper. It is estimated to be somewhere between 2,000 and 6,000 years old, and some botanists think it may …
Tomorrow marks the longest day of the year, the summer solstice. The summer solstice is a time to celebrate the start of summer, long hours of sunlight, warm nights and plenty of opportunities to be outside. This weekend, you may …
Many of us who love nature have clear memories of meaningful outdoor experiences as children. At the Save the Redwoods League office, if you ask the staff why they chose careers in conservation, you’ll hear story after story about summers …
The League’s Cape Vizcaino property is in need of a little TLC. Well, maybe a lot. In a previous blog, I described the problems we have with Douglas fir and tanoak trees encroaching into one of the property’s coastal meadows. …
Betty Thompson grew up in Georgia, far from California and confined by cerebral palsy to a wheelchair. As a girl, Betty, now age 66, was captivated by her father’s stories about life and work in Humboldt Redwoods State Park as …
Climbers took to the coast redwood treetops at Muir Woods National Monument for the first time this spring. Their canopy exploration was part of BioBlitz 2014, a massive effort to learn about and celebrate the biodiversity of Golden Gate National Recreation. …
I’ve been a father for sixteen years. While I will always feel like I’m still learning the ropes, I have loved every minute of it. In the early years every day felt like Father’s Day, with the grand welcome when …
Good news is not always easy to come by in regards to the redwood forest. Whether it is the threat of development, water diversion or unsustainable logging, bad tidings are all around us. Even though they’re not always obvious, there …
You know how sometimes after a long hike, that sandwich you brought along in your backpack is about the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten? Well, as that famous chef guy says, we’re about to kick things up a notch. Next time, try skipping the granola in lieu of one of these four gastronomic experiences that are unique to the redwoods region.
Sweltering summers are perhaps the best time all year to experience the redwood forests in Humboldt County the way locals do, as natural water parks. The Eel River, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River along the Avenue of the Giants, and Redwood Creek, which is surrounded by the world’s tallest trees in Redwood National Parks, have plenty of kid-friendly swimming holes.
This Saturday is National Trails Day®! Whenever I think about hiking on one of the over 200,000 miles of trails we have in the U.S., the lyrics of one of my favorite Ani DiFranco songs pop into my head: When …
I talk a lot about the importance of parks and wild places, the beautiful scenery and interesting wildlife they contain, but this week I’m putting the spotlight on one of my favorite features of our open spaces: trails. My appreciation …
Driving home from a redwood hike this afternoon, I stopped at the newly opened Russian Ridge parking facility on Alpine Road which offers access to Audrey’s Way, recognizing Audrey Rust, POST past-President (see picture). Lynn Jackson, district volunteer at Midpeninsula …
Environmental educators are always juggling what, how much and how long to teach students in nature. Do you let students explore and observe a forest on their own, or do you give them more structured activities? Do you introduce sophisticated …
I was at Calaveras Big Trees State Park over the weekend for an event celebrating the grand opening of the new visitor center and commemorating the 150th anniversary of California State Parks. I was there to speak at the event, …
