Trail of the Shadows, Longmire, Washington: Saturday, March 31, 2012

Location: Trail of the Shadows, Longmire, Washington, 98361, United States of America (Lat: 46.750609, Long: -121.813263)

Date: Saturday, March 31, 2012

Time: late afternoon/early evening

Weather Conditions: approx. 30°F, partially cloudy, snow on ground partially melted

Summary of Observations: Walked the Trail of Shadows loop at Mt. Rainier National Forest. Trail winds through the Longmire hot springs and surrounding forest. Noticed significant iron content in streams; turned them all a reddish-brown. Forest comprised of Mountain Hemlocks, Western Hemlocks, Pacific Yews, Pacific Silver Firs, Alaska Cedars and Yellow Cedars. Understory was covered with snow in many areas, but I observed Oregon Grape, Devil’s Club, Kinnikinnick and Deer Fern. Also saw Western Skunk Cabbage near hot springs.

Species List:

1. Tsuga heterophylla (Western Hemlock)
2. Tsuga mertensiana (Mountain Hemlock)
3. Taxus brevifolia (Western/Pacific Yew)
4. Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (Yellow/Alaska Cedar)
5. Abies amabilis (Pacific Silver Fir)
6. Blechnum spicant (Deer Fern)
7. Mahonia nervosa (Dull Oregon Grape)
8. Mahonia aquifolium (Tall Oregon Grape)
9. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick)
10. Oplopanax horridus (Devil’s Club)
11. Lysichiton americanus (Western Skunk Cabbage)

Posted on April 13, 2012 05:23 PM by sophiejhart