Thousand Trails Thunderbird at Monroe has several woodsy trails. Though wet from rain the previous night, we decided to take advantage of a sunny afternoon and try the steep, somewhat muddy Bear Gulch Trail.
Walking under moss-covered branches, stepping over downed logs, seeking out areas disturbed by animals and guessing whether it was a fox or ring tail cat, or bob cat temporarily gives you the feeling of being miles away from civilization.
A small animal burrow. Oh, that I had my biologist daughter with me. She would know in an instant what animal created this distinctive hole. She is more fun than anyone I know to take a walk with in the woods.
Two slugs were the only creatures we saw. At two inches long when tightly snugged this slug was a real curiosity to me. I had never seen one like this before. Wikipedia tells me it is an Arion Slug. When disturbed, it stretched out by another inch.
Damp mosses cover everything that doesn’t move.
Old growth giants provide the deep shade.
Trees struggle to reach the sun.
Giant ferns make up the under-story.
Where ever sunlight filtered through, a plant with leaves resembling maple overwhelmed the ferns.
We walked every trail in the woods and reluctantly returned to civilization again.
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