Bracing for Rain
onFor millennia the redwoods have stood tall, facing west as they look out across the vast Pacific Ocean—an ocean that brings fog in the summer and rain in the winter. Earlier this week the first storm of the season rolled …
Drilling for Park Land
onWhat do offshore oil drilling and Zion National Park have in common with the redwoods? On first pass, not much – but as a recent story on CBS news shows, they are linked through a nearly 50-year-old program called the …
Oaks and Ashes and Chestnuts, oh my!
onA recent article in the Observer, “Die-back kills off 90% of Denmark’s ash trees,” had me both remembering my childhood and thinking ahead to the future of the redwood forest. Growing up in Britain, I remember the scourge of Dutch …
80 Degrees of Separation
onIf you leave Redwood National Park and journey 80 degrees south you will arrive at the coastal town of Valdivia, Chile. These two areas—equidistant from the equator, north and south—are about to be united through a sister park relationship that …
Redwoods Witness Shuttle Flight for First Time in 166 Million Years
onIs it a bird? Is it a plane? No – it’s the space shuttle Endeavour flying low over the redwoods as it catches a ride south to Los Angeles! That was the sight that greeted me on Friday afternoon as …
Why We Can’t Go Paperless (Yet!) – And How You Can Help
onFall in the redwoods is subtle, but if you look up you might see the redwood needles turn brown before they tumble to the forest floor. Fall is also the time of year when I start to get questions from …
Heralding Summer’s End among the Redwoods
onAlbee Creek campground in Humboldt Redwoods State Park was full over the Labor Day weekend. Clustered around each fire ring were happy faces enjoying the end of summer and start of fall. Each year for the past four years, I’ve …
It’s the Moments
onOn Friday afternoon I met Steve Chaney, the superintendent of Redwood National Park, in the small visitor center at Hiouchi in Del Norte county. After 39 years with the National Park Service and five years at Redwood National Park, Steve …
25 Years of Controversy amid the Monarchs
onI just got back from a trip to see the cinnamon-colored giants of Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest in the southern Sierra. It was a real treat to explore a giant sequoia grove for the first time, especially when accompanied …
The Marathon to Reform State Parks
onI’ve enjoyed watching the Olympics these past three weeks—and not just because it’s hosted in London with a British squad that has surpassed all expectations. It’s just plain fun to get into obscure sports and watch people at the top …
The Redwoods in Prehistory
onOne of the things I enjoy when I’m in England is playing “spot the redwood tree.” It’s really pretty easy. I once read that if you ascend any church steeple in England and scan the horizon, the tallest tree is …
Redwoods and Remembrance
onI have spent the past week in England, not to attend the opening of the Olympics, but rather to attend my 90-year-old granny’s memorial service. As with all such occasions, the sadness of loss is mixed with the happiness of …
Redwoods Parks Still Need Your Help
onIt’s never good news when the Governor’s office notifies you by email that the director of California State Parks has decided to step down because a senior staff member allegedly mismanaged park funds. According to an article published by the …
We Can Halt Animal Extinction by Restoring Forests
onTo prevent species extinctions it is necessary to take advantage of the window of opportunity for forest regeneration. Restored forests gradually recover species richness.
The Redwood Forest: A Prescription for Kids, Adults
onLast week up in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park I overheard two young boys: “Daddy, can I take a photo of the creek?” His older brother commented, “I don’t need a camera, I’m going to take a photo with my …
Redwoods’ Magic Shines amid Crisis
onAfter a year of anguish, hard work and some heartbreak, the headlines scream “no parks will close.” Well, except for the five that will. And the ones that will be closed during the week, or off-season. And some have no …