Old Growth Forest

Andy Kunkle and I went hiking into an old growth forest near Mackey Mountain today. We encountered a vast grove of huge trees. This area has obviously never been logged. The higher we climbed on the mountain, the more big trees we saw. It was amazing to walk into this undisturbed ecosystem. The only obvious flaw in the natural picture is that the hemlocks here have all succumbed to the wooly adelgid infestation. But everything else seems intact.

I'll write more when I have time, and post more photographs.

The higher we went on the mountain, the more large trees we kept discovering. The slopes here are very steep and the going in slow. I was totally amazed at the depth and richness of the soil.

The tributary we followed is not named. In addition, much of its length is one continues series of cascades which also have no name. Because we encountered a vast stretch of angry stinging nettles that lashed our calves as we climbed, I've decided to name this waterfall Stinging Nettle Cascades.