Day 137: Day before yesterday, my good friend Jean (former campground host in the Park) came up to visit and to take her first walk on Eatonville's Bud Blancher Trail. She also got a predictable introduction to what it means to go lichenizing with me, and served extra duty as penny-holder when I discovered Bark Barnacles on an alder alongside the Little Mashel.
Thelotrema lepadinum is not an uncommon species by any means, but you need a sharp eye to see that those tiny black spots are actually craters at the summits of lichenous mini-volcanoes. They do indeed resemble barnacles on close examination, but be advised that a "big" specimen will be no more than 1 mm. across. A penny-sized section of alder bark may present as much terrain as the face of the moon viewed through a 6-inch telescope!
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