Aspidotis Densa

Day 286: There is a new name on the list of ferns known to occur in Mount Rainier National Park as of yesterday: Aspidotis densa. Known commonly as "Indian's Dream" or "Cliff Brake," the species had not been observed previously in the Park or in Pierce County, although it had been reported from Lewis County to the south and King County to the north. Only two specimens were observed at this site. However, we did not make a thorough search on this occasion. That will be forthcoming. The fern can be recognized by its blackish-brown stems and delicately lacy fronds. Fertile blades with thinner segments are held erect and exhibit more pinnae (divisions) than sterile foliage, a phenomenon called dimorphism or "having two forms." You would be correct in assuming that the plant was discovered by Team Biota during a recent outing, and it took several phone calls and numerous emails to confirm its identity. I am surprised that my jubilant "YES!!!" didn't register on the UW's seismometer.

Fiddlin' Around

Day 201: Fern fiddleheads (young shoots) come in a fascinating array of shapes. While several species are considered edible, I do not collect them and would caution my readers against doing so. They must be properly prepared to remove the fine hairs which are irritating to the digestive system. I took a "fern walk" yesterday so that I could show you some of the various types of fiddlehead. Left to right: Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris), a very soft-textured fern when fully unfurled; Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum), familiar to most people for its leathery, harsh foliage; Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum), arguably the most common fern in the Pacific Northwest and in fact one of the most abundant plant species in the world.

Starting The New Year Off Right

Day 91: I waited for it to warm up to 35° before heading off to climb Hugo Peak. I've been "off" Pack Forest for a while after picking up five ticks on a hike early last summer, but I figured they'd have a hard time route-finding through the layers of clothes I was wearing. Even so, as soon as I got home, I showered and threw the clothes in the washer.

In over fifty years of rambling through the forests of the Pacific Northwest, the first time I found a tick on me was just six or seven years ago. Since that day, not a single year has gone by that I didn't "collect" at least one. Five on one hike set a new record, one I am not looking forward to meeting or beating. The environments where I've encountered them have been varied: dry-grass prairie, damp forest, even in my own yard. I've not yet heard any reliable reports of them in Mount Rainier National Park, but I figure it's just a matter of time before they're transported there on the backs of deer and elk.

That said, my hike today seems to have been tick-free and very enjoyable. The air was a bit nippy for bare hands, but I soon dispensed with my jacket, keeping my head warm with the woolly Alpine Topper pulled down to cover my ears. Several Pacific Wrens were seen darting around in the brush beside the trail and a Douglas squirrel scolded me for trespassing on his territory. Predictably, there were also a few other like-minded hikers chose to bring in the New Year in the same way I did: walking in the glorious green forest.