Killer Tree

Day 51: As recently proved by a storm which took down 65 trees one to three feet in diameter in a small section of Longmire Campground, the forest can be a dangerous place to work. When trees are analyzed and determined to be hazardous to structures, people or roads, Mount Rainier National Park has a dedicated "hazard tree" team which removes them. Determining the degree of hazard posed by any individual tree may be as simple as visual observation; in other cases, it requires boring into its core.

It's easy to see why this middle-aged Doug fir was classed as a hazard tree. Its heartwood was entirely rotted away leaving nothing but a husk of deteriorating wood and bark. It and an adjacent tree were earmarked for removal, but only one was taken down before the big windstorm hit the campground three weeks ago. Oddly, its partner in infamy remained standing, a "killer tree" waiting for its moment.

Monkeying Around

Day 288: One of the things I love about kayaking on Lake St. Clair is that you never know what you're going to find. It might be Warblers or bass in the lily pads. It might be Round-leaved Sundews, the highlight of this naturalist's career. It might be pirates or a new friend. Today, it was a cute monkey up a maple tree with a chainsaw who offered a smile for his portrait.

People on the lake are a cordial lot. Some, who by now recognize the bright orange kayak flying the Jolly Roger may ask, "How's the fishing today? Catchin' any?" I give them a true and accurate account. "Not since about ten o'clock. I think they've all gone deep in this heat." Today, one fellow inquired whether or not I lived on the lake. When I told him I drive down from Mount Rainier, he said, "You can moor your kayak at my dock if you'd like. That way you wouldn't have to haul it out so often." He was serious. I thanked him, but declined.

After tracking down the source of the sound of chain-sawing, I engaged the monkey by pointing out the branch over the homeowner's dock. "That's the one you ought to cut off, that bent one." He told me it was in no danger of falling, and explained that the one he was removing had a huge split in it. "Got some good firewood there," I said to the homeowner.

Humans aside, I visited my other little friends as well. Can't go out on the lake without saying hi to the Sundews. Caught a pair of trout, paddled nine miles, and I've drawn a conclusion: people buy lakefront property so they'll have someplace to wear those outfits they wouldn't be caught dead in at a public beach! I love Lake St. Clair.