Tuesday, May 27, 2008

mushrooms...moss...and more!

On Sunday morning, shortly after the crack of dawn Heidi and I hiked up Teapot Hill...a hiking trail near Cultus Lake. The sun was shining...it was warm out even at that time of day...and it couldn't have been more perfect. The trail is a moderate climb...2.3 kms long...with a 300 meter rise in altitude. We did it at a leisurely pace...

...and spent some time enjoying the views of the lake and Columbia Valley at the top.


Ellie Mae was along for the adventure (Heidi's golden retriever)...and had energy to burn!

What always strikes me at this time of the year, is the abundance of moss covering everything along the trail. We live in a region surrounded by temperate rain forests...we receive over six feet of rain annually. Yikes!



Small wonder there is moss clinging to every limb...while ferns provide a carpet throughout the forest.


Ellie Mae was none too thrilled when the hike came to an end...but she will be happy to know that she's welcome to join us on a hike up Mt. Thom next Sunday morning.

Wild mushrooms are another product of our wet climate. There are over thirty-five varieties of edible wild mushrooms harvested from the forests of British Columbia...and exported as delicacies to Japan. I was rather surprised to find I had a bumper crop of my own, which seemed to have popped up in my garden overnight.

The ornamental grasses may have to struggle for survival if the mushrooms have their way!

After being documented by my Canon...the offending mushrooms will be removed and exported (straight to the compost pile!).

And, lest we forget we are living in a temperate rain forest...there is some precipitation in the forecast for every day this week (not what the farmer ordered)!

Have a great day!

10 comments:

  1. Judy, you ARE an early riser, both for early morning hikes, and blogging! That would be a lovely time to be in the forest, instead of the dairy barn. I haven't done Teapot Hill in ages, always enjoy it though. Dairymary

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  2. woah .. I enjoy hiking but maybe not at the crack of dawn. It is a wonderful way to spend Sunday mornings if the weather is wonderful. I haven't hiked mt. thom. I'll have to look that one up.
    Even though the rains never seem to stop, it makes for beautiful lush green everywhere. . that we can't deny.

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  3. Judy you always make me feel transported to just where you are. I know I've said it before, but the country around where you live is just beautiful.

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  4. What a wonderful Mother/Daugher hike.
    That is such a nice short sprint and so doable. Please come help me remove all the moss from my lawn and flower beds...This year is unbelievable eh?
    I'll have to challenge my daugher and Drift up to the hike sometime.

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  5. Sounds like a great hike, Judy! My heart speeds up just thinking about any kind of elevated hikes!
    The sun is shining brightly, I need to get outside, more flowers to plant..

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  6. Those mushrooms are not edible? I know nothing about mushrooms, but if I did, I'd love to be growing my own. :D

    How's Heidi doing? Feeling pretty good I'm thinking to be up and at'em for an early hike up a mountain. What a view!

    Don't think I've mentioned how much I like your new header...lovely and feminine.

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  7. You live in such a beautiful place- so different from Texas! I love your picture hikes! The forest is lovely with all the green and moss.

    Thanks for your kind comments about my son, Adam. I'm looking forward to your next hike! Vickie

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  8. What a wonderful photographer you are...beautiful!
    Sandi

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  9. Judy...what a great thing to do. I am so scared of bears that I tend to stick to the wide open spaces when I 'hike'.....like the dykes along Pitt Lake or along the Fraser River. Great shots and so GREEN! Hey, and the weather? I think they are revising it so just hang in there!

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  10. Oh my Judy...all this wonderful energy..thanks for bringing the camera along and showing such lovely photos...I fear my hiking days are long over :)..

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