New Restart Date and Clothespin Trees

First, I’ve decided to spend a couple more days resting my right EDL tendon than I originally thought. I was off trail nearly a week recovering when this same injury happened on the PCT in 2014. So, I figured I should give it that long now. I have a bus ticket to leave next Monday, Aug, 7th . And will start hiking from Manzanita on Tuesday the 8th. It should take 5 days to hike which gives a finish date of the 12th. 

Second, a little supplement to my regular trip narrative. The tree in the picture is one I passed near Smugglers Cove back on July 4th. It is big tree with an curious tunnel through its trunk like it was on stilts. This was an extreme example, but it is not an uncommon occurrence in these forests. Spruce seem to be the main species that do this and the tunnel is attributed to “nurse trees.”

A “nurse tree” is an old tree that has fallen and, after some decay, provides a perfect location for young trees to sprout. The massive old tree trunk is elevated above the forest floor so the young trees don’t have to fight for light with all of the grasses and shrubs. The old tree may provide nutrients more tailored to a younger tree of that species. And as these young trees grow on top of the “nurse tree” they send their roots down along both sides of the old tree. After many scores of years and even centuries, the “nurse tree” completely decays away leaving a space under the now mature tree that got its start on the old one.

These mature trees, with a tunnel through the trunk where the “nurse tree” used to be, are called “clothespin trees” after the old fashioned wooden clothespins with a split at the bottom.

Happy Trails…