Saturday, November 18, 2017

Rainforest Adventures

We didn't go off on any great new adventures on this visit out west.  I'm not sure November is the best time to go - the sun was scarce!  But we did get down some local trails and find some new things to see and had a good time with the grandchildren.  My 7 year old grandson now leaves me behind on the trails!

We started with the Clayburn Creek Trail, which we've walked before.  The trail is wide, with a gentle grade, and easy to walk.  In fact you might not recognize it as a former railway bed down through the ravine beside the creek.

A narrow gauge mining railway once ran here, bringing clay down from the quarry on top of the hill to the large brick factory in the village of Clayburn, now a small corner within Abbotsford.

It's amazing how the forest has recovered, with big trees, lots of ferns, and the tumbling creek.  The moss immediately reminds me that this is very much a rainforest.

Officially, most of this forest in the lower coastal B.C. is Western Hemlock Forest, and there are lots of big Hemlock along the trail.

There is also a lot of Western Red Cedar, and

Sword Fern grows all over the steep slopes, staying green all winter.

At the end of our walk, we came to those crazy Auguston Steps, a 350 step challenge to take us back up to the subdivision.  In spite of the challenge, these are among the most comfortable steps I have ever walked.  Someone spaced them just right!  All of this is a loop you can walk from our daughter's home in about 45 minutes.  And guess who was first up the stairs!?


13 comments:

  1. I would guess the grandson! Those steps almost make me dizzy looking at them. I love that picture of the moss, as well as the Western Hemlock and Western Red Cedar. I wish we had a trail near us like that.

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  2. What wonderful steps. The ferns and trees are beautiful, guess with rainfall they thrive.

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  3. Such a great place to take in the beauty of west coast

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  4. The steps are beautiful but I would struggle to use the without a proper handrail. I've noticed handrails are usually installed by people who don't actually need them. I've not been stopping by much recently - seduced by instagram!

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  5. hehehehe, i'll guess it wasn't you??!! it is so nice to have a young person who enjoys being outdoors and can appreciate nature with you. i feel like many of our young people don't get this experience any more!!! your images are so pretty, lot's of nice green plants to look at!!!

    those steps are so cool, spacing is everything!!!

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  6. Such amazing scenery everything is so green. Those steps sure look like and interesting design.

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  7. Loved those steps, but I was wondering how they felt to walk. Thanks for answering that question.

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  8. Hello, the forest out west is gorgeous. So lush and green, I love the ferns. It is nice when the steps are evenly spaced. Lovely post. Happy Sunday, enjoy your day and new week ahead.

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  9. Great pictures, even without the sun. The trail looks so nice to walk and the steps look interesting. Sometimes that doesn't mean a comfortable step though. I'm sure it was your Grandson who made it to the top first. :)

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  10. Wow what a great walk and you took some beautiful pictures along the way.
    Neat looking steps. Makes quite a difference when they are spaced just right.
    Were you very far behind!? : )

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  11. I remember those stairs from an earlier post. And yes, I would guess that grandchild was first! :-)

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