We couldn't stay away. After several hikes in the past several weeks up both Big and Little Si, Rattlesnake Ledge and several walks along the Preston Snoqualme Rail Trail, we went back to the Middle Fork. Today's jaunt was a near 12 mile stroll to the old growth trees.
The flowers are beginning to bloom. Skunk Cabbage and Trilliums were out with the ever present moss carpeting the forest floor. This is a classic Northwest trail and it is green. Everywhere green. Green climbs up the trees in the form of moss and ferns. Green drips from the trees. Green at your feet and a green canopy above.
We did find the '9 hour' tree, just shy of 9 hour creek (fed, of course, by 9 hour lake). It's an old growth tree in the middle of a bunch of 'normal' trees. We were looking for it and on the way saw a number of other 'big' trees -- not old growth, but trees slightly bigger than the rest. Could that be it? What about that one? That one looks like it could be....then we saw it. There was no mistake, it is a giant among the surrounding trees. Once you see it, it's clearly different from the rest.
After about 6 miles we came into several old growth trees. Huge. Magnificient. Not a bad way to spend a day. 12 miles round trip. Couch feels good.
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