Echos of the Storm

One month shy of a year ago, my family was enjoying the western-most point of the Fort to Sea trail. The Fort to Sea Trail represents the route Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery used to get to the Pacific Ocean (sunset beach) from Ft. Clatsop.









Tall, always-green grasses filled the forest floor where the thick moss carpet stopped. The multitude of tall trees swaying in the crisp ocean breeze, gave insight to a small creature's view of the world from the bottom of a tall, grass forest.





It was very peaceful and relaxing to be surrounded by such a neat forest spotted with small lakes, buzzing with dragon flies, guarded by seagulls, and patrolled by squirrels and other animals.



These coastal evergreen forests are very unique and amazing to walk through. It's like you enter a whole new, peaceful world with so many new things to see.

I don't know how long this forest world took to grow and develop--it looks like its been happily, peacefully guarding the coast for centuries, but I do know that things can change drastically within one year.

In early December, almost nine months ago, we had a micro burst storm whipping hurricane-speed winds into the coast. In an instant the trail was closed and was unable to open until June 2008 when the fallen trees were cleaned up.

So today we decided to visit again, hoping the damage from the storm was minor, and to seek the peace of this beautiful forest. As we drove up, we pulled into the where we thought the parking lot used to be. The road looked the same, the parking lot looked the same, but the forest looked much different. (the following pictures were taken from the same general location on the trail as the original pictures above--they are also in the same order.)

I knew there were a lot of trees down, but I didn't realize just how many. In just two days, hundreds of trees, which took decades to grow were destroyed...as if someone chopped the tops of the trees off like a kid chopping dandelions with a stick.

Greens turned to browns and sunlight now pierces the ground that was once protected by the shade of an evergreen canopy.

At this point in the trail another unexpected surprise presented itself. Not only did the wind storm unmercifully rip through the forest, but we now learned where the multi-acre sunset beach fire from a month or so ago occurred. It was heart-wrenching to see the black scar that gutted out the center of this already-wounded lush forest and the orange fire-licked trees surrounding it.

It was depressing walking through our once peaceful retreat which was now destroyed. But still there was a hope and anticipation of how much stronger future will heal this forest. Amid the fallen giants were the surviving younglings that seemed to reach up with ever more determination to reclaim their sanctuary. Tender green ferns and grass shined in contrast to the now pitch black forest floor; and surrounding the destruction were enboldened patches of mature trees and plants encouraging the newborns to thrive and be hopeful.

Notice how the trail divides the black fire destruction (right) from the surviving young trees and forest. (left)

The forest was still guarded by the seagulls, squirrels still played in the trees and a family of dear greeted us at the trail head! (can you see the dear in the first post-destruction picture?)

Although I'm depressed at the loss of one of my favorite environments, I'm exciting to watch the next generation of survivors create their own sanctuary for us to enjoy!