DID YOU KNOW? There’s a small handful of rainforests in the United States, the largest and wettest of which is Hoh (pronounced Hoe) Rainforest in the Olympic National Park of
Washington. This rainforest is 24 miles long and borders the Hoh River in a valley that was
formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. It receives well over 100 inches of rain a year and is home to both coniferous and deciduous trees, along with an abundance of other flora and
fauna.
Last Tuesday, after our tide-pooling adventures, our next stop was Hoh Rainforest, and
the incredible nature specimens found there. After a quick stop at the visitor center, we set out
on a hike deeper into this very special forest. We had no idea what awaited us.
Moss-blanketed tree trunks and branches sag under the weight of the lovely green
netting. Needles and ferns cover the ground in a lush carpet of beauty. A haunting silence hangs over everything, broken only by the sounds of birds and the wind (at least until hikers arrived.) Tree roots form eerily twisted knots with grotesque tendrils that reach out as if to snag
innocent passersby. Squirrels and chipmunks scurry for safety, their peaceful wanderings
disrupted by intruders. Colossal fallen trees rot away with frail new greenery sprouting out of
their remains.
This rainforest is something to behold. In my mind, this kind of habitat existed only in
places like the Amazon…and yet here we were in such a unique and lovely place right here in
the United States! In addition, I’m from the Midwest, where we don’t typically see trees this
enormous in girth or height. We tried the classic ‘hold hands and see how far around we can
reach” around one tree in particular. Our family of eight, with a number of long-armed
members, just barely made it half-way around this giant!
We spent the night parked in the forest, and if it weren’t for a nearby memorial
spotlight, it would have been pitch black. Being accustomed to the noise of Minnesota suburbia at night, the silence was a little unnerving for us, but also wonderful. If you are ever in Washington, this rainforest is well worth a detour to spend some time exploring the wonders of God’s handiwork here.
Until next time, God bless!
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