Running through the Woods

Our guide equipped us with water bottles and chocolate bars and off we went on our 20 minute bus ride to the temperate Tongass National Forest where we would have our Nature Walk.

'Walk' was a misnomer as our guide's fast clip made for a difficult time for snapping pics and keeping up with our group. Who had time to have a drink of water. Good thing I had chomped on that candy bar for that sugar rush.

An earlier mist/light rain had left the paths damp and a bit slick so careful footing was crucial on the many steps along the way.

The forest had a medieval feeling, lush greens, thick with Sitka Spruce and lots of ferns.

That humidity makes for some huge Spruces 

Alongside the paths was False Azalea, Hucklebery, Salmon Berry whose stem was used for tea, Old Man's Lichen, Skunk Cabbage which contains a chemical that melts snow, humans use its leaves like aluminum foil and its root is a favorite of  bears since it acts like a laxative, Dwarf Dogwood that serves as a ground cover, Bear Bread  that's like canvass and can be used like a band-aid, Shelf Mushroom that's like Russian Lox, Devil's Club that is an anti inflammatory/ anti bacterial, root is good for the gut. A knife can remove its spines and when pounded breaks the stem open, Watermelon berries, Twisted like Solomon's Sea, Deer Heart Lily brown berry with red dots is an edible stimulant.

False Azalea

Dwarf Dogwood

Huckleberry

Skunk Cabbage

Bear Club

The bridges and stairs were
solid and scored to add traction. Considering the amount of traffic these paths must get from the thousands of tourists were really well maintained.
                               

trailing raspberry

                                                                                                                   Although we didn't see any bears here. We did see evidence of their existence. If you look at the tree on the right you will notice some bark missing. Bears will mark their territory by stripping the bark off the tree. They like to hang out in trees eating those berries.

At one point the forest clearing opened to the bay.
We looked for the water's donations to this rocky terrain.  Here we found tiny crabs, sea kelp with polyps rich in vitamin E and sea grass which is high in beta protein for the deer and bear.

It's my kind of soil since its acidity is not attractive to skeeters. ( mosquitoes for you Northerners)

kelp

sea grass

Our speed walking gave us an extra 25 minutes to enjoy the fish and birds in Old Sitka while we awaited the remainder of our group.

spawning salmon

I had to laugh when members of our group got excited with the sighting of herons and eagles since these birds nest in our coulee in Wisconsin.

It was those hundreds of salmon bottlenecking the passage that was so impressive.

What a great day in Sitka! Our boots were made for walking and that's just what they did.

Next stop Ketchikan ...