Shelf fungi at Green Lake, Mount Rainier National Park
Originally uploaded by brewbooks.

You can really see how this fungi pulls moisture from this decaying log.
Fungi play an important role o\in the ecology of this forest, a subject I am always trying to learn more about.

( see the top side )

Nurse log, Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail
Originally uploaded by brewbooks.

Nurse log, Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail
Olympic National Park is home to a temperate rain forest , a very interesting ecosystem. A nurse log is a fallen tree which, as it decays, provides ecological facilitation to seedlings.

Nurse log is on the Quinault Rain Forest Nature Trail in Olympic National Park. This is a very short walk, but very worthwhile - one of a number short family walks in the area of Lake Quinault.

Interesting Rock on Crystal Peak
Originally uploaded by brewbooks.

I studied this rock in some detail while I sat eating my lunch on a warm sunny Saturday. It was interesting, it drew my interest, even with the great views of Mount Rainier in front of me, as well as Mount Adams, Mount St Helens, Mount Hood in the far distance, and Glacier Peak.

I studied this rock in some detail while I sat eating my lunch on a warm sunny Saturday. It was interesting, it drew my interest, even with the great views of Mount Rainier in front of me, as well as Mount Adams, Mount St Helens, Mount Hood in the far distance, and Glacier Peak. I liked the cairn on top and the color.

Then I noticed it was covered with ladybugs, a surprising discovery on a late fall day. The more I looked, the more I found. I was surprised, you can see that it is cold up here at 6600 feet, notice the patch of snow on the right. (based on the heavy rain in Seattle the nextday, I am sure that this area is covered in snow.
www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/281930278/
www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/281931455/
www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/281936925/
www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/281937228/

Finally, it had an interesting variety of lichens.
www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/281936292/

So, finding an interesting rock is the reason why I like to get up early and go into the mountains.

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