APW: Muir Woods (811 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.8 on 29 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by GodChicken <Monty> (View user info) at 2007-01-31 13:05:52 EST
Before the logging industry came to California, there were an estimated 2 million acres (8,000 km²) of old growth forest containing redwoods growing in a narrow strip along the coast.
By the early 20th century, most of these forests had been cut down. Just north of the San Francisco Bay, one valley named Sequoia Canyon remained uncut, mainly due to its relative inaccessibility.
This did not go unnoticed by U.S. Congressman William Kent. He and his wife, Elizabeth Thacher Kent purchased 611 acres (2.47 km²) of land from the Tamalpais Land and Water Company for $45,000 with the goal of protecting the redwoods and the mountain above them.
In 1907, a water company in nearby Sausalito planned to dam Redwood Creek, thereby flooding the valley. When Kent objected to the plan, the water company took him to court to attempt to force the damming project to move ahead. Kent sidestepped the water company's ploy by donating 295 acres (1.2 km²) of the redwood forest to the Federal Government, thus bypassing the local courts.
On January 9, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared the land a national monument, the first to be created from land donated by a private individual. The original suggested name of the Monument was the Kent monument but Kent insisted the Monument be named after naturalist John Muir.
The monument is an old-growth coastal redwood forest. Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the forest is regularly shrouded in coastal fogs, contributing to a wet environment that encourages vigorous plant growth. The fog is also vital for the growth of the redwoods as they use moisture from the fog during the dry summer months.
Text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muir_woods
===
One of the best things you could plan to do is bring a windbreaker or light raincoat, and start your hike in the early morning, when Mt. Tamalpais is in deep fog and the whole forest is silent and dripping with moisture from the redwoods.
There are many trails, and the main loop is a paved pathway at the bottom of the canyon which someone in a wheelchair could enjoy. See this for a quicktime VR view that you can manipulate.
http://www.virtualparks.org/scenes/ZNmRizI42T5jJyiqavjbmSg.html
Photography snagged from Pbase.com
User Reviews
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2007-05-25 14:22:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The.GodChicken.at.gmail.com
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2007-05-25 14:07:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hey man, what's your email?
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-02-01 14:20:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Monty, fess up: Have you been having sex with a giraffe?
Submitted by jade_digitalmedia (user info) at 2007-02-01 11:51:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
purty.
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2007-02-01 10:10:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I spent a lot of time walking around Muir Woods when I was out in San Francisco. That place is awesome... Muir Woods that is. San Francisco, not so much.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2007-02-01 08:48:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Lovely trees...
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2007-01-31 19:12:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
These are gorgeous. I'd love to see more.
Submitted by whiskey_jack (user info) at 2007-01-31 17:09:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You can see similiar forests all over the western portion of British Columbia.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2007-01-31 16:52:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by i_can_get_you_a_toe (user info) at 2007-01-31 16:43:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
More pictures would have been nice
Submitted by Amontillado (user info) at 2007-01-31 16:18:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Zebra (user info) at 2007-01-31 16:01:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-01-31 15:40:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is very probably the coolest place in the world - if you've never been, I strongly advise you to go check it out.
Submitted by I_love_Kracka (user info) at 2007-01-31 14:55:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2007-01-31 14:40:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
yay big trees
I love that place.
Submitted by phauna (user info) at 2007-01-31 14:17:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
But is it art?
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-01-31 14:16:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I dunno. I'm paid to sit and be pretty, writing coherently is extra.
Me: What are these vents on the side of my pants for?
B.F: They're pockets, stupid.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2007-01-31 14:10:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
HaHa
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2007-01-31 14:03:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Multiply them by what?
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:59:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Multiply fags below.
Submitted by marginwalker (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:47:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Trees kick ass.
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:44:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:40:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Go nature WOO!
Submitted by messmind (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:40:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:31:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:13:38 (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:13:07 (#)
Ranking: 2
fag below
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:13:38 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:13:07 (#)
Ranking: 2
fag below
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:13:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
fag below
Submitted by Hilarity_Ensues (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:09:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
:)
Submitted by GnarlsBarkley (user info) at 2007-01-31 13:06:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
auto +2, Monty