Finding "gems" on the trail.

Every time I go hiking, I almost always get blessed with seeing something unique. The other day I was hiking The Rough Trail a roughly 5 mile loop to Grays Arch and I ran into this.






This type of fungi is called laetiporus cincinnatus. It is a type of species of fungi known as Chicken Of The Woods." This specific species, of COTW I was told was uncommon.

I e-mailed a few of these pics to someone with a great deal of knowledge of fungi and mushrooms, and he said that it was unusual to see this, at this time of the year. Apparently this type is known to come around late summer early fall.

He asked if he could use the pics for research and slides, and I of course said sure. I like contributing to science. He also referred me to some other experts, and said he was going to pass the pics to others who have knowledge in this field.

I'm grateful that God lets me see some of the earth's oddities. This was located right along the trail and stuck out from everything else on the forest floor.


Feel free to post pics of the unusual you have found when exploring.


Tom

I saw this one years ago at Rainier. It made me smile <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


This was from this winter <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I found a "Nuptse" Northface down jacket on the sidewalk in Jersey City. Does that count as "Gems on the trail? I would have left it there but my girlfriend insisted that I take it.

Was this ethical? I doubt it very much....(and I rarely if ever, need such a warm jacket.)

Is it ever ethical to take "gems on the trail?" Taking these gems, I understand, is not the point of the origninal post. Perhaps leaving them is more to the point. But the idea of "finding a gem" seems to imply fortune to the finder....

I've shot a couple of small animals and eaten them. Some of my friends and relatives tell me that this is .... stupid and whatever.. .or etc.........I fully understand and partly or even mostly agree with their point of view.....

Still, I'd do it all over again...Might even wack a deer yet someday....Though I doubt it......for various reasons.......Not least is lack of freezer space...

I had to get mine sent up from rei consider yourself lucky. thats a nice jacket i enjoy mine alot it is a warm coat.here it is in action

Nothing wrong with taking photos. I have found crystals on the trail before. Only one have I taken. The rest I left. I don't feel guilty taking glass sea floats. But everything else I leave.

Please let's not make this thread a debate. The purpose of this thread is seeing cool stuff on the trail and either discussing it or taking a pic to post.

The better I treat the Earth, the better the Earth treats me. That's what cameras are for, capturing the memory. As far as hunting, I personally don't hunt, but the people I know that deer hunt, mount the head, save the hide, and process the meat. They pretty much use everything. It is the hunting and fishing organizations that do a great deal to help save the environments the animals they fish and hunt live in.

But as I said before, the purpose of this thread was not meant to start debates.

This below pic is not the best quality (camera issues), but this large sand stone boulder had some cool patterns.




Tom

If you say that's a large, sandstone boulder, then who are we to debate this?

You say potato I say pototo.


Tom

I was up on the boundry between Yosemite and the Hoover Wilderness and found this 100 year old survey monument.

My favorite so far this year. but I got lotsa old ones..

I saw that today <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Here's a little gem along a frequently hiked trail in the Columbia River Gorge:

Been there. Great hike, neat tree!

BF <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Another unique rock formation with interesting colors.








Tom

Found a survey marker too. Not as old as the one posted above but kinda cool none the less.







Also found a camo minimag flashlight that worked with batteries still in it haha.