California photography : Prairie Creek redwoods

Located 50 miles north of Eureka, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park is one of California’s sanctuaries for the old growth coast redwood. Other protected areas in the region include Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Redwood National Park.

Collectively known as Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP), these parks are a joint venture of the National Park Service and the state’s Department of Parks and Recreation. RNSP is recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve as well as being a World Heritage Site. As such, these protected parks offer a variety of options for outdoor adventurers. Backpacking, nature trails, hiking and bicycle trails, wildlife viewing, and of course nature photography help keep visitors schedules full.

The historic range of these mighty trees once covered two million acres. After the west was discovered and settled by immigrants, it was only a matter of time before the trees felt the wrath of man. Heavy logging began in 1850, coinciding with the gold rush. By the 1910’s, the damage was near-total devastation. Today, only four percent of the original two million acre habitat is left.

In 1918, the Save the Redwoods League was formed, an organization dedicated to coast redwood preservation. From 1920 until 1960, this organization was responsible for acquiring over 100,000 acres dedicated to redwood preservation. RNSP contains 45 percent of the remaining protected old-growth coast redwoods.

These ancient trees, dwarfing everything around them, are unique to the northern California coastal region, meaning that nowhere else in the world can these trees be found. A combination of altitude, longitude, and climate restricts the redwood range to several hundred miles of California coast.

Thanks to the park’s coastal geology, as much as 100 inches of annual rainfall keeps the ground wet, providing the habitat necessary for the trees. All this rain, however, leads to the leaching out of valuable nutrients from the soil. For this reason, the trees are dependent upon one another for their survival. Old trees die from a variety of causes, naturally becoming a part of the recycle process through decay and then providing vital nutrients for those still living.

Comparable in size to that of a tomato seed, a coast redwood seed may develop and grow into a tree that reaches a staggering height of 370 feet, with a width at its base of 22 feet. An exciting discovery in the summer of 2006 turned up a new record holder for the tallest living tree, a coast redwood reaching 378.1 feet. Frequently reaching an age of 600 years, they can reach ages of 2,000 years.

In addition to the rain, fog plays a pivotal role in the coast redwoods survival. Especially in summer months, fog can be quite thick, rolling in from the Pacific Ocean, providing the forests with beneficial moisture during the dry summer season. Amazingly, fog is responsible for almost 40 percent of the moisture taken in by the redwoods. This fog is also a splendid opportunity for photographers to capture surreal images.

Of all the places in northern California worthy of your visit, the coast redwoods demand that you spend time with them. As should be expected with such material, it’s only a matter of time before the visiting photographer enters the realm of beautiful photography. With 75 miles of trails, there are a large number of photography projects waiting for you and the camera.

Rainy season in the coast redwood region of northern California is from October through April. Photographers visiting during this time should plan accordingly. Consider a quality pair of river shoes, as there’s nothing exciting about spending several hours of great photography while hiking around in soggy socks. Temperatures during the rainy season can be surprising cool if not prepared. Dress in layers, wool being among them. Wool is a superior warmth retaining product, even when damp or wet, and is highly recommended during any winter activities. Quality rain gear, both for you and your camera equipment, is essential.