I leaned somthing about the trails I walk today

[John]

After about 1.5 hours exersizing and picture taking in the forest this morning I came upon some folks carring clip boards and such.  While saying hello, I recognized one of them; a nice person whom I bough my snow shoes from.  They were preparing for a voluntary trail maintenance thing next Saturday. (I will try to join them since I use these trails as much (if not more) than most.)

They went their way and I went mine, then (on the way out) I met up with then again and said, "I'll stay with you guys. I might learn something."
As we walked some side trails I mostly listened, but was able to give them info that they did not know.  (I guess I'm "home" long anough to know this stuff.)

They are the ones who "manage" this and were well familiar with some things that I was not.  But on several issues (I/and they think important ones, like the depth of some water which I have measured - with my leg -  when it went through some ice as winter turned to spring) I was able to inform them. 

I was also the only one dressed properly today to walk through the water and mud so as not to "widen the trails."  (I asked them about this and they agreed.)

They marked their plans and are going to do some things quickly.
They were in a hurry - I was not!

I guess one of the things I leaned is that they need help.  I learned that there are many things I already know about these trails which they do not.  I am Home.

I hope they are not like too many "managers."


PS  I also learned that we have "fishers" here.   And I got some great pictures of some "Lady Slippers".

[YeahItsMeJP]

Hiya John,

i would love to come visit this park you frequent so often. Nature and outdoorsy type things are my true inner passion. If there were no great need for my involvement in politics, I would take to the woods, build myself a cabin and live deliberately, as Thoreau would put it.

Lady's Slippers are among the most beautiful orchids I have ever seen and are my favorite plant. There are two species that I have witnessed the beauty of while on the trails - both of which are either threatened or endangered.

The Yellow Lady's Slipper, or Cypripedium alveolus, is on the endangered species list while the Pink Lady's Slipper, or Cypripedium acaule is on the threatened list. The one species I have not yet found, is the Showy Lady's Slipper, or Cypripedium reginae which is on the rare & endangered species list.

Anyway, we should chat more about the park and possibly going on a hike. Sounds like fun anyway.

JP

[John]

JP,
If you said nothing else, the hello is good.  Nice to see you.
Maybe we should do a nice walk in the forest . . . prety cool  . . . We can do a short walk, a 1/3 hour walk, a 1/2 hour walk, a 3/4 hour walk, an hour walk, etc. etc.  I know these trails well and can even recomend some for our freinds who may have a hard time with some.

I did not expect to learn this much so fast, but you probably know some things which I would love to learn.

The "Laddy Slippers" were a huge surprise and there were lots of them (they are normaly rather solitaty or in very small groups)  STRANGE, but they do not stay long . . . isn't it even quite early for them . . . I'm so glad I went ther today.

The Sun broke through this morning and I got pictures which were the "equivilent" of the ones which got me started.

PS I had never gone hunting for pictures before.  In this place it does not stop.
Please do come to Salem.  You'll love it!

[Russell Kanning]

Isn't everything on an endangered list? how else do gov workers justify their jobs? I don't think those things ever leave a list....no matter how many of them exist.

[John]

Isn't everything on an endangered list? how else do gov workers justify their jobs? I don't think those things ever leave a list....no matter how many of them exist.

Btw, better put me on the list, and JP, and yourself.  There are only a few.
Better put Mike at the top of the list.  Put Kat there to.
We used to be endangered. But we are growing so we probably only "deservre" threatened status now.
All we need is for government to not abuse us!  That is the only "protection" we need.

[John]

Indian Pipes are arriving/saw more than I expected today/(they are one of my favorites) . . . got some early pics . . .
More "shrooms" are arriving . . .

Come on over . . . !

[Pat K]

HI John, what are Indian Pipes?

Glad to see your out and about and havin a good time.

[Kat Kanning]

I love those too, John.  We saw a bunch when we were walking around Goose Pond.

PatK, it is:  A waxy white saprophyte of deep forest shade (i.e. is doesn't make food like normal plants, it lives off dead material on the forest floor).

[John]

Wish I could spell worth a damn; I'd tell you a bit more about the chlorophyl (or in this case, the lack there of) and how the photosynthesis which happens in the presence of light is so important to plants . . . yet these fragile little babies manage to turn death into life - without it . . .
Indian Pipes don't act/live like "all" of the other plants.
They don't have to!

I love to see Indian Pipes arive for their short lives . . .
As they grow, they turn their heads upright . . . then they do what they must . . . then they fade away.

They are are sure sign that life is not always as it seems . . . ETC!

[PattyE]

The first time I saw Indian Pipes in the forest they made me think of the spores from that old Star Trek episode!? They are fascinating.?

But Lady Slippers are my favorite wild flower!? Here is one I that I found on a trail in May:

[John]

Thank you Kat and Patty.  The pics say more than  . . .
Patty, is that a NH Lady Slipper?
Kat, the Indian Pipes pic is awsome!

[PattyE]

Patty, is that a NH Lady Slipper?

No... I must admit... it's a MA Lady Slipper.  I was doing some geocaching in Wilmington, MA when I spotted it along the trail. 

[John]

Just so you know, we have better Lady Slippers here.    (Better Indian Pipes to.)
Everything is better in NH!!!!

I think you are already here (I think we've met), but if I'm wrong - PLEASE COME HOME!

[PattyE]

Live in NH
Work in MA
Geocache everwhere!

[Kat Kanning]

Oh I love those, too   We saw a bunch at the rhododendron park last month.