Mt. Rainer, Mima Mounds & Nisqually River Delta Weekend Field Trip - Journal Entry 3

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Shrouded in it's own micro-climate.

·         It’s Saturday October, 17^th 2015 at about ten-thirty.  We have already started our weekend long field trip and are at our first stop of the day.  Tim begins his roadside lecture at a lookout point on the road leading up the mountain.  He explains that vegetation zones around the mountain are determined by snow pack.  I interpret this information to mean that temperature which is directly influenced by altitude and the  type (snow, rain or fog) and amount of precipitation  are the key factors in determining the distribution of plant and animal species.  At the view point he informs us that we are currently standing in the mountain hemlock zone.  I also take note  that no deciduous trees are present at this  altitude.   Up here trees have adapted to have a more spire-like shape in order to prevent snow from accumulating on their branches. Above is a shot of Mount Rainier, our next stop.  Suddenly, a feeling excited anticipation sweeps over me, for today is the day I finally get to the meet the mountain.  Today is the day I get to see Mount Rainier up close.    

 

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Stairs leading to trails at Paradise with John Muir quote. 

·         It’s about twelve-thirty and we are finally up at Paradise.  There is a bit of a sprinkle at this attitude as the clouds loom close to the mountain.  We begin our short hike to the lateral moraine of Nisqually glacier, the target of our journey.  However, before we begin we are greeted by a powerful John Muir quote engraved into the granite stairs by the parks service. “…the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all of my mountain-top wanderings. -John Muir 1889"  I cannot wait to behold the glory of this mountain for  I am sure I will  not be disappointed.    

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Top of the mountain is visible for only a moment.

We are standing on a lateral moraine looking up at Nisqually glacier at about 5,500 ft above sea-level.  Up there at about 6000 - 7000 above seal-level  is the alpine zone where trees are not able to grow.  At first glance  the glacier  seems to stop in the middle of the photo.  What I had not realize initially was that the glacier actually extends further down that it appears.  The bottom part of the glacier is covered by debris and looks like a rubble pile. Successive glaciations over tens of thousands of years have carved out the glacial valley that is the source of the Nisqually river. 

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Terminus of Nisqually glacier.

If you look more closely you can observe the water channels coming out of the rubble pile revealing white snow underneath.  This is the melting snout of the glacier scouring through the debris piled on top of it.  According to Tim and Shane there has been significant collapse  of the ice cave seen in the middle  of the photo since last year.  A clear indication of  glacial retreat.    

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): View of trail we took get to Nisqually glacier lateral moraine.

At this altitude abiotic factors such as climate, slope and  soil type primarily dictate what species of plants and animals can survive here.  Organism must be well suited to the ever-changing and harsh conditions of the mountain side.  The mountain side in this view is dominated  by sub  alpine fir and some mountain hemlock.

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Common Beard Moss (Schistidium apocarpum) growing on the side of a rock.

In this photo a clump of common beard moss clings to the top of a large cobble that is sticking out  of the moraine.

Mount Rainier (Tahoma): Sketch looking down from lateral moraine.

Mt. Rainier (Tahoma): Nurse log over 100 feet long in old growth forest.

After visiting the Nisqually glacier we descended from Paradise and took a moment to explore a small  section of old  growth forest.  Down here in the western hemlock zone the area is  dominated by huge western hemlock but also many giant Douglas fir and very large western red cedars abound.  In this photo  the class examines a nurse log that is over 100 feet tall.  Nurse logs provide new habitat for plants and animals on the forest floor as well as make  room for  trees in the under story to grow.  The four characteristics of an old growth forest are B.U.N.S. which means big trees, under story, nurse logs and snags.  This stop on the trip was the best example of B.U.N.S.  we  saw  the entire weekend.  

Mima Mounds: Class takes in view from observation deck.

On the second day of our trip we visited the mysterious Mima  Mounds.  Many theories have been postulated on the mounds  formation but no one is certain which one or ones are responsible.  Such theories include; earthquakes, floods, erosion and  melting glacial  ice.   

Mima Mounds: Tim stands in front of mound  cross-section for scale.

Evidence has shown that the mounds are composed of layers that include glacial out-wash sediments underneath the mounds.  I personally think the mounds are man made and could have  been manufactured  to create a more  productive hunting ground.  However, like all of the other  theories I just do not have enough evidence to support  it. The Mima Mounds area is a prairie that was maintained by Native American tribes through frequent burning.  The practice of burning helped maintain prairie lands by releasing nutrients back into the soil, eliminating/reducing invasive or aggressive species as wells as  preventing large trees from growing. Soils  in this area are sandy and contain  small rocky particles that drain very well. 

Mima Mounds: Close-up of Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and it's berries  growing on the side of a mound.

After spending some time by myself  on a secluded mound I notice a bright red set of berries on the next to me.  This berry bearing shrub is called  Kinnikinnick which local tribes use as medicine for kidney diseases and infections of the urinary passage.

Mima Mounds: Sketch of Oxeye Daisy.

Mima Mouds: Unknown Mushroom.

Nisqually Delta: Wooded  wetlands.

The last stop on our weekend long field  trip was the Nisqually Delta.  This beautiful low land area is where the Nisqually river meets the Puget Sound.  Down here were are  still  in the western hemlock vegetative zone but we know have lots of other tree  species including deciduous  trees.  Here biotic forces are overwhelming as all manner  of organism compete for the bountiful  resources  of the delta. The  area is  host to a rich variety of plants  and  animals but  most  notably the area attracts an enormous amount  of birds.  

Nisqually Delta: Dead trees killed by salt water intrusion.

The delta is full of  fine sediments brought down to it  from Mount Rainier via the Nisqually River.  These fine sediments for  mud and clays  that do not drain very well.   In the shot above the tide has  receded and  exposed the mucky surface of the delta.  This area was walled off  by large dike system, drained and converted into fertile farm land.  However, recently the delta was restored to its former glory when the dikes were removed and nature resumed its course.  

Throughout this entire weekend  long journey I have been awestruck  and amazed at every turn.  I  think it was perfect how each  stop  along the way highlighted how geology and climate dictate the distribution of plant  and animal species.  This trip has opened my eyes to the language of nature and I look forward to becoming fluent in it.