Congratulations toJimmerBowl for the FTF!
The trailhead for the Evergreen trail is located by the restrooms that are close to parking. The entire trail loop is 2.7 miles and was just reopened in 2012. It can be rough in places, but there is only a total elevation gain of 317 feet.
Usnea longissima, or "Methuselah's beard lichen", hanging from a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). This is easily the longest lichen in the world.
It is extremely sensitive to air pollution and has vanished from most of Europe. Even in the Pacific Northwest, where one occasionally sees good stands of it, it has strict habitat requirements, is slow to grow or to spread, and it should never be collected. However, in Rockport State Park which is one of the ancient growth forests it is highly abdundant.
Usnea longissima was used for bedding and pillow stuffing in places as far apart as the Simla Hills of India and British Columbia, Canada, and it may have been the original Christmas tree tinsel (does anyone out there have information about this?).
With names translating as "pine gauze" and "Lao-tzu's beard," it was described in the earliest Chinese herbal, from about 500 A.D.
The park hours are winter Friday through Tuesday: 8:00 am - Dusk. Summer hours are 8:00 am - Dusk. A Discover Pass is required. If you do not have a Discover Pass, please visit http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/.
Get your free trail map here: http://www.parks.wa.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1938
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- This geocache has an approved Permit to be placed at this location on property managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Visitors are responsible for acquainting themselves with policies and rules pertaining to State Parks areas.
- The following items may not be placed in the geocache: food, illegal substances, medications, personal hygiene products, pornographic materials, hazardous materials, or weapons of any type.
- By searching for the cache, visitors agree that they are responsible for their own actions, and acknowledge that neither the State of Washington nor the cache owner is responsible for any loss or injury that may occur in relation to such search.
- Report any incident, problem, or violation to State Parks staff.
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 This cache was placed by a WSGA member. If you are a geocacher in the state of Washington, please consider joining Washington State Geocaching Association. See the WSGA website for details. |