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This railroad was built by lumber companies to haul redwoods
to market. Logging began here in the late 1800's, and almost all
of the forest was clear cut.
When felling the redwoods, the loggers cut the tree several feet above
ground level, leaving a large stump. From these stumps, the redwoods
reappeared, soaring skyward. These "new" trees have restored a fraction
of the forest lost to logging.
When the train stops halfway to Willits, we walk into the forest and
stare upward into the sky. The forest floor is soft with redwood
needles and smells of sunshine and bark. |
