After hearing about what it was like on Herring Cove trail during yesterday’s heavy rains, I wanted to check it out. My brother and I hiked the trail up to the upper end of Beaver Lake but didn’t complete the loop. It was interesting to see note the obvious evidence of high water. In addition to all the erosion features, one thing that impressed me was the smell of devil’s club (Oplopanax horridus) hanging heavily throughout much of the forest. It likes to grow in fairly damp places, and some of these low areas became flooded with flowing water, the water and water-borne debris damaged the leaves and stems, and I think that is why the smell was so strong.
