Redwood Guide

22/02/2024

Banana Slugs are one of our most famous critters here on the Redwood Coast! Their super sticky and thick slime is a specialized adaption that helps them survive!

17/02/2024

The ancient Redwoods are a place to behold. The way these trees fuse together and create such intriguing structures in the forest, is difficult to describe! Every direction you look, there is another hidden world. My guest here, could step inside this space, and enter a separate cavity within this living tree.
Starting at the floor, then up hundreds of feet into the living canopy, there are layer up on layer of forests within the forest.
It's no wonder it has taken so long to barely understand how these organisms exist!

13/02/2024

Stand with us here in the midst of the ancient forest of Redwood National Park.
These giant trees help put life into perspective. 🌲❤️🌲

08/02/2024

Redwood National and State Parks is a great place for a family nature experience! These are my favorite trails for a Redwood National Park experience for a Family.

Relatively mellow, beautiful scenery, and some of the best Redwoods in the park!

https://www.redwoodguide.org/blog-posts/top-3-trails-for-families

05/02/2024

Carpe Diem. For us here on the Humboldt Redwoods Coast, that means make sure to hit the trails and absorb the beauty of the ancient forest!
NorCal

03/02/2024

Warning ⚠️ this might gross out some. Bug-larvae-fungus-brainrot!

This is a Ten Lined June Beetle Larvae that was infected with Cordyceps fungus! They live most of their lives underground in this larval stage, before emerging for just a short time to mate as a big beautiful beetle.

What Mycologists suspect to be june-beetle fungus (Cordyceps ravenelii) has been found in the sand dunes around Humboldt. These Cordyceps are found living off of ten-lined june beetle larvae (Polyphylla decemlineata). The mycelium infects the host, and is thought to take over the nervous system! At the end stage, the fungus forces the host to emerge from the sand to spread the spores to infect a new host! The fungus extends out of the larvae’s body through its eye sockets. Zombie fungus! Thankfully, there are no known Cordyceps able to affect our species!

02/02/2024

Thanks for the great new cards!

Give me a call won't ya?! 🌲❤️🌲

01/02/2024

Have a moment with me while I spend some time Forest Bathing in the ancient redwoods. A wise person once said, "You should try to spend 15 minutes in nature, just being there, at least once per week. Unless of course you are extremely busy with work and life, than you should make sure to dedicate at least 1 hour."

I remind myself of that saying often. Even as a Certified Forest Therapy Guide, I have to convince myself sometimes to go out and spend slow time in nature. Nature is lazy, why work harder than you need to? We are part of nature, hence our often lazy attitudes. Often, our minds want us to just sit on the couch, eat a bunch of yummy food and relax. I remind my mind, that when I get myself outdoors into the forest, out to the beach, into my backyard garden, it gives my mood a great sense of calmness and fullfillness, something that I have never achieved sitting on the couch.

Practicing with proper techiniques can be very helpful. Utilize a guide to assist in learning the techiniques to best utilze Forest Bathing in your daily helath and wellness routine.
Active NorCal

01/02/2024

Nature has a way of bringing folks together! Sharing positive outdoor experiences can be a great way to bond and learn more deeply about each other, outside of our typical day to day.

Here my group is circling around a camera to take a silly picture with the canopy in the background! Fun times, notice the matching sweatshirts, extra fun time bonus.

30/01/2024

The old timers would call these burnt out Redwood Caves, "Goose pens". The big hardships that Redwoods can survive, such as a forest fire, are oh so impressive! Wonderful role models for overcoming adversity and pushing forward!

29/01/2024

We had beautiful weather on Sunday for a great Private Tour of Redwood National Park!

26/01/2024

Justin is commonly found digging through the leaves or getting in the ground to check out a small plant. Interested in learning all the intricacies of the ancient Redwood Forest? Ever wandered through nature and just wished you know the names and stories of the plants and animals home you are visiting?

Look no further, is here to help! Private Tours to help you unravel the mysteries of Sequoia sempervirens and help you make the best memories in Redwood National and State Parks!

25/01/2024

Redwoods have some spectacular adaptations that enable them to become extremely massive, and extremely old!
Did you know a Sequoia sempervirens has two separate types of leaf structures?! Often folks get confused finding the upper canopy branches after they've fallen, as they look very similar to Juniper or Cedar! 🌲♥️🌲

25/01/2024

Forest Bathing was included for the first time in the list of mental health tools in the American Psychiatric Association's survey for the new year.

For many people, a walk in the forest has long been a relaxing and rejuvenating escape from daily stresses. There is growing medical evidence that immersing oneself in a forest environment can have significant physical and mental health benefits.

22/01/2024

A favorite quote from a favorite person. Sometimes we go into the woods to discuss ecology and learn as much as possible. Some days we go out into the woods simply to be present, and feel the energy of the universe.
One is not necessarily better than the other, just depends on moods, weather, and our goals.

19/01/2024

What even is Forest Bathing?! Well, that question has a long answer if we could chat in person! I'll try to be concise.
There is a growing body of research regarding the physiological and medical benefits of breathing in the forest air, this is due to the phytoncides/ essential oils/wood oils/ whatever your preferred term to use. The compounds coniferous trees emit throughout the day, have been shown to have a plethora of benefits from lowering blood pressure and cortisol levels, to increased NK cell activity.
Now, on the other hand, Forest Bathing as a wellness practice, is an intentional activity where we go into the forest for mental refreshment. This is why a guide is helpful, to enable you to experience the forest without distractions, to enable you to become more immersed in the moment through a series of institutions specially crafted to enable this wellness experience.

Want to learn more? Please ask or join a program with me! 🌲♥️🌲

16/01/2024

With the rains come the fungi! The relationship between the mushrooms and the forest are amazing. 🌲♥️🌲

15/01/2024

Yesterday's adventure brought a few surprises from the big rain storm! This is a long Cathedral Trees Trail at Prairie Creek Redwoods.

Check out Redwood Guide's video.

13/01/2024

Another amazing Redwood Tour! The winter in Humboldt is rather mellow, just make sure to bring a rain jacket!
Honestly though, the winter months can be some of the best to visit. No crowds, refreshing rain, what more can you ask for?!

01/01/2024

A great New Years Day Private Redwood Tour! This family visited from Chicago to see the ancient forest. A perfect way to start 2024.

22/11/2023

A spectacular day for a Private Redwood Tour. These months can be some of the best for photography and adventures! Just make sure to bring a jacket. :)

03/11/2023

Very odd thing out in the coastal dune forest today! Perhaps it is the water interacting with the sap? Never witnessed this before.

What do you think?

26/10/2023

New Blog Post! - Rivendell of the Redwoods, one of my favorite fall time experiences here in the Humboldt County Redwoods.
Walking along the riverside stone pathway lined with moss covered rocks, feels just like a stroll through a chapter in Lord of the Rings.

A perfect place to sit and wonder.

25/10/2023

Try a Micro adventure! The benefit of time in nature is much greater when you move slow and allow the forest to present you with it's gifts.
Looking closely at each specimen with a magnifying glass. Try to get on your hands and knees, pretend you are an ant, and try to see the world from that perspective.

19/10/2023

An amazing Birthday Adventure! Stand with us here in the ancient Redwoods!

16/10/2023

These ancients are alot to take in. The first time visiting is always a special experience.

16/10/2023

10/10/2023

I love introducing folks to the practice of Forest Bathing. This is a wonderful article from Harvard Medicine. There is a growing body of medical science showing the benefits of spending time in Nature, and specifically near coniferous trees. Join me to learn further about using the Natural World around us to support our health and wellness.

"When a patient visits California-based physician Daphne Miller, MD ’93, they sometimes leave with a prescription that seems a bit unconventional.

The prescription doesn’t come in a pill bottle or require insurance approval. And it won’t have negative side effects — aside from the occasional sunburn or bug bite. Rather, it looks something like this:

Drug: Time on the Richmond Bay Trail. Dose: 45 minutes. Directions: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:00 AM. Refill: Unlimited. "

Many physicians are prescribing time in nature as balm for the brain