Nicely, Kim and I had one other ultramarathon trip final weekend. We have been down in jap Oklahoma for the Ouachita Switchbacks 50K race. Whereas Kim and her fellow runners have been performing insane feats of athleticism on very steep, rocky trails, I wandered round slightly with my digital camera, on the lookout for something visually-interesting within the dormant forests of the Ouachita Mountains. Nobody cheered for me.
The race happened on the Ouachita Switchbacks Operating Path, although I feel they tacked on slightly further mileage to get to a 50 kilometer complete distance. (It feels mistaken to say “mileage” in that context. Is there a phrase that does the identical work however in metric? Kilometerage? In all probability not. We’ll simply go along with “size”. They added slightly size to the route.)
Anyway, the path winds by means of the Ouachita Nationwide Forest, stuffed with shortleaf pine, quite a lot of oak species, black bears (supposedly, although I didn’t see any), and – final weekend – a bunch of loopy path runners. Kim and I had come down as soon as earlier than for this race a number of years in the past, however snow and chilly climate had made a part of the path inaccessible they usually shortened the race to 25 kilometers. This time, Kim received to run the total distance. Fortunate her.
Many of the morning was darkish and overcast (and chilly) however the sky brightened slightly round midday and I took benefit of the higher mild. Listed here are a few of the scenes I photographed between stops at assist stations to be supportive to my athlete spouse.
I griped good-naturedly to Kim that there was nothing however bushes and rocks to see, however in fact that wasn’t actually true. There was, nonetheless, quite a lot of brown. That meant that something inexperienced actually stood out and caught my eye. Mosses, ferns, and pine needles, particularly. I used to be drawn to these inexperienced patches and spent quite a lot of time photographing them.
I don’t actually know what wholesome woodlands appear like in that a part of the world, however the bushes gave the impression to be rising fairly shut collectively in lots of locations and there didn’t appear to be a lot on the bottom moreover needles and leaves. I noticed only a few herbaceous vegetation, although possibly they have been there and simply buried underneath final fall’s oak leaf drop? I’m guessing the location might use some wholesome hearth, however I must be cautious making use of my prairie sensibilities to different ecosystems.
There was quite a lot of fungus rising on downed logs and lifeless bushes. All of it seemed the identical to me, however my experience on fungus wouldn’t fill a thimble, so who is aware of? I used it as foreground for photographs and didn’t sweat an excessive amount of about identification.
I noticed some small bushes that I assumed have been ironwood (Ostrya virginiana) as a result of they have been holding their leaves by means of the winter like that species does in Nebraska oak woodlands. After I examined them up shut, although, they undoubtedly weren’t ironwood and I assumed they seemed extra like maples. Kim, after she was executed working, stated she thought they have been oaks, and as soon as she stated that, I used to be positive she was proper (and never simply because she’s my spouse).
Now, there’s a species known as the maple-leaf oak (Quercus acerifolia) that’s endemic to the world. The truth that I noticed an oak that I first thought was a maple makes me surprise if I used to be really seeing maple-leaf oaks, however after some on-line studying, I’m very skeptical. There are only some populations of the species on the earth, so I’m guessing possibly I used to be simply taking a look at dried leaves of black oak.
Winter tree identification within the mountains of Oklahoma just isn’t one thing this Nebraska prairie boy is adept at. Any assist from individuals extra native to the Ouachitas?
Kim completed the race earlier than darkish, which was no simple feat, given the gap, terrain, and the truth that she trains in east-central Nebraska, the place hills are scarce and never practically as steep because the Ouachitas. She was very drained. I used to be too, in fact. It takes quite a lot of power to stroll slowly across the forest on the lookout for mosses and acorns. We have been each glad to retreat to the close by cabin to eat and sleep earlier than driving all the best way house the next day.
As I at all times do in forested hills or mountains, I yearned for clear views of the horizon whereas strolling across the Ouachitas. There have been a number of scenic overlooks the place I received temporary reprieves from my gentle claustrophobic emotions, however they have been few and much between. Nonetheless, it’s a very stunning panorama down there and I’m positive it’s much more beautiful in the course of the rising season when there’s much more inexperienced. I hope to get again there someday and discover some extra.
