140 Inches of Precipitation
The Hoh Rainforest (pronounced "Hoe") is in Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. It’s one of the finest remaining temperate rainforests left in the country. Pacific Northwest rainforest formerly spanned the entire Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to the central coast of California.
During the winter season, frequent rains contribute to the average 140 inches of yearly precipitation. According to the National Park Service, “The result is a lush, green canopy of both coniferous and deciduous species. Mosses and ferns that blanket the surfaces add another dimension to the enchantment of the rainforest.”
The name "Hoh" comes from Native American language. One possibility is the Quileute tribal word "Ohalet" which means "fast moving water" or "snow water" from glacial runoff. Another possibility is from the Quinault tribal word "Qu," meaning "boundary." The Hoh river creates a formidable boundary.
Yet another possibility is that "Hoh" translates to "man with quarreling wives." Feel free to pick your favorite.
Green Spaghetti
An explosion in a green spaghetti factory. That was my first impression of the Hoh Rainforest.
The scene was incredibly chaotic. Ferns and groundcover were everywhere. Multi-limbed trees arched overhead in all directions. Moss grew on anything that didn’t move.
I wandered dazed through the rainforest. The overwhelming chaos of the scenery left me in despair searching for a composition. I remembered other photographers telling me it often took a week to find a good photograph on their first visit to a rainforest.
I almost gave up.
After three fruitless hours, I came across this scene. The groundcover formed an inverted “V” shape leading to “V” shaped vine maple tree branches. I took several shots that I dismissed and never processed.
Since I took this picture in 2016, my abilities to bring out what I saw and felt in the rainforest have improved. I revisited this file recently and was able to bring out more of its potential in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Thanks for looking,
Chuck Derus