A Walk in Totem Park

Totem Park, or the Sitka National Historical Park is a quarter of a mile from my apartment. I’ve mentioned it before. It’s the magical forest. Which is probably why the locals go there all the time to walk their dogs, walk themselves, and go for jogs. Totem Park was the first place that I decided to explore. It’s one of the few places where you can walk through the woods without bear mace. It’s also the only place in Sitka where you can see totem poles. 

From the apartment, I walk to Sawmill Creek Road. The trailhead is about a quarter mile toward town. The trails are wide and graveled. The first loop of the trail leads to a Russian Memorial for Russian soldiers who died in 1804, trying to take Sitka from the Tlingit (pronounced Klink- It). It's nothing special, just a sign and an orthodox cross. Then the trail turns to follow Indian River. Then you come upon a bridge, where you cross the river. In the summer, Pink Salmon (called Humpies because the males get an ugly hump on their backs) swim up Indian River to spawn. I've heard that occasionally, a brown bear will come all the way down to Totem Park during the salmon spawn. (or the yummy hikers?) Indian River:

I've mentioned the "octopus roots" before, but here's another picture of some interesting root growth:

Thick forest growth: 

 Deer Heart plant. I'm not sure if the name comes from the shape, or the fact that deer love to eat it.

 A frog totem:

 Devil's Club. This is nasty stuff. The tall stalks are covered with skinny thorns. If you brush up against this guy, your skin itches and burns all night. The interesting thing is, Devil's Club is used to make lots of botanicals: healing ointments and muscle rubs. Go figure.

I don't know if you can tell from this pictures, but there are tiny thorns all over this Devil's Club branch.

 One of the many totem poles in the park. The little guy on top is wearing what looks like a top hat. It's actually red and black bands that symbolize the number of slaves the family sacrificed. Or so I'm told. Apparently, people like to keep this detail hushed up.

 View of downtown and O'Connell Bridge from the park.

 And another.

 A raven. They are all over the place. And they are loud. They make over 60 distinct calls (kaws? haha). And they are great imitators. I've heard them imitate a bald eagle. And Allison says, one started imitating her one day saying, "Hello!"

 This is Cow Parsnip or Indian Celery. I believe that some part of this plant is edible but I don't remember which. It's not poisonous, but it can have an interesting effect on your skin. If you brush against the leaves, you could get welts on your skin. But only if it's sunny. The chemical is photosensitive.

 Huge drift logs on the shore.

Rockweed and ribbon kelp washed up by the tide.

 A dried out patch of acorn barnacles:

Totem figure:

 Something eating something? Something vomiting something?

 A red squirrel, smaller than our gray squirrels at home. And faster.

 I wonder if this one was influenced by the Russians. It reminds me of Santa.

 The sound. And a red can (navigation buoy.)

A tree on the shore and a huge piece of driftwood:

 Old Man's Beard lichen:

And last, but certainly not least:

This is my favorite totem so far. It looks like a monkey with his pet raven. Although I'm pretty sure there are no, and have never been, any monkey species here.

Well, that's all for this afternoon. This morning we had two tours, and we cleaned out some of the kayaks. I have the rest of the afternoon to myself! I will probably end up taking a walk in Totem Park. Again.

Peace!