Yes – “gloom and doom” ! Many of us heard the phrase so often in our lifetime that the one word “gloom” may connote only negative thoughts. Webster’s definitions include depressing, dismally dark, lacking in promise, and forbidding. But there remains a more obscure meaning …“partially dark”

There’s a wide range to “partially dark”, and whatever that is the coast redwood forest can have it in abundance. Early morning, rainy days and foggy late-into-the-day. And that may be my favorite time of day, the hour or two before daylight disappears, especially on rainy, foggy or overcast days.

It sets the stage for what I call “gloomy”, but in the redwoods, I find it all good and positive. Although, it may vary for other people. But for myself, I find the the conditions soft and relaxing. For me, there’s no particular emotional roller coaster, but I can see why it may “rub” the emotions of other people who are not accustomed to that forest. The trunks can sometimes rise and disappear into thick fog as if vanishing into the clouds of the sky. Half the people who visit the redwoods probably live in cities where lights would be coming on in the same low light.

In cities, and even in farm country, a lot of people would or may head indoors when light gets dim like this or moisture gets thick in the air. But not in the redwoods.

It’s not that way every day or week in the coast redwoods, but those are my favorite conditions in the redwoods. If someone joins me for a hike, like Gary who used to own Curly Redwood Lodge, then conversation seems fitting. But if nobody else is around, it’s a perfect time to relax, to think, to pray, to plan ..and sometimes just enjoying a sip.

Let me close this post with a few extra photos. Thanks for reading. And maybe someday we’ll cross paths in this pleasant side of gloom.