Bosky, adjective.
Last weekend my niece was visiting so we took a hike at South Whidbey State Park. As we shouldered our packs, I pointed out the interpretive sign at the park entrance, right next to the bus stop. The sign showed images of some local people who stood in front of the bulldozers, back in the 70's, to protect these giant trees from logging. Some of them still live in this community and still take care of this park. Thanks! We crossed the road and took the Ridge Trail zigzagging gradually up a hill through the woods. She set a slow pace, looking around her, silently studying her surroundings. She had lived in Tennessee, Texas, Washington D.C., Ohio, Utah and recently moved to Seattle. As I watched her, it occurred to me that this might be her first time in an Old Growth Forest. She walked slowly taking it all in and stopped to take pictures whenever she saw trees growing out of stumps. I taught her about the different trees and picked up cones to compare and contrast. I told her the story about the little critters with their heads tucked into Douglas Fir cones hiding from ancient forest fires. Their big buddy Doug would protect them with his deep, corkey bark. She spotted several large trees with burned sides that she guessed were Doug Fir. The spiky Spruce needles contrasted with the soft paper petals of their cones and their potato chip bark. We compared the needles of Western Hemlock and their varied lengths with the Grand Fir needles which are all the same. She realized when I spoke of Big Leaf Maple that it was the trees’ name, not just its description. But I wasn’t the only one doing the teaching. She taught me a new word. Bosky, a wooded area, with lots of trees and shrubs. I’d never heard the word before. She informed me it comes from the Middle English and is related to the word bush. The word dates back to 1616 and fell out of use for a while, but perhaps is currently experiencing a comeback. It has a rotten wood, mossy bank, prickly thorn sort of quality to it, much like South Whidbey State Park. We walked from cloud to mist to pitter patter and back again as we traversed the Ridge Trail with its Alder wood and muddy track. Descending to meet the Wilbert Trail the trickle of small streams and emergence of the first pink salmonberry blossoms were delightful. She stopped short to study a Douglas Squirrel which studied her, too. We wove through huge trees and were led to the Ancient Cedar by a trail of red rose petals from someone’s Valentine. Crossing the road again we passed my favorite tree in the park, the Hobbit House with room for a whole family inside. The damp green radiated throughout the forest with early shoots and unfurling fronds emerging with new life. As we neared the end, I asked what highlights stood out to her. She was amazed at how the death and decay contributed to the up-welling of new life. The nurse logs, snags, and her favorite, nurse stumps, provided peat pots for new plants and homes to so many animals. I was honored to introduce her to this Old Growth landscape. It’s been 40 years since I came to know Old Growth. Thanks to her visit I saw it with fresh eyes and now call it by a new name, bosky! For Directions:
Coming from South Whidbey, take Highway 525 just north of Freeland and turn left on Bush Point Road which turns into Smuggler's Cove Road. The park is 6 miles from Freeland. If you're coming from north Whidbey, drive toward Greenbank on Highway 525 and turn right on Smuggler's Cove Road. Continue for 5 miles to the park entrance. The Route 1 bus will bring you right to the park entrance Monday through Friday but there is no bus service here on weekends. *For those with mobility challenges, the paved campground road may be a place to explore the forest. The campground is closed by a gate but power wheelchairs can access the campground to the left of the restrooms. Be aware, the road is hilly.
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Maribeth Crandell has been a hiking guide in the Pacific NW for over 20 years. She's lived on Whidbey and Fidalgo Island for decades. As a frequent bus rider she easily makes connections between trails and transit. Archives by date
April 2024
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