Cloud Forest

On Friday we had a field trip with our Ecology class to the cloud forest of Mucuy.  There, we were supposed to measure the environment (evaporation, temperature, wind velocity), and collect different kinds of leaves to determine by their shape, color, texture, and many other attributes, what their place was in the environment.  Since it had been raining all week, literally gray and drizzly every day with little bouts of harder rain, it was cold.  Also, we were up at a higher altitude.  So we wore jackets and pants and gloves and hats.  Once we got to the park we were going to, we had another hike up slick wet tree root and leaf-covered ground in order to get to the more secluded area we were going to study.  The forests are so dense there, and as we got higher up, the path became more narrow and less visible due to the brush covering it.

Once we got there and started collecting information and leaves, I realized that the heavy duty boots I got from a hardware store had been a good investment.  They were rain boot-type boots only a little shorter, and an ugly tan-beige color.  But they kept my feet dry, and so many other people didn't bother to get some, so their feet were all wet and cold.  Since we were told to be there at 8 AM, everyone was tired.  Some people had chosen to go out the night before.  I didn't think that was a smart decision.  So I was there, bright and early.

While we were there, I got to see some things people don't normally see.  The rain forest is home to the most species in the world due to the perfect climate conditions of being warm and wet most of the time.  Therefore, there is not much organization to how things grow here.  But it was still really cool.  I got to see a butterfly that had just come out of its chrysalis, and trees that were growing in the branches of other trees, so their roots were hanging down in midair.  We got to touch them, and they felt just like smooth sticks.  I guess i'm not surprised, but they did seem like they'd be a little slimy or soft.

(those are roots hanging down, not vines)

While we were there THE SUN CAME OUT.  It was like a beacon of hope to all of us who thought we would never be able to wear our tank tops and short sleeves to school anymore.

After we were done, we exited the canopy of the forest and walked into the beautiful warm life-giving sunlight.  And there was another mountain view, of course.

Yesterday was just as gorgeous all day, so I went to a little valley with a couple of friends and enjoyed time with them at a restaurant for most of the day.  Which means today is catch up on homework day.