Ohanapecosh Walking Tour: Competition

A series of boulders to the right of the trail marks this next stop.

NPS/M. Meitle Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Ohanapecosh

Amenities

2 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto

We’ve moved just a short way from the stream and the forest already appears different. Large trees remove much of the water and nutrients from the forest soil, and their tops intercept much of the light and rain before it can reach the ground. Near ground level, smaller plants, such as vanilla leaf, use large leaves to catch as much of the limited sunlight reaching the forest floor as possible. Flora and fauna compete with each other for nutrients, light, water, and other resources that might be in short supply. However, here they are not only competing with each other, but competing with us. The road to the right is evidence of human's competition for space with the animals and plants in the forest.