The history and folklore of an area can be an interesting component of making a place your home. Here is a little bit of history about one of the special places on this island. South Whidbey is home to a profound 225 acre forest across the road from the So.Whidbey State Park.
The trail through this forest is call the Wilbert Trail in honor of Col. Harry Wilbert and his wife Myrl who led a four year struggle to stop the clear cut harvest of this land. There is a ridge in this woodland that the trail climbs that is approximately 450 feet high. Because of the shape and soils of both the ridge and the swamps below the growing conditions were good for the growth of several species of trees. In 1883 a great fire swept through this wooded area and only about 100 trees were left standing.
The fire permitted the trees to grow several years without competition, and along with great soil and plenty of water produced a small grove unlike any other in Washington. This is a truly wondrous area to hike through. There is a cedar there which is approximately 34 ft. in circumference. There have been bones found from woolly mammoths in this forest. These animals were known to be over 10 feet tall with a large head and tusks 7-10 foot long.
So take a walk on this trail of history, right here on So. Whidbey and you will know why it is so important to many islanders to buy the Trillium property which is adjacent to the Wilbert Trail and contains many of old growth trees and undiscovered treasures of our island past.
The Whidbey Camano Land Trust is in the throes of raising the money to protect this important piece of land from development. Read more at their website and then help save this natural part of our Whidbey history. Enjoy this perspective on saving forests..
