Crilly Nature Trail is on the north side of Eugene, Oregon in Armitage Park near the McKenzie River. It is a deciduous forest habitat that grows along the banks of the river. The trail has low spots that would fill with water in the winter before dams were built to control flood water. The steps provide easier ascents and descents in the gullys.
Carol is pointing to a large cavity in a big leaf maple that provides a habitat for small birds and animals.
A rotten "nurse" stump acts as a seedbed (or nursery) for young forest plants. As the stump decays, it provides nutrients and rich soil that is recycled back into the forest.
Growing out of the big leaf maple is licorice fern, that depends on the moisture in the heavy covering of moss on the tree. The rootstock was important to the early settlers as a sweetner, to flavor tobacco and to make medicinal tea.
The winds and storms of winter drop an occasional tree across the path. The trail maintenance crew will remove the tree later. In the meantime, Carol utilizes her scrambling skills!
We saw this leaf on the trail that lost all of its "body" except for the "veins" of its structure. I placed it over a brochure to reveal its transparency!