I hardly imagined that backpacking through Mt. Lassen National Park on my hike down the Pacific Coast Trail this summer would provide me with inspiration for my annual Halloween post— but I had never had an up-close-and-personal encounter with manzanita roots. Trail crews, rerouting the PCT as it approached the Park from the north, had dug up the roots and left them beside the path.
I often include photos of faces from nature in my blog. And most of these are a bit on the strange side. (“Like you,” I am sure my wife Peggy would point out.) Maybe. My imagination works overtime when I am out in the woods and I can’t resist pulling out my camera when I spot eyes staring back at me from trees, rocks and clouds. They appeal to the animist in me. Plus they are an excuse to stop on long, tough hiking days.
In addition to the roots, I’ve included a couple of other photos from Lassen with Halloween potential and a few other ‘faces’ from my three month backpack trip. Some of these I have included before. Enjoy!
Dead trees are also mood setters for Halloween and horror movies. Here are a couple of many I captured in Lassen.
And to conclude today’s post for Halloween, a few photos from other faces along the trail, some of which I have included before.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM PEGGY AND ME.
Next Post: Back to hiking through Lassen National Park on the PCT.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Quite a collection natural ghouls!!
Nature always amuses me, G. 🙂
You have a great eye for an image, Curt.
Thanks, Ray… and an active imagination. 🙂 –Curt
I hope I’ll be able to sleep after looking at all those death masks.
Pretty scary, eh. 🙂
The grains and knots of the woods are their own storytellers. Enjoyed this photo essay very much. Thank you. Happy Halloween to You and Peggy.
I love the grains in wood. So much variety, and, from my perspective, beauty. That’s why dead trees and roots are always showing up in my blogs. Thank you. Hope you enjoyed the day of ghosts and goblins. –Curt
Great collection! Happy Halloween to you and Peggy.
Alison
Thanks, Alison. Some of those might be scary on a dark night! 🙂 –Curt
Thanks, Alison! 🙂
You’ll think I’m making this up, but I actually shuddered at some of those! Eeeek.
Laughing, Lexi. I found the first one particularly appropriate for Halloween. –Curt
There are some strange ones there, for sure. Our trees aren’t quite as — dramatic. Even the knees of the cypress tend to be pretty standard issue. These? There’s enough in just this post to inspire a hundred round-the-campfire stories!
On the other hand, you should have seen me on Sunday, when I came across the carcass of a gutted and skinned wild hog out on the edge of civilization. It took me about thirty seconds to figure out what I was looking at — and to be sure the “whatever” wasn’t alive!
Nature is hard to beat when it comes to creativity, Linda. All you have to do is keep your eyes sharp, your imagination tuned, and your camera ready!
A gutted and skinned wild hog would be a little scary. They must have wanted the skin, but it doesn’t sound like they took the meat? Wonder why they gutted it? –Curt
Wonderfully spooky stuff Curt! And not a skeleton in sight. Naturally aged wood is so beautiful. Happy Halloween!
Thanks, AC! 🙂 I have quite a collection of wood ‘art’ from the trip. And I totally agree on woods beauty. I will probably do a post on what I consider the best pieces. –Curt
Some great spooky finds, Curt! Perfect theme for Halloween! You certainly captured some good ones.
Thanks, Gunta. Nothing like a vivd imagination! 🙂 –Curt
Nature doesn’t carve pumpkins, it carves trees.
That’s right, Dave— in fun, scary and often artistic ways. –Curt
😦 Looking at those tree close-ups, Curt, has given me a turn – just spotted a weird face in the pattern on my carpet! 😉
They’re everywhere! 🙂 –Curt
This is a perfect Halloween post!
Thanks! 🙂
Spooky sights in nature, for sure! Just add campfire.
Always fun seeing what nature has to dish up! Thanks. 🙂 –Curt
Way behind reading your posts, Curt. But love these perfect natural spooky gifts for Halloween. I guess most of us have seen shapes in the clouds, but pieces of wood can also open our imagination, for sure.
And I am way behind in responding, Evelyne. 🙂 Peggy and I are down Mexico way, basking in the sun. –Curt
Jealous…
Enjoy!
🙂