Blake moran

Henry Cowell:

The Backyard of the silicon valley

written and desgigned by Blake Moran 1

2

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my parents and the Schmidt family because of all the memories we made at this park. Without them I would have not been able to experience this amazing place year after year. This book is a dedication to all those past memories we’ve made and the many more to come.

3

4

Table of Contents Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 History of the Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Beniefits of Being in Nature . . . . . . . . . . 14 Visiting the Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

5

6

Foreword W

hen I first began writing this book I chose to do it on Henry Cowell because I had fond memories as a kid going there every summer. It’s also very scenic so I figured it would be easy to take pictures there. Even though I visit there basically every year, it wasn’t until I did this project that I realized how much this place really means to me. As I did my research composing this project, I realized how amazing Henry Cowell is. While interviewing my interviewees, they all made me realize something different about the park and nature that I had not thought about before.

My first interviewee, Paul, reminded me how important it is for kids these days to be exposed to nature. The younger generation is stuck inside all day with their electronics and some never even get to experience parks like Henry Cowell. My second interview was with one of the park rangers named Daniel. He reminded me how lucky we are to have a park like this and how few there are like this one. Henry Cowell has such a wide variety of ecosystems going on inside of it. You can go from a redwood forrest, to sand hills, to a river, to a beach, all in walking distance. There’s really not very many places in the world that you can do that and we’re so lucky to have something like that here where we live. My last interviewee, Patti, reminded me how fortunate we are to have a park like this so close to us. The Silicon Valley is the technological center of the world and just 45 minutes away is this beautiful state park. Most people don’t even know about it even though it is so close.

Even after going to the park every summer, I never really thought about these things. These people made me realize what I had been overlooking about the park all along. I think thats the main problem, is that people overlook this park. It’s so accessible, and so unique, yet people don’t know about it or appreciate it.

This is the main reason I was so passionate about writing this book. I want people to be able to see the Henry Cowell as I see it. I want them to be able to appreciate it as much as I, and my interviewees, do. I hope this book does just that.

7

8

P

Introduction

icture you live in a 16,000 square foot house overlooking Silicon Valley. This house is loaded with everything you could imagine: indoor basketball court, indoor pool, bowling alley, movie theater, three Ferraris, two Aston Martins, and an indoor rock climbing facility. With all these features inside your house you would never need to go outside? What’s even the point of your backyard? You can play football inside. You can swim inside. Even though your backyard is larger than most people’s houses, it just sits there without use because you assume that everything you’ll ever need is inside your house.

Living in the Silicon Valley, we are surrounded by technology. Our weekdays are spent driving to and from work and school. On the weekends all we want to do is relax by the television. While we’re stuck inside our mansion of a house that is the Silicon Valley, we’re missing the view of our backyard. The best thing we could do for ourselves is spend time playing and experiencing that backyard.

Located just in the backyard of the Silicon Valley, one of the largest technologically driven places in the world, lies a state park. Hidden in the Santa Cruz mountains, Henry Cowell State Park offers a unique experience for visitors to truly connect with nature and the world around them. The park offers the opportunity to leave the electronically-driven world that we live in. How many places can you go where it’s just you immersed in redwood trees? How many of those places have the beach less than fifteen minutes away? How many of those places can you sleep under the stars in complete silence? The answer is not many. There are very few places that have all of these luxuries, Henry Cowell Redwood State Park is one of those few places.

9

Chapter 1 History of the parks

P

ersonally this park means a lot to me because it’s a place that my family has gone year after year and made amazing memories at. I can remember climbing the enormous tree with my brother and our friends in campsite 81, our favorite campsite.

The best quality about the campsite was this tree fort my friends and I discovered. It was a place where we could get away from our parents and just hang out with the kids on the trip. I remember taking long hikes down by the river to the other side of the park that took up most of the day, then at night we would huddle around the campfire roasting smores. The first thing I always did when I got to the park was to check to see if I had phone service, I never did but I always checked. After about 10

10

minutes of searching I would put my phone back inside our van and run over to climb the tree. I think that was one of the best things the park gave to me. The ability to leave my technologically driven life and enjoy nature. People don’t get a chance to do this very often anymore.

What most people don’t know is that state parks have been influencing people since the Civil War. In 1864, Congress, along with Abraham Lincoln, allotted Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove to the state, making them the first state parks until 1906 when they became a national park. When Roosevelt first visited Yosemite to discuss the concept of state parks he remarked, “ I want to drop politics completely and just be out in the open with you”. Roosevelt was

so in awe of his surroundings that instead of turning his visit into a political one he wanted to enjoy it as a visitor.

Henry Cowell was first inhabited by the Sayante indian tribe before the Spanish came to America. The land provided a plethora of resources including the San Lorenzo river which was extremely helpful when it came to fishing.

The first owner of this land was Pedro Sainsevain in 1846.

Sainsevain went into the lumber business and built a lumber mill in the area that is now park’s picnic area. Over the next couple years the park switched between many owners. Much of the land was logged however the Redwood trees in the grove were never cut down. In 1867 Joseph Warren Welch bought 350 acres including the area which is now the park’s redwood grove. In 1868, he built a vacation resort he named “Big Trees Grove”. The magnificent trees brought in people from all over the country. Visitors included important political figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin Harris.

The Ben Lomond Fault, which runs along the bottom of the mountain, exposed large amounts of limestone. The limestone was formed by heat and pressure crystallizing layers of small sea creature fossil remains. Heating limestone was extremely useful in the building industry, used in mortar and plaster.

11

In 1865, Massachusetts native Henry Cowell became very interested in the Davis and Jordan Lime Company. He bought it, renaming it the IXL Lime Company in 1888.

At the height of the limestone demand, 80% of the lime came from the Santa Cruz County. The lime kilns closed in 1919 because of concern about 12

deforestation. A photographer named Andrew Hill visited Big Trees Grove resort next to the park and realized that the amazing redwoods should be preserved for everyone to enjoy. In 1930 Santa Cruz county took over the Big Trees Grove resort’s land renaming it Santa Cruz Big Trees County Park. In 1950 Samuel Cowell pro-

posed combining it with his family owned property next to the park. The park was later dedicated to his father Henry Cowell in 1954.

13

Chapter 2

Health Benifits of Being in Nature

W

henever you’re sick it always feels good to go outside. This is because dust, mold spores, CO2 and other various gasses are more concentrated indoors. The outdoors have a much higher quality air and some of the best is in nature.

There are direct correlations between people’s health and nature. The physical and mental health benefits of being in nature are plentiful.

14

Hiking in the mountains, for example, is a great cardio exercise. Because hiking is a weight bearing exercise it

strengthens bone density and prevents osteoporosis (the thinning of bones). Cardio can also reduce the risks of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, along with better blood pressure and sugar levels. The more you hike and walk the better it is for your bones and muscles.

It takes pressure off your joints and is great for people with arthritis.

Talking to my interviewees, hiking was for the most part was one of their favorite things to do at the park. Patti, one of my interviewees, specifically enjoys the Eagle Creek Trail because it’s, “A trail that goes through the San Lorenzo river and you’re

hiking through all the redwood trees.” She says she likes this trail the best because as you’re walking down to the creek, “The light is all diffused and you know you’re in a redwood forrest.”

Being exposed to sunlight also gives people the benefit of Vitamin D. Probably the most obvious health benefit is the great

way it is to burn calories.

Hiking is an excellent way to burn calories and a great way to lose weight.

15

16

Being outdoors can also help a person psychologically as it proves to be incredibly influential in stimulating your mind. University of Michigan professors did a study in 2008 that showed after just an hour of interacting with nature, a person’s attention span and memory performance increases by 20 percent. If you were to spend multiple days in nature, researchers at University of Kansas say you could potentially have a 50 percent boost in creativity. Being one on one with nature can also calm a person down and help to relieve stress. It’s extremely difficult to feel stressed in the silence of nature being surrounded by trees. Musicians like John Mayer, for example, are known to go away in solitude in to write their songs because they are inspired and relaxed by the calmness nature presents.

Jack Johnson spends his most of his time in nature writing songs as well.

He believes in this being inspired by nature so much that in one of his songs “Breakdown” he even has a line that says, “the wisdom’s in the trees not the glass windows.”

One of the more riveting studies on this topic was done by a British mental health charity called Mind. They suggested that hiking can improve mental and emotional health. Focusing on people affected by depression, they compared hiking in a nature park verses walking in an indoor shopping center.

They found that nature hikes decreased the levels of depression while the walks in the mall actually increased it. The 2007 study showed that 71 percent said they had decreased levels of depression while hiking, 22 percents

said their depression increased after walking in the mall. 90 percent said their self esteem improved with the nature hike, whereas 44 percent said their self esteem decreased after walking around the mall.

88 percent of people participating said they experienced an improved mood after their hike, 44.5 percent of people in the mall said their mood had worsened. This is why a lot of rehab centers are located in the wilderness. They are meant to present an alternate surrounding while being beneficial to a person’s mood.

Being in nature is a great way to calm and down down. These studies prove that taking a hike or a walk outside can actually make a person happier.

Being active can also keep you in shape and give you a chance to live longer. Henry Cowell presents bountiful

opportunities to get active.

The park provides countless trails that people can hike on of all skill levels. If you’re not in great physical shape there are hikes where the surface is flat.

Similarly, if you are in good shape and want a challenge there are steep uphill trails people can take that will test your endurance and strength. Henry Cowell is a great place for people that want to keep themselves in shape, physically and mentally.

17

18

Chapter 3

Visiting the Park

W

hen I visit the Henry Cowell there are a number of things to do. It’s virtually impossible to be bored at the park. The beautiful hiking trails are probably the most attractive options of things to do there. The Observation Deck hike is a trail you can take up through the sand hills to an observation deck. When you get to the top of the trail there is an observation deck where you can see all of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s truly one of the magnificent sights you can see.

You are standing on this deck surrounded by nature.

Trees are all you can see, the ground is not even visible because it is covered by trees.

You can also get the most amazing view of the sunrise or sunset from this place as well. Another great hike you can take is to the visitor center on the other side of the

woods on either side of you.

Once you walk down the creek for about a mile you’ll enter a redwood grove with some of the most amazing redwoods I’ve ever seen in my life. You don’t realize how small you really are until you are standing next to these giant trees.

It’s a very humbling experience. At the end of the redwood grove you find this building which is the park visitor center.

Inside you can find all sorts of facts about the park and it’s wildlife. In front of the building they have a tree named the Banana Slug Hotel because of the large number of slugs congregating there.

“The wisdom’s in the trees not the glass windows.”

-Jack Johnson park. The hike is about three miles but it’s by far the most scenic one you can take. You walk down the Eagle Creek trail to the San Lorenzo river with these enormous red-

19

20

The hiking trails and the redwood grove are two of the best features of the park and personally my favorite things to do there.

In order to really get the full experience of the park, however, one has to stay at the campground.

The campground is un-

doubtedly my favorite feature of the park. At night, park rangers give campfire where they explain nature, sing songs, and tell stories. There’s hills around the campground that kids can ride their scooters down and it’s a very safe enclosed environment so

parents don’t need to worry about their kids wandering off. The campsites are also a very good size. Two full sized families can easily fit inside of one campsite comfortably.

21

However in order to enjoy both the campsite and the hiking trails one must be prepared.

Never wear nice shoes because they will get destroyed. A portable gasoline grill is helpful for cooking dinner and breakfast on. Sandwich material is also a good idea for day hikes, and an 22

easy idea for lunch on the go.

Basically you wouldn’t want to bring anything nice because it will either get dirty or destroyed, but that’s what’s best about the experience. It’s a chance to get dirty and actually live in and enjoy nature. In normal society you would be looked down on

for being dirty, in state parks it’s a social norm. Everyone is dirty and that’s the beauty of it. You can be yourself because people are there for the same reason as you. To be fully immersed and enjoy nature.

23

“While we cannot live without the forces and creatures of the nonhuman world, they can live without us. There is more to the world than humankind and its artifacts�.

-John Muir

24

Conclusion

O

ur lives are so busy and rushed that we never get to sit out in a lawn chair and watch the sun go down over the Santa Cruz Mountains.

We don’t get to sit around the campfire and tell stories. We don’t get to get dirty and covered in dirt and have nobody care because they’re just as dirty as you. We don’t get that quality time with the people we care most about in this beautiful world that’s only an hour away from our crowded rural life. People are missing out on this amazing place and they don’t even know it! They think that they don’t need parks like this in their lives. John Muir said it best saying, “While

we cannot live without the forces and creatures of the nonhuman world, they can live without us.

There is more to the world than humankind and its artifacts”. Nature would be just fine without Humans however we have a preconceived notion that this is our world.

No matter how many toys you have inside your house there is no replacement for the memories that take place in your backyard. Your backyard is a place where you don’t have to be afraid of spills and stains. Your backyard gives you a place to relax without worrying about damaging anything. As much fun as it can be to be lazy and lay around

your house there is no replacement for the fresh air of the outdoors.There is more to the world then our houses and our technology. If we stay inside we will miss all the great things that nature has to offer us.

25

26

27

28

Works Cited Louv, Richard. “Health Benefits of Being Outdoors.” AARP. N.p., 23 July 2012. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.

McKinney, John. “For Good Health: Take a Hike!” Pacific Standard For Good Health Take a Hike Comments. N.p., 22 Mar. 2009. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.

Kara Mayer RobinsonWebMD Magazine - Feature. “Hiking Benefits Heart, Mind, and Body.”

WebMD. WebMD, 15 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

“History of Henry Cowell Park Redwoods State Park.” Mountain Parks Foundation. N.p., n.d.

Web. 25 Mar. 2014.

“Visitor Interview.” Interview by Paul Krukar, Patti Schmidt, and Daniel Williford. n.d.: n. pag.

Print.

Worster, Donald. A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008. Print.

“Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.” Save the Redwoods. 2011. PDF file

29

30