Picture of the week

Heart of the forest

A small stream flowing out of the forest of the Sinkyone wilderness.  This remote area is one of the less visited state parks of California, accessible only by a steep and often muddy dirt road that passes through the King range down to the coast. During the month of September you can also see roosevelt elk in larger numbers in some of the more open grassy areas due to the rutting season.

Deep in the heart of the Humboldt marijuana growing region, one must be careful about exploring too far off road.  Trucks hauling fertilizer, soil, or water now seem to outnumber the logging trucks.  There also seems to be an unusual number of expensive high-lift 4wd pickups that would be ideal for grow operations.  While on the road up here it was also interesting to note the number of transient pot-heads (aka potential customers) that have flocked to the area.  Many seems to just be hanging out around the local stores or the side of the road, panhandling, waiting for an opportunistic rip-off, cheap weed, a work opportunity on a local farm, or trying to hitchhike to who knows where.  Perhaps they have come here in search of some fantasy that they too can have their own marijuana patch, and live the Humboldt dream?  Talking to a long time local, most the local growers have actually fallen under the control of larger cartels, including some from south of the border.  The deal with the devil typically happens while trying to get the funding to setup their "farm", protect the operation, and in order to distribute the final product.

The town of Garberville seems to be the epicenter for this transient pot-head crowd.  Even though I have a negative opinion about the drug laws in this country, the heavy hand of enforcement, and the big profits by the prison and law enforcement industry that have been made by these laws; I am also apprehensive about how to reform the situation without also undermining the fabric of our society via easier access to drugs. If you are curious of what are the potential implications that easier pot may be for this state, take a trip to this town and try a walk down the main drag on a sunny day.  I really feel sorry for these townfolks and wonder how they cope with this influx of transients.  If only these apparently lost souls could exercise more refrain to set a better example...

Legalizing pot would potentially diminish the money in this area by cutting down on the rather larger underground economy, but at the same time also reduce the criminal element associated with it. Perhaps local municipalities would get a financial boost through improved revenues by taxing this popular export even with a reduced price?  Maybe a more ready supply across the state through legalization would also diminish the concentration of transients to a given area like Humboldt county, that today seems like the Mecca for pot-heads?

I traveled through this area last week on a trip along the north coast, exploring various coastal redwood groves and places like this.  The landscape is gorgeous, and hiking through the old growth redwood groves continues to awe.  The above picture was captured with a Canon 5D mark III on a tripod, using a EF 24-105mm f/4 IS L lens, with settings of 33mm, ISO200, f/14, and 2 seconds for the exposure time.

All content and images are property of Stephen Fischer Photography, copyright 2014.  Last updated: 10/1/2014   ()