Scott Peden, Big Basin Docent, in front of Berry Creek Falls
Word reached me this week that Scott Peden passed away. Scott has been leading nature walks through Big Basin Redwoods State Park for the last 20 years.
Scott’s knowledge encompassed the plants of the redwood forest as well as the natural and human history of the Santa Cruz Mountains. But it was his extraordinary plant lore and his willingness to share that I will remember.
I went on many of his nature walks when I was new to the forest. Scott led me through the different microclimates and patiently tutored me on the plants and animals that lived there. He once spent the better part of an hour showing me how to identify the three most common Manzanita species in the park.
Scott was a loving, kind, sharing, fun person who will be very much missed.
– Susan Blake, Interpreter I, Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Scott embraced beginners and delighted in teaching them plant lore. I recall spending several fascinating hours with him bouncing from plant to plant. I was so absorbed in Scott’s discourse that I completely lost track of time. It was getting dark. Would we make it back to headquarters before sunset? When I looked up I realized our entire hike had covered only 300 feet!
His Gifts to Others
Scott’s encyclopedic knowledge and enthusiasm for teaching made me want to be a docent. I reasoned that if I became a docent I would get to hang around guys like Scott. Think of all I could learn!
Next year will be my fifth as a docent at Big Basin.
But Scott inspired others as well. His photography website and his book, Life on a Redwood Post, helped share his fascination with nature.
His passion and encyclopedic knowledge of natural history, photography and many other disciplines made him a unique hero, a driving force in the local environmental movement.
– Jeremy Lin, Program Coordinator, Rancho del Oso – Big Basin Redwoods State Park
As you can imagine, all of us in the Big Basin community will miss Scott. He once pointed out a quote he felt described the many people who volunteer in our state parks and other wild places. I think it describes Scott perfectly.
In our world of big names, curiously, our true heroes tend to be anonymous. In this life of illusion and quasi-illusion, the person of solid virtues who can be admired for something more substantial than his well-knownness often proves to be the unsung hero: the teacher, the nurse, the mother, the honest cop, the hard worker at lonely, underpaid, unglamorous, unpublicized jobs.
-Daniel J Boorstin, historian, professor, attorney, and writer (1914-2004)
We’ll miss you, Scott.
Scott Peden hiking in Castle Rock State Park
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Scott was one of a group of deltiologists who gathered at my home to share stories.
He saw my postcards of Big Basin and had asked for one of them. By the time I put it in an envelope, he had left, I’m sad that I never granted such a small request.
Darlene, I’m sure he appreciated your hosting the group to share stories.
Scott was a wonderful guy and loved to share his knowledge and excitement about our local flora. It was great to know he was out there taking care of some of our special places. I will miss him …
I will miss him as well, Dylan. His fascination with our local plant life was contagious. He got many of us excited about plants at Big Basin and he shared his time and encouragement freely.
Please join us in honoring Scott this Saturday, February 4th from 2-4pm at the Old Lodge at Big Basin Redwoods. Details here: http://www.sempervirens.org/scottpedentribute
Thanks, Amanda. I will be there.
I knew Scotty from the time he was 17 and I 19, for those curious he was born April 1953. He will be missed greatly. I am grateful for all who speak so kindly of him, and for the memorial tree in his honor. He would get that Cheshire Cat grin of his knowing that this was done for him. Until we meet again Scotty, I love you.
Peggy, there was a great outpouring of love for Scott at the tree dedication ceremony. I think it was a chance for all those he helped, and whose lives he touched, to show their appreciation. He is missed by many.
We have posted a great slideshow of photos of Scott and ones he took that we showed at the tribute. We have another that were of the tribute. I thought people would like to see these.
https://sempervirens.org/scottpedentribute/