The Chuckanut Mountains are probably the ideal place for immersing in the natural world with Alevin explorers. Despite the warm weather and sunny skies the trailhead for Pine and Cedar Lakes was quiet as Greg and Matt waited eagerly for the boys to arrive. The Alevin have been stretching the edges of their skills this season. They have begun to step into the role of mentor to the younger explorers, they are learning to create fire, and their carving skills are steadily growing. The Alevin are decisive and efficient when working as a group and there are many compassionate leaders emerging from this group of strong young men. The mentors were excited to offer them another challenge to finish their season.
Once all of the explorers had arrived Matt and Greg held a very brief opening meeting and without any prompting the boys simply began to head up the trail. The mentors looked at one another slightly amused and followed their lead. It became apparent that our group had several different paces emerging and it would be necessary to figure out how we were going to travel as a group. Matt helped the boys brainstorm some trail etiquette. The Alevin established that we needed to stay together, yield to other trail users, not trundle rocks, avoid switchback cuts, and offer a friendly hello to the folks we met. The motto “Its about the Journey not the destination” rings true and the boys and mentors kept that in mind as we started back up the trail. Given that we were a group of twelve our paces were very well matched and we managed to stay together for the most part for the rest of the hike.
The trail to the lakes is quite steep. So when the boys requested a stop for lunch we had to search quite a ways for a reasonable were we could congregate and not block the trail for a quick lunch break. Matt and Greg attended to the first of the emerging hotspots and after filling our bellies we set out once more to climb ever upwards along the old logging road. We passed numerous plants, which offered us a chance to learn a few more species that abound in our local woods. We saw Goat’s Beard, Foam flower, and Piggy Back plant in bloom and even a species of orchid called Rattlesnake Plantain (though it will bloom later this summer).
When we finally reached our first major junction someone yelled “HIDE!” and off into the bushes we scattered. The flat sunny spot next to the junction was the perfect place for a rest and some time to practice a few skills. Matt was working on his hand drill fire by friction technique and many boys were practicing their carving skills. The Mentors suggested that the Alevin needed to make a decision about which trail to take and offered a map of the Chuckanut Mountains for guidance. A decision was made in record time and again we headed up. Along one switch back there is a perfect log crossing that spans a small seasonal drainage. The boys were eager to cross, but with urging from the mentors we worked through a full risk assessment, came up with a plan, and those that wanted to were able to cross the log!
There were several stops along the way before we reached the junction that would take us the last little bit down to the lakes. We attended to blisters, listened to owls, investigated fatwood, and examined the landscape for places to play a game of spider’s web. When we finally reached the junction Matt and Greg prompted the group to make a decision about where to have our closing meeting. It was quickly decided that we would head down to the shore of Cedar Lake explore for a brief time and then finish our season with a strong closing meeting.
The sight of the lake injected the Alevin’s tired legs with a burst of energy and they ran the final 100 yards and dispersed along the lake shore looking for signs of carnivorous plants and amphibians. With some reluctance to stop exploring, the boys gathered for a final circle of gratitude. We reflected upon our journey this spring that began amidst the fossils of racehorse falls and ended with the warmth of sun on sandstone beside Cedar Lake. Thanks were given to the land, trees, the lake, mentors, explorers club and family.
With the realization that we must cover the same distance in one hour that had just take us three hours to accomplish we set off down the trail. At first the boys were racing down the trail a cloud of dust following them, but slowly their pace evened out into a steady walk down the steep trail and in the span of one hour (with lots of help from gravity) we emerged at the trailhead to find the smiling faces of the Alevin Explorers’ families.
The mentors would like to offer our deepest gratitude to the Alevin Explorers. You are fine human beings and we are grateful to know you. We have noticed so much growth in you since the beginning of the fall season. When you come together again in September for the first outing of the Fall the Mentors will be eager to see you again and hear the stories of your summer adventures. Hopefully we will see you around town this summer, in one of our camps or better still in the Chuckanuts! One final thank you to the parents and families of the explorers. Your sons are great people and it is a pleasure to work with them. Thank you for your trust with them and for supporting the work we do. There are lots of photos in the gallery so please take a look!
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