The Alevin Explore North Lake Samish Trail

The Alevin met at North Lake Samish Trailhead geared up to weather a storm, the forecast called for high wind and rain. The mentors watched the wind in the early morning and had their doubts about our ability to explore anywhere but near the lakes edge. The Alevin however were not alarmed, over their years in the BEC they’ve learned how to be prepared and act preventatively. Circling up the boys handed out jobs and worked on orienting to the landmarks around in order to determine the four cardinal directions. The group was excited to explore this new location and their excitement only increased as the wind slowly died down and the rain subsided to a drizzle.

Gathering our strength we hiked for a half an hour straight up the power line clearing, climbing from what we determined topographically to be about 600ft in elevation. As we climbed up the group called attention to all the signs of spring alongside the clearing; the smell of fresh rain, the sounds of Robin songs and flowing creeks, the nettle and fiddlehead shoots, Salmonberry and Current flowers blossoms, and the beautiful and varied shades of green bringing life back to the landscape. At the top of the clearing the group looked a little overheated and paused to rest in thewonderful breeze. Peeling off layers the mentors stressed to the group the importance of regulating the moisture that builds both inside and outside of our rain layers in the Pacific Northwest’s humid climate. Many of the Alevin Explorers will be backpacking this summer and experience with the intricacies of staying warm and dry in sustained inclement weather is powerful knowledge. Taking the time to let your inlayers vent can be the difference between being cold or warm.

We ate lunch looking out over the vista at Alger Alp and Skagit Valley, what a view! After we were fueled, the boys circled up and the tribal elder helped to facilitate a great decision on how to best use our time and where to navigate next. To our west lied mixed logging land that climbed towards Pine and Cedar lake and to our east a another view point that required a challenging route of snaking trails. The group opted to head west and find a location to play Spider’s Web. Leaving the power line clearing we pushed our way through a crowded grove of Douglas Fir until the forest opened up. The boys looked at each other, confused, trying to decipher what kind of landscape they had just entered. The mysterious patch of forest had a thick canopy but its trees had dead limbs underneath. It was full of scorched trunks, massive stumps and hardly any ground cover or shrubs.

The group quickly decided that this would be a great location for Spider’s Web. The mentors would like to commend the Alevin for their sportsmanship and ability to play with honor. The course proved to be quite difficult and without underbrush to hide behind the boys were continuously caught by the spider. Giving it their best effort they used the challenge as an opportunity to grow. This group would not have had the same reaction two years ago. Throughout the outing it was clearly communicated to the mentors that these boys are willing to step into the leadership needed to meet the challenges of wilderness trips as well as the challenges of working in a community. The Alevin are able to: self regulate, hold each other accountable, focus their energy, think preventively, care for each other’s safety both physically and emotionally, and meet their challenges with acceptance and patience.

After our game the group circled up to delve into our Earth skill for the season, the Art of Backpacking. The mentors focused the day’s lesson on getting to know our MSR Wisperlight backpacking stoves. Together we learned to safely set-up a backcountry kitchen, cook efficiently, and how to conserve fuel. After going through each stove component the group learned how to pressurize the fuel tank and get the stove running with the correct temperature.

Throwing on a pot of tea water the group worked on carving projects while our peppermint tea brewed. As we sipped tea we cleaned up our project and about half the group decided to play another round of Spider’s Web while the rest continued to carve. Within a few minutes the Spider had all the flies on his web and our energy scattered, so the mentors called the group together for a sit spot.

Spreading out over the land the boys got quiet. As we sat the gentle breeze blew through the trees as it traveled across the mountains, created a rising and falling whirl as it passed through. It’s moments like these that remind us just how truly magical our home is. It’s the land where the sea and mountains meet, where wild spaces are just outside of our backyards, where adventure is at our fingertips, and the power of the wildland’s resilience and mass are apparent.

Calling the group back in the boys looked more settled. Sharing our sit spot stories the group really seemed to be fascinated with the mystery and history of this patch of woods. They brought up excellent tracking questions: how did fire that scorched the trees start? How long ago trees had been patch been logged? What wildlife lives in a mixed use for such as this one? What type of trees did the stand primarily consist of? How many hours it would take to traverse to Pine and Cedar? For the Explorers it is this type of questioning that opens their eyes, that takes them outside of themselves, that help them reflect and slow down, and begins to build in them that overall appreciation for everything in this life. Their engagement and fascination in the natural history of the local environment demonstrates their deep relationship and connection with the land.

We shared a powerful circle of thanks before heading back down the power line clearing. Needless to say the Alevin will be revisiting this location next fall season! The mentors would like to thank Logan for volunteering and continuing his journey this spring season in the Art of Mentoring as an Explorers Mentor Apprentice. Debriefing on our day with Logan we shared our excitement for the Alevin Explorer’s awaiting adventures. This group demonstrates the responsibility and leadership needed to begin to navigate both the physical and cultural wilderness that awaits them!

For more pictures from the outing please visit the Alevin’s photo gallery.