Alevin's Introduction to the Explorers Mentor Apprenticeship Program at Lookout Mountain

The Alevin arrived for their first ever exploration of Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve excited to spend some time together. Circling up the mentors introduced the boys to our volunteer for the day Ben Saari. Unbeknownst to the Explorers, Ben had been hard at work over the last year as Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association’s volunteer coordinator. On behalf of the mentors we would like to thank Ben for his work supporting the Explorers at their service site.

After handing out jobs we revisited our skill for the season, Fire by Friction. Pulling out a shopping bag a mentor passed around a surplus of project wood for the group; Cedar and Red Alder for making fireboards and spindles, Cottonwood root and Salmonberry stalks for hand drill kits, and Vine Maple for bowdrills and tent pegs. The boys compared and contrasted the types of woods and were able to acquire some missing pieces from their fire kits.

Unlike most Explorers Club outings, which practice circular leadership, the mentors on this day were a bit more triangular with the group in terms of the plan for the day. Our aim for the outing was simple, hike roughly a mile and half and find the fire pit, start a fire without a match, and then decommission it from further use. 

After they had the parameters for the day the Alevin asked, “why we would have a fire in the pit if we were going to demolish it”?  The mentors told the boys that our fire would mark an important transition for the group within the Boys EC.

Packing up we pushed up the logging road feasting on Salmonberries and anxiously licking our chops at the Thimbleberries, which were not yet ripe. The road afforded us a wide birth which allowed for some great conversations. As we walked the Swainson’s Thrush and Robins followed us, calling out and alerting the forest of our presence while eating the mosquitos trailing at our heels.

We stopped for a moment to take in a view of Lake Whatcom and Stewart Mountain. Pointing out the North Lake Whatcom Trail, a previous outing location, the boys began to orient to the land. Turning our focus back towards Lookout Mountain we ascended up the flanks and through the vast track of logging land above a tributary of Austin Creek. Veering off the trail we hiked through a crowded stand of Douglas Fir and Cedar and found the fire pit on the next rise.

Taking a moment the group ate some lunch and hydrated. Examining the fire pit the mentors explained that is was ill kept and unsightly. A large rock ring had been assembled around it and countless fires had been left unfinished leaving layers of ash coal that in dry conditions could reignite and cause a disaster. Working together we problem solved and dug a second pit in the forest floor to redistributing the coal and ash. The boys then scattering the rocks while a mentor dug the pit down to mineral soil.

With a usable fire pit now in order it was up to the boys to figure out how to create it with the natural resources and knowledge they had. They did an excellent job remembering some key details. A combo of fatwood shavings, a tinder nest, Western Hemlock branches, and split cedar would give them what they need to spark a flame with a flint and steel.

Over time mentors have come to realize that as the Explorers age in the program they often diversify in their interests for specific skills. Our mentors find it challenging to engaging all the participants at the same time in the same skill. We often finding it more fruitful to provide a specific skill lesson and then open up the space for them to practice a variety of skills. For the boys the possibilities are endless during these skill sessions, we do however enforce that the boys at least be engaged with something constructive. A few of our Explorers spent their time demolishing stumps with sticks and were challenged to be more engaged and think about their impact on the land.  

It took the group roughly forty minutes to get the fire going.  In their first few attempts they got the tinder bundle to spark, but found that their kindling was stacked much too high and their tinder nest was much too small. It was their combination of teamwork and skill that led to their success.

In our debrief at the end of the day Ben reflected how much he enjoyed the boys ability to teach him Earth Skills and show their leadership. During our outing a few boys led Ben on a natural history walk through the forest while to harvesting fire materials. Parents, next time you are out on the land with your Explorer ask them to show you how to harvest fire materials, it’s really something!

Sitting around the small but hardy fire the boys roasted apples, salami, and even a Snickers bar on sticks, reveling in their accomplishment. Asking the boys to bring their focus to the transition that the fire had now marked, the group was informed that with the graduation of the two eldest groups the weekend prior, they were now the eldest Explorers Club group. With this transition come new opportunities in the form of seasonal campouts and longer explorations, as well as asking for the boys to take a deepened responsibility and role amongst their younger Explorers Club community.
Parents, starting this fall the Alevin will be eligible to sign up for our EMA: Explorers Mentor Apprentice Program. Mentor apprentices join younger Explorers Club outings in addition to the their regular group outings and are encouraged to work with the same groups over time. Click here for more info about the about our EMA Program.  

Before we closed our circle the mentors asked the group to recall their service outings with the younger boys and use it to answer the question, “What does it mean to be a mentor”? The boys replied:  “a guide” “role model” “listener” “teacher” “encourager” “and “safety watcher”. Starting this fall the Alevin will begin their journey and through their experience define and highlight in them what it means to be a mentor and what gifts they have to give to their community. 

Before leaving we doused what few coals were left and gathered handfuls of soil from particular loamy spots in the forest floor, filling the pit then covering it with moss. To the passerby, you would have never known we were there.

Back on the logging road the group circle up and gave thanks before heading back. The mentors thanked the group for marking their transition and for their service to the land and commitment to our culture of fire safety. Parents, thank you for another great season and opportunity to mentor your boys. It is your continued support and faith in our program that allows us to walk along side your boys as they make the transition into adolescence and as elders amongst their Explorers. 

For more photos from the day please visit the Alevin Explorers photo album from the day.

The Alevin linger at Lizard Lake

My wife taught Kindergarten for many years. For over a decade, her district offered half-day Kindergarten only. Then the district, partly in response to her urging, began to phase in all-day K. Presumably thanks to her dedication to the change, her’s was one of the first classrooms to make the change. 

As she was preparing for her first full-day class, I was speaking with her about what the extra time meant for her curriculum. Would she add to her existing subject areas or institute additional topics? Her response (paraphrased) - “ You poor, innocent, unwitting soul. I don’t need to add more work to rush through…I need the extra time to do justice to the curriculum I’ve been teaching!”

A similar sentiment applies for Saturday’s Lizard Lake outing. The Blanchard Mountain area in the

Play misty for the Alevin

southern Chuckanuts offers so many opportunities for skills work and play, the mentors fell into the same trap I failed to avoid many years ago; we started up the trail with a long list of options to fill our longer-than-usual seven hour outing. And what happened? 

Rather than a record number of different activities, we did three tried and true: we hiked and explored, we practiced making and tending a fire, and we climbed over boulders and into caves. 

The hike to Lizard Lake was a demanding one. It began on a logging road that rises gently through forest and salmonberry bushes, with pastoral views of Skagit County farmland near Alger. We then turned West into the woods and up switchbacks toward Lily and Lizard Lakes. I had anticipated that we would take time for games along the climb, but we mostly pressed on as the boys were eager to get to the lake.

Log-walking to the far side of the lake

Once there, the Alevin immediately scattered into a frenzy of free exploration. They’d been here before and wanted to revisit prior exploits. The mentors had planned to begin by asking the group to prioritize our planned activities, but decided instead to follow the wisdom captured in our mottos for the day - “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” and “Be here now.” 

The forest was wet this day, as is not a surprise in the Chuckanuts. And, as if to eliminate any doubt about the subject, a shower passed through as the boys were transitioning to lunch and we gathered to plan the day. Unfortunate, given that our skill for the season is fire by friction.

Undaunted, we gathered our tools and our resolve and began with the purest of fire making

Mentor Conor lead the hand drill effort

techniques - the bow drill and the hand drill. Thanks to mentor Conor’s skill and passion for the hand drill, that soon took center stage. Before long, a determined team of four explorers and Conor was generating smoke off their fire board. The attendant excitement proved short-lived, however, as the team actually penetrated all the way through the board a few times without generating the necessary coal to ignite their nest into a sustainable flame. No doubt, the excessive dampness was to blame. 

Ah, but we have more options. Flint and steel was tried next. Again, repeated efforts went unrewarded. Our tinder seemed dry, but stubbornly refused to respond to the spark. By this time, we needed to succeed more than we needed to master backcountry skills, so we pulled out the “Strike anywhere” matches. They proved true to their name as were we quickly able to ignite the nest of twine, fat wood shavings and twigs. As if to validate the challenge the explorers faced on this very wet day, however, we had trouble building the fire into a sustainable inferno even now. 

Frustrating though is was, this effort exposed tangible signs of maturation among the Alevin. They embraced the challenge of mastering a difficult skill under punishing circumstances; they were determined and focused in their work; they were flexible in their approach; they were sanguine in the face of mixed success. Important life skills all! 

It was time for a change: the land offered an excellent option in the caves. When last this group

No Lizard Lake Legend here

clambered over and around these behemoths, they spied porcupines, dared their peers to slither into impossibly small openings and, wait for it…..discovered the reclusive “Lizard Lake Legend”! Of course, it wouldn’t be reclusive if it showed its conglomerated form at each visit, so the legend was strengthened by its absence this visit. Next pop in?

Energy levels waned as we hiked back down the trail and out along the logging road. We held our closing meeting at one of the view points, which made giving thanks a little tough. It can be hard to decide from among the myriad blessings of this land, but the Alevin rose to the occasion before returning, wearily, to their respective rides.

You can find more pictures from our adventure here. Our next outing is coming up pretty quickly. We meet on Sunday, May 15th, from 9:30-1:30pm for our Spring service outing at the Boys E.C. Connelly Creek Restoration Site, Happy Valley Park. Click here for the schedule details.

The Alevin's First Exploration of the Rock Trail

Driving up Cleator Road to the Cyprus Gate Overlook the mentors discussed the possibility of a road closure due to downed trees. Sure enough, pulling up to the upper Fragrance Lake Trailhead there was a gate across the road where we could see a large Douglas Fir blocking any vehicle from passing.

As the Alevin arrived we gathered and explained that our hike to the Rock Trail was going to be extended by a mile or so. The mentors asked the group to track back to Wednesday night and think about the powerful windstorm that had battered the Pacific Northwest. The boys talked about the sound of the wind and a few trees that had fallen near their houses.

Our plan for the day was to have some free exploration on the Rock Trial, being that it was the group’s first ever exploration here, and to find Lost Lake with the intention of having a sit spot and some tea on it’s shore. Revisiting our skill for the season, a continuation of fire by friction, the mentors asked the group if they still had their fire kits from last season. We were pleasantly surprised when most of the boys answered that they still had their materials. Alevin, nice work hanging on to these materials over the winter; they are not that easy to harvest! Next outing we will be headed to Lizard Lake where we will be able to build a proper fire, so make sure you bring your fire kits!

As we hiked up the logging road towards the trailhead Brian let the group know that there were two ways to navigate there. One was to follow the road all the way to the top and the other was to take what he coined “Brian’s Shortcut”. After a little group decision-making the boys decided to try out “Brian’s Shortcut”, which involved leaving the logging road and hiking off-trail directly up the mountain.

The boys sweated and strained as they battled their way up the mountain. Upon reaching the top they decided to never again take “Brian’s Shortcut”. They acknowledged that the cold and chill they were feeling in the parking lot had all but absolved by our route.

Looking to our left we found a healthy Stinging Nettle patch and filled our pot with leaves with the hope of tea by the lake. As we made a final push to the trailhead the group marveled at the sights and smells of spring: the bright colors and rich aroma of Salmonberry and Indian Plum flowers, Big Leaf Maples buds, new leaflets on the Huckleberries and Ocean Spray, and the saucer like fruiting bodies of the Usnea Lichens.

The view of the bay from the Cyprus Gate Overlook was awe-inspiring. As a group we worked on identifying landmarks: Clarks Point, Mud Bay, Lummi Spit, and Locus Beach. The wind over the water made uniform swell lines across the bay. As the clouds sailed by over our heads sun breaks would hit the bay, lighting up the shallow water like a tropical reef.

Proceeding down the Rock Trail signs of Wednesday’s storm were everywhere. Broken Douglas fir branches blanketed almost every part of the forest floor. Arriving at the first staircase the group marveled at the steepness of the wooden steps as we descended down next to a sheer wall of Sandstone that was over forty feet high.

Passing through the seemingly endless sandstone cliffs and ridges we couldn’t help but immerse ourselves in the topography. Stopping to eat some lunch, we found a series of small caves on a cliff-side. A few were big enough to climb in. The group spent some free time climbing around exploring the location. Once we had had our fill we headed down switchback after switchback, eventually arriving at the lake.

Passing through a maze of young Doug Fir and Salal the group navigated to the Eastern outpour of the lake. Following the drainage the group found a thirty-foot waterfall that was really flowing! Feeling the call the boys spread out over the land and settled back into the moss for a sit spot next to the falls. The sounds of cascading water filled the valley as the boys sat still and quiet.

Meanwhile one of the mentors harvested some water and got a pot of nettle-peppermint tea boiling. Calling the group back in from their sit spots we shared apples and thanks as we watch a few Eagles soar over Lost Lake.

Gathering our strength the boys made a huge push back up the rock trail. As we crested the top of Chuckanut Mountain the cool breeze acted like air conditioning, refreshing us all. The boys laughed and joked as we hiked down the logging road towards the gate. The mentors trailed in the back discussing one challenge we’ve faced with the group that we’d like to work on this season. The Alevin’s challenge comes in their ability to recognize transition times between silliness and play and times where we need to bring our focus together. Throughout the season Brian and I will aim to offer the boys more leadership opportunities to experiment with these transitions and model them amongst their group.

The mentors are thankful for a powerful start to our fall season and for the spirit of exploration these Explorers bring to our outings. We look forward to every opportunity to get outside with the Alevin!

For more photos of the Alevin’s Rock Trail outing please visit the photo album from the day.

Salamander Efts and Alevin Showdown!

After a windy night and damp morning the Alevin and Salamander Efts gathered at the North Galbraith trailhead for a day of games and healthy competition. Each year we have a games showdown between two of the oldest Explorers clubs groups; These days are great opportunities to play games we usually don’t have enough people for and enjoy the energy that a large group of boys brings. As the Explorers gathered it was cool to see friendships that existed outside of specific groups and new friendships forming. As soon as everyone had arrived we headed into the forest to find Tim who was finishing the final touches on our game set up.

After hiking for about fifteen minutes we reached our destination and the site for our game. Our game of choice was Life and Death in the Forest. This game is a huge complicated game that involves herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, food sources, and many other factors. The basic premise of the game is a food chain game where each type of animal needs different resources to survive that mirror what this animal would need in the natural world (ask your Explorer to explain the rules sometime!). As soon as everyone had grabbed a snack and had a chance to visit we gathered into a large circle to introduce ourselves and explain the rules of the game.

The flip side of all the positive and excited energy that comes from having such a large group is that it is often hard to hold the group's attention for more than a short time. We worked our way through the rules pausing a couple times to call the boys attention back to the circle. When we finished the explanation of the rules we broke down into groups of herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores and geared up for the game. As soon as everyone was ready we started the game.

The game flew by in a blur of hiding behind sword ferns, chases through the forest, finding food sources, finding water sources, surprising each other, strategizing with one another, launching down ravines, running up slopes, crawling through the forest, herbivores hiding, and overall lots of laughter and fun. Part of the fun in playing a big game like this is the healthy competition that it promotes. The values that we can still respect each other even while playing hard in the woods. Numerous times I witnessed the game put on hold as one explorer helped another one up during a chase through the woods.

When the first round ended we came back together to talk about the game. Life and Death in the Forest is an interesting game to reflect on since it both puts the players in the mindset of whatever trophic level they were playing as and can show us how different food chains and ecosystem dynamics work. We had a great debrief on what it felt like to be herbivores, omnivores, or carnivores as well as what we can learn about real life ecosystems based on the parameters of this game. How many herbivores would survive in a real ecosystem? Does the amount of food the omnivore's had to eat seem reflective of how it might actually be? what adaptations would you really want if you were a carnivore? These and many other food chain related questions came up as the boys discussed the game.

For our second round we switched the roles and ratios of the animals slightly to reflect what we had discussed after the last game. Again we all disappeared into the forest to become herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores each finding enough food and water to survive.

The second round was just as successful as the first. Again we had a short debrief after the game to see how the changes we had made went. As the enthusiastic conversation died down we transitioned into ending the day with a sit spot. We asked the boys to spread out and find a comfortable place to sit quietly for the next fifteen to twenty minutes. The mentors spread out and began to clean up the various “food” and “water” sources from around the course. As we made our way back toward the backpacks we heard many voices and saw that many of the boys had all gathered together instead of finding a solo sit spot away from each other. We again reminded these boys to spread out and find their own spots. This temporarily spread them out, but soon enough they had come back together and began talking loudly again. We called everyone in from their sit spots and heard really insightful observations and profound realizations from the boys that had taken their sit spot seriously.

Our day ended with a the 20 minute walk a back to the parking lot. As we walked back we all chatted enthusiastically about the game and moments of defeat and success. Again the need for honest and healthy competitive play was highlighted. Weather you are an explorer or mentor a day spent playing in the woods leaves you with a smile on your face. Please take a look at the Alevin photo gallery andSalamander Efts photo gallery for more pictures from the outing!

Alevin and Salamander Efts Games Day Showdown

After a windy night and damp morning the Alevin and Salamander Efts gathered at the North Galbraith trailhead for a day of games and healthy competition. Each year we have a games showdown between two of the oldest Explorers clubs groups; These days are great opportunities to play games we usually don’t have enough people for and enjoy the energy that a large group of boys brings. As the Explorers gathered it was cool to see friendships that existed outside of specific groups and new friendships forming. As soon as everyone had arrived we headed into the forest to find Tim who was finishing the final touches on our game set up.

After hiking for about fifteen minutes we reached our destination and the site for our game. Our game of choice was Life and Death in the Forest. This game is a huge complicated game that involves herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, food sources, and many other factors. The basic premise of the game is a food chain game where each type of animal needs different resources to survive that mirror what this animal would need in the natural world (ask your Explorer to explain the rules sometime!). As soon as everyone had grabbed a snack and had a chance to visit we gathered into a large circle to introduce ourselves and explain the rules of the game.

The flip side of all the positive and excited energy that comes from having such a large group is that it is often hard to hold the group's attention for more than a short time. We worked our way through the rules pausing a couple times to call the boys attention back to the circle. When we finished the explanation of the rules we broke down into groups of herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores and geared up for the game. As soon as everyone was ready we started the game.

The game flew by in a blur of hiding behind sword ferns, chases through the forest, finding food sources, finding water sources, surprising each other, strategizing with one another, launching down ravines, running up slopes, crawling through the forest, herbivores hiding, and overall lots of laughter and fun. Part of the fun in playing a big game like this is the healthy competition that it promotes. The values that we can still respect each other even while playing hard in the woods. Numerous times I witnessed the game put on hold as one explorer helped another one up during a chase through the woods.

When the first round ended we came back together to talk about the game. Life and Death in the Forest is an interesting game to reflect on since it both puts the players in the mindset of whatever trophic level they were playing as and can show us how different food chains and ecosystem dynamics work. We had a great debrief on what it felt like to be herbivores, omnivores, or carnivores as well as what we can learn about real life ecosystems based on the parameters of this game. How many herbivores would survive in a real ecosystem? Does the amount of food the omnivore's had to eat seem reflective of how it might actually be? what adaptations would you really want if you were a carnivore? These and many other food chain related questions came up as the boys discussed the game.

For our second round we switched the roles and ratios of the animals slightly to reflect what we had discussed after the last game. Again we all disappeared into the forest to become herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores each finding enough food and water to survive.

The second round was just as successful as the first. Again we had a short debrief after the game to see how the changes we had made went. As the enthusiastic conversation died down we transitioned into ending the day with a sit spot. We asked the boys to spread out and find a comfortable place to sit quietly for the next fifteen to twenty minutes. The mentors spread out and began to clean up the various “food” and “water” sources from around the course. As we made our way back toward the backpacks we heard many voices and saw that many of the boys had all gathered together instead of finding a solo sit spot away from each other. We again reminded these boys to spread out and find their own spots. This temporarily spread them out, but soon enough they had come back together and began talking loudly again. We called everyone in from their sit spots and heard really insightful observations and profound realizations from the boys that had taken their sit spot seriously.

Our day ended with a the 20 minute walk a back to the parking lot. As we walked back we all chatted enthusiastically about the game and moments of defeat and success. Again the need for honest and healthy competitive play was highlighted. Weather you are an explorer or mentor a day spent playing in the woods leaves you with a smile on your face. Please take a look at the Alevin photo gallery and Salamander Efts photo gallery for more pictures from the outing!

Alevin Learn the Art of Fire by Friction at Clayton Beach

The Alevin arrived at Clayton Beach to find the mentors mulling over a pile of Alder, Cedar, and Vine Maple. Once everyone was present the mentors called a circle and informed the Explorers that they would spend a good portion of the day delving into the skill of fire by friction. Needless to say the boys were excited! The group agreed to put their full attention towards the task, recognizing that this was our first and last chance to practice our seasonal skill.

Fire by Friction is a culmination of many of the previous skills these boys have been working on. It requires local knowledge of the flora and fauna, an eye for harvestable materials that are just the right shape and size, advanced carving techniques, knot tying skills, and above all patience and focus.

In an effort to try and align the flow of the outing with the boys natural energy cycle the mentors have switched to focusing on skills at the start of the outing and then delving into more free time and exploration as the day goes on. We find 10:00 o’clock to be the prefect time; the boys are not distracted by hunger or sleepiness and are not in the post-lunch food coma or ready to take a siesta. Our aim is to provide the best opportunity possible with our limited time together to help the boys learn these crafts.

Gathering our supplies the group motored down the trail to Clayton Beach where we found a secluded cove to practice our skill. The boys turned their attention to a mentor who had pulled out a bow drill kit, passing it around the circle. He explained that a bow drill kit is made up of five components: a top rock, spindle, bow, fireboard, and tinder nest. Making fire is a hard skill to wrap your mind around until you see it in action. Once the group was oriented to the components of a fire kit they gathered close as the mentor demonstrated the process. Slowly through friction of the whirling spindle against the fireboard, a small coal started to form and the smell of smoke rose into the air. Dropping the coal into a Cedar bundle the mentor gently blew the coal into flame. There was a resounding “awe” around the circle.

At this point the group couldn’t contain themselves any longer, anxiously awaiting the chance to start working on their own fire kit. Passing around pieces of seasoned Red Alder the Explorers started to carve away on spindles and top boards. It was inspiring to watch the Alevin work. They put in a solid effort of struggling their way through working with the Alder. Initially when the Alevin were learning to carve they started off with Red Cedar because of it’s softness, and although great for utensils it makes poor spindles and fireboards. A few hours and a whole lot of blisters later the boys had some excellent straight and circular spindles carved. Using their spindles they practiced with the mentors fire kits, finding the actual process quiet difficult.

It’s amazing how much our knowledge of and experimentation with Earth Skills can teach. While the mentors coached the boys they reiterated over and over again our motto, slow is fast and fast is slow. Although none of the boys started a fire a few saw smoke starting to rise off the fireboard.

Checking the clock it had been two and a half hours since we started our skill focus and it was time to pack up and head down the beach. As we traveled the rocky shoreline the boys scavenged for top rocks for their kits until we came to a beautiful spot for a sit. Sending the boys out to find a peaceful place they sat staring out at the ocean and listening to the land. Our sit spot was incredible, there was a Bald Eagle sitting in the tree next to us and a Yellow-Billed Loon calling out as he foraged the Eelgrass beds for food.

With the tide on its way out the mentors called the group back together and we spent the rest of the day investigating the intertidal region of the beach. Clayton Beach’s old pillars and rocky breakwater provide the prefect habitat for all sorts of gastropods, anemones, and crabs. As we explored one of the boys called the group over to try and identify a mysterious creature. Sure enough it was a Hooded Nudibranch and as we looked we saw more and more of them. It was fascinating to watch the Nudibranch dance and flutter through the eelgrass as it searched for zooplankton and jellyfish. 

Calling the group together we shared a circle of thanks on the beach. The boys gave thanks for the ability to work on fire by friction, for the weather holding out so we could have uninterrupted skill focus, for Clayton Beach and all the mystery that lived there, and for quiet time and sit spots. Before breaking our circle the mentors reminded the group that fire comes with a great responsibility and it is our job to pass down this ancient skill from generation to generation. Fire has allowed humans to make tools, cook, purify water, warm our shelters, regulate landscapes, and provided a hearth for us to gather around. It demands focus and attention, and if we let our guard down or allow ourselves to get careless we have the potential to do great harm.

Heading up the beach we were stopped for yet another nature moment, finding a decomposing Harbor Seal in the high tide line. Flipping it over we examined its bones structure before returning it to its originally resting position. What an amazing day for wildlife at the beach!

Parents, if your Explorers have any questions about the process of fire by friction or the materials and techniques involved please don’t hesitate to send an email or give us a call. This skill takes time and we will be working on it for multiple seasons to come. For more photos from our outing please visit the Alevin’s photo gallery.

A Wilderness Exploration with the Alevin at Ridley Creek Trail #686

Arriving at Samish Woods Montessori the Alevin Explorers had lightness about their step and a look of excitement in their eyes. After postponing their first exploration due to 50mph winds, the morning’s cloudless sky and gorgeous sunshine affirmed that the mentors had made the right call. Climbing aboard our new bus Moose, the boys were impressed with its quiet engine upon start up and ability to accelerate faster than Stubbs (aka the Banana Slug).

Heading out Mt. Baker Highway the boys reconnected by trying to convince each other of either the Seahawks or 49’ers superiority. Passing Deming we turned down Mosquito Lake Road crossing over the North Fork of the Nooksack and eventually veering off onto Forest Service Road #38.  Twisting, turning, and bumping down the road we had to make multiple stops to allow for some Explorers get some fresh air in an effort to retain their breakfast.

After the thirteen-mile journey, we arrived at the Ridley Creek Trailhead. It was quite brisk and the mentors were pleasantly surprised to see that every Explorer had brought warm layers. The group was anxious to get on the trail, but the mentors held the group as we still needed to pass out jobs and orient ourselves to where we were. 

Taking a look at the topo map is was clear that we were in a very dynamic location. Our trail was roughly four miles one way and started with a crossing of the drainage of the Deming Glacier, which is also the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Nooksack River. After the creek crossing we would enter into the Mt. Baker Wilderness, climbing roughly 2,000 feet to the beautiful alpine meadows of Mazama Park.

Together we brainstormed precautions and risks that we needed to consider before embarking into the wilderness. We discussed that being farther away from definitive care means having a deepened awareness for oneself and the group while thinking through each decision with this in mind. We also agreed that we needed to pay close attention to what we were doing which extended to our impact on the land.  

Once we were oriented to the landscape and risk involved we talked a little about the trail. Ridley creek is considered a primitive trail, which means that occasionally it requires route finding, there are often downed logs that have to be maneuvered, and the trail is a mix of creek beds, root stairs cases, and loose rocks.

Arriving at the creek it was abundantly clear the sheer volume of water that had flooded its banks during spring. Thankfully the dryer year and the previous days of sunshine left the crossing manageable. Walking across the exposed riverbed we looked to our North for a spectacular view of the Deming Glacier glimmering in the sun, contrasted by the sheer cliffs of the Black Buttes. Looking to our South at Bell Pass we spotted a lone Mountain Goat foraging through the meadow.

Drawing near to the crossing we could hear the river’s roar. Spotting the log bridge we circled up for some risk assessment. The boys identified that the creek was swift but shallow, and the bridge had some frost making it quite slick. Unbuckling their hip belts and grasping the nettle the boys crossed the creek with focus. Our crossing marked a threshold where we left the front country and entered into a rugged wilderness.

Hiking along the sound of the creek started to fade in the distance and the trail began to get steeper and the trees taller. The mentors explained that this portion of the Mt. Baker Wilderness had never been logged and was considerably different than a classic lowland old growth forest. The forest is made up almost entirely of very large Western Hemlock, Mountain Hemlock, and Alaskan Yellow Cedar, and Pacific Silver Fir. We went on to explain that in virgin old growth stands Hemlock is actually the climax tree species while many of our second growth forests near to town are dominated by Doug Fir and Cedar because the Hemlocks have not yet established themselves.

Under shadow of the canopy the forest was damp and wet. Feeling a little hunger the boys pushed onward searching for a sunny spot to eat. Stopping next to a small creek they boys ate and lounged while they searched for Salamanders in the Sphagnum Moss.

After lunch we trekked through the dense forest, taking note of the distinct game trails, which led in all directions. Old growth snags stood like relics keeping watch over the forest.  Pulling over for a rest the group called for a game. Assessing how much time and impact it would have we agreed to play a quick game of Spider’s Web at the bottom of the switchbacks leading up into the meadow and then spend the rest of the time trying to hike high enough for a view. Setting up clear boundaries the boys played a slow and stealthy game is Spider’s Web. One Explorer said that it was “his favorite location he had ever played in”. Grabbing our packs the boys pushed up the switchbacks until we reached our turn-around point.

Disappointed that we would not get a view the group turned around to leave and we saw a shale field just above us. Safely we climbed up it one by one to find our place on the land with a sit spot. Looking across the Middle Fork Valley views of the Twin Sisters were breath taking. As we sat against the warm boulders the vibrant reds and yellows of the Vine Maples shimmered in the wind and a stillness came or the group. If there is one thing we can count on in a wilderness experience it is its ability to take us outside of ourselves and helps us realize that we are part of something that is so much more.

Hiking back down we arrived back at our creek crossing with ample time to explore its banks. While the Explorers basked in the sun, climbed on boulders, and hunted for glacially deposited rocks the mentors cut up some apples. Calling the group together we sat under the shadow of Mt. Baker for a circle of thanks. With all the Alevin’s usual squirreliness aside we held a power moment of thanks. These Explorers really enjoy being in wilderness. They are at home here and share deep connection and reverence for its pristine qualities and endless opportunities. What a wonderful way to begin our fall 2015 journey. Parent thanks you trusting with your boys. We cannot express enough how deeply fulfilling it is to share experiences in the wild spaces with yours sons.

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