There is no denying it; wolves are returning to the Evergreen State. Once again home to gray wolves, Washington state now has two confirmed wolf packs: the Lookout Pack in western Okanogan County and the Diamond Pack in Pend Oreille County. That number is expected to increase as a result of the dispersal of wolves from recovering populations in Idaho and Montana, and dispersers from British Columbia.
Fresh snow on Mt. Baker, night time lows near 20 degrees in the mountains, and forecasts calling for snow below 3,000 feet; we had to go skiing. Let’s be honest, we didn’t have high expectations, it was the first day of November. But, as Ian, Arielle, Adam and I loaded the car in the dim morning light we were hopeful. Why couldn’t the snow be great this early in the season? We live in the Pacific Northwest after all; snow comes early to our mountains.
For the last year I’ve called the North Cascades home. It was home because I was a graduate student with the North Cascades Institute and for one year I lived at the Environmental Learning Center, completely a professional residency. Throughout the year I learned about environmental education, worked with amazing educator and naturalists, and studied nonprofit administration.
Living at the Environmental Learning Center, with Sourdough Mountain rising steeply to the north and Pyramid and Colonial Peaks looming large across Diablo Lake, I found my place. I can’t describe the connection I now feel for the North Cascades, the urge I feel to wander the valleys and climb the peaks, the sense of wonder I feel when I discover new plants and critters; what I do know is that I’ve never felt more grounded.
The first two North Cascades Wild trips of 2009 have returned home after 12 days of backpacking, canoeing and service projects on Ross Lake. Eighteen students and six instructors, divided into two groups, embarked on what has become an annual adventure at the North Cascades Institute. The following is a chronicle of one of those adventures, North Cascades Wild Trip 1.
The NC Wild crew headed to Ross Lake early last week for a five day recon trip. The goals for the week were to transport food and gear to the Ross Lake Resort, scout out the camps, build up our canoeing muscles, use our camping gear, learn the curriculum, and have fun! On all accounts the trip was a success.
With a busy week behind us and another looming ahead Ian and I decided nothing sounded better than staying close to home. Of course “staying close to home” while residing at the North Cascades Institute environmental learning center presents a handful of hiking and exploring options, ranging from technical climbs to lake side strolls. We decided a leisurely hike was in order and headed up the Pyramid Lake trail.
» Continue reading Pyramid Lake trail….a beautiful spring jaunt
I am always amazed at the difference a few days makes. I leave the learning center for five days and come home to gentians, lilies and orchids! Just wanted to share a few pictures and keep everyone up to date on what’s blooming in the North Cascades.
There are eight members of the current NCI graduate class. There are eight members on a Ski to Sea team. It seemed meant to be. We called ourselves Natures Calling. The name has multiple meanings and origins. As Mountain School instructors we carry the “Natures Calling Kit”, for those times on the trail when, well, nature’s calling. Its a regular topic of discussion, because teaching 5th graders how to use the kit can be awkward and funny as well as educational. The other origin, which may seem more obvious to some, is the fact that Nature is calling and asking all of us to get outside!
Last week the Cohort 8 graduate students headed to the islands of Diablo Lake for class. The topic of the day: island biogeography, which is the study of the distribution and abundance of species on physical and habitat islands. I won’t go into too many details, although I think the study of habitat islands is fascinating, what I want to share with you are pictures of what we discovered.
Last weekend 43 volunteers gathered at the learning center and pulled on their work gloves. Shovels, pulsakis, buckets and pruning shears in hand, these volunteers joined NCI staff and North Cascades National Park employees in readying the learning center campus for a busy summer season. Stewardship projects completed over the weekend including mulching plants in restoration areas around campus, pulling alders along the road, clearing the play field of stumps, cataloging library books and removing invasive species.
» Continue reading Pulling alders, mulching and making friends
