Friday, March 23, 2018

CD dig it at Mount Baker 3/18/18


After multiple Explorers Club Mt. Baker outings had to be cancelled due to crazy mountain weather this winter, including our originally scheduled visit, we found the right day on Sunday. It was cloudy and in the 30s with little wind as we unloaded from the bus and geared up for a day on the snow.


Speaking of the snow, it was nice and stable where we planned to dig, thanks to calm, somewhat dry weather the few days preceding our outing. This is a key element to which we pay attention when planning to venture into the back country where avalanches are a prime concern. So, our opening circle focused on avalanches — what they are, how they’re triggered, what to watch for. Our location for the day was not on an avalanche-prone slope; ask your Explorer what slope range is of concern for slides.



Off to learn about snow caves by attempting to dig one! The initial excitement and energy — it’s fun to dig in the snow — faded just a bit as the realization set in that it’s a lot of work when done properly. Fortunately, we had plenty of tools (thanks for providing so many shovels). In fact, before long, 4 caves were in various stages of development. Feel free to ask your boy about design elements of an effective snow cave — here’s a cheat sheet for you. 



Eventually, two of the caves morphed into a tunnel, so at the end of the project, we had two caves and a tunnel, evidence of all the work and focus the Cave Dwellers brought to their project. Oh, and Cave Dwellers taking a break from digging could be seen configuring a sledding hill nearby. 


Which is where we turned our attention as we got into the afternoon. Impromptu “Olympic” style events, with shovels and a sit pad (or nothing at all) as sleds, were quickly organized and executed. This sort of free, unstructured play, with rules and competitors put together on the fly, is very beneficial and occurs often and easily in natural settings. I’m reminded of the Explorers Club motto - Lose your mind and come to your senses.





Throughout, the Cave Dwellers were focused, diligent and considerate or their peers and mentors. I’ve said this before but it bears repeating; this group has coalesced over the past 12-18 months into the type of cohort we strive for in Explorers Club. I look forward to their camaraderie and engagement at each outing.

We have more photos for you. After outings on back to back weekends, and snow work/play at two of the last three, we need to wait for our final outing of the year. On Sunday, May 20, we’ll marvel at the old growth forest near mile marker 44 on the Mount Baker Highway. See you then.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

CD snow fun day! 2/24/18; Deming Eagle Park


The big trees, heavy with wet snow, waited patiently for our curious minds. When you’ve been standing there 500 years, give or take, what’s another hour? Notes a fact sheet from the Pacific Northwest Research Station, “No other forest has an entire group of tree species that equals the Pacific Northwest forest for their size and long lives.”

So much to look forward to as we motored along 542 in Merkel, one of Wild Whatcom’s trusty buses. We planned to try three ways to estimate the height of a tree; to study decomposition (see The Unseen World of the Fallen Tree, enclosed with Outing Report email); to examine the interrelationships among plants, mammals, birds, fungi, and more in the old growth ecosystem. Our day was to strike at the heart of Wild Whatcom’s purpose, “Connect and protect”.

“The best laid plans of mice and men…” 


As the sound of snow splashing up against Merkel’s underside grew more frequent, mentors Tim and Brian pulled the bus into a gas station to assess the risk of continuing east and decided, taking our cue from a few Boys Explorers Club mottos: “Safety first” and “Turn problems into possibilities” to double back to the Deming Homestead Eagle Preserve along the Nooksack for an impromptu day of snow play!


Among nature’s charms are its transformative simplicity and elegance. A few inches of fresh snow saw a cohort of Cave Dwellers and a few mentors morph into a scrum of snow fort-building, snowball-launching wild things. Strategies were devised and quickly abandoned; rules agreed and soon ignored; truces negotiated and reinterpreted. 


A break for lunch and then a game of Snootball (Snow-football), a testament to human ingenuity and childhood exuberance. Finally, hot chocolate and mini-marshmallows. 


We didn’t get to explore that special place but we were flexible and the boys enjoyed a dose of nature deficit disorder medicine — free time in the snow along our beloved Nooksack River.


Schedule notes:
  • We have a lot going on in March. We return to Connelly Creek for service on Sunday, the 11th. 
  • The following Sunday, March 18, will see us back on the bus to head up to Mt. Baker for our rescheduled snow cave outing.
  • For our last outing of the year, on Sunday, May 20, I’ve replaced our planned N. Galbraith Mountain outing with a second attempt to get out to the Old Growth patch along 542. I’m confident the trees will wait. It should be spectacular in May!

Photo gallery here.