Cave Dweller do some real wilderness travel along Smith Creek

Expect the unexpected! directs one of our Explorers Club mottos. The Cave Dwellers are certainly living that axiom recently. You might remember that our early November Chuckanut Ridge traverse was relocated to N. Chuckanut due to snow. Our day’s plan was then derailed by the Chuckanut Trail Marathon! Well, a week ago Sunday the Cave Dwellers had a smaller than expected turnout, encountered the Short Tailed Weasels (a slightly younger EC group) and learned last minute of an exciting new exploration easily accessed from the trailhead. 

We’re working this fall on wilderness travel with a focus on locating and purifying water, building tarp shelters, using backcountry stoves and the like. As it happens, one of the important learnings is the resourcefulness needed when things sometimes go sideways. We didn’t erect the tarp shelter at Stewart Mountain as planned, but we did once again practice adapting to the situation while staying safe and capitalizing of the wondrous possibilities nature has to offer.

The combined group first worked hard at the 4 C’s of group decision making - Circle/Collaborate/Compromise/Consensus (motto - collaborate and compromise). In this case, they chose to combine groups for an epic game of Spider’s Web, then part ways to pursue our respective plans for the day. For the Cave Dwellers, this meant exploring Smith Creek (runs under the bridge you cross just before you reach the N. Lake Whatcom trailhead) in search of, what else, a cool cave. One of the Short-Tailed Weasels’ mentors had taken a group up along the creek and discovered just such a site. Given the Cave Dwellers’ name and shared cave exploration experience, we couldn’t resist! This option also presented unknown and unplanned wilderness exploration potential (motto - stretch your edge). 

It wouldn’t be much of a stretch if there was a well-traveled trail to follow. Not to worry - much of what turned out to be a real short hike involved hopping from rock to rock amid white water. There was also some bushwhacking creekside. After a bit, we found a nice shelf about six feet above the creek for our base camp with a tantalizing view across the creek of what we suspect was our objective. Too much water, though. Exploration of that cave will have to await a future outing.

While several of us rested, Mentor Tim and a few Explorers searched for a return route that didn’t involve the real chance of falling into a cold, rushing creek. But no such luck. We’d need to return the way we came. So, we set up a few backcountry stoves and prepared hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows. This simple snack substituted for apples as our shared “meal” over which we gave thanks, as is our practice. 

As I imagine your realize, consistent groups and mentors is a constant goal of our program. We try to create the environment for groups to grow into a cohort of friends with a shared ethic of connection to nature. The Cave Dwellers seem to be well on their way to this sacred place. Tim and I are excited about the comradeship and maturity we see in this group. Great things are in the offing!

Next up: Saturday, January 6, 10:00AM-3:00PM EXPLORATION: North Lake Samish. Check out the rest of the photos from Sunday’s outing here.

Raccoon Kits Show Short-Tailed Weasels How It's Done at Connelly Creek

There was no better way to welcome October than with a great service outing. The Raccoon Kits, Short Tailed Weasels, and even a Girls Explorers Club group, The Fiddleheads, teamed to form a young, yet formidable foe for the Himalayan Blackberry and Reed Canary Grass. The girls got things going by showing up early, getting a walkthrough from Steve, and breaking up to tackle the various tasks at our Connelly Creek service site. First was tending to the new trees and shrubs that were planted during the Spring season, making sure they had a fresh mulch ring and were properly staked out to prevent any unwanted trampling. Second was to get going on spreading mulch and expanding upon all the hard work from last season. Last but not least; the blackberry removal team. Everyone was working hard when a rascally bunch of boys showed up.

Kicking off the service outing for the boys were the Raccoon Kits. Not only was it a surprise that they were going to be the eldest group today, but mixing in girls too?! Despite the lofty expectations set upon this young group to introduce proper tool usage to the Short Tailed Weasels, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and be role models, they took it in stride and flourished. After a slow start due to the necessary introductions to the Short Tailed Weasels of where our service site is, what we’re doing here, and why we are doing it, everyone jumped right into the work. The Raccoon Kits were eager to get to hacking back the blackberries and digging up the massive root balls. As for the Short Tailed Weasels, they kicked off their illustrious service careers with a classic; shoveling mulch.

As the hours ticked away, the girls departed after putting in some tremendous work. Left to their own devices, the Raccoon Kits took this opportunity to attempt to unearth a massive root ball. It took the whole group, but eventually they got it, and in only a few hours erased years of growth by the Himalayan Blackberries. Not even wanting to stop for lunch, the Raccoon Kits showed an outstanding drive and superb work ethic that impressed all the mentors present.

For the Short Tailed Weasels, they also had a strong day of work, however it was broken up by a little more play, jokes, and even experimental cooking. As they dug into the mulch pile they noticed the vast warmth that was imitating from within due to the decomposition process. Just as mother crocodiles incubate eggs in large mounds of debris, some of the explorers decided to test the warmth with a chunk of cheese (which completely melted) and a container of apples (still to be decided on cooking effectiveness). After all was said and done the Short Tailed Weasels had some fun, but finished strong by moving the majority of the mulch that was left by the parks department for us to use. Not a bad start for their first service outing.

As the torch has been passed from group to group, tending, nurturing, and caretaking Connelly Creek has become a Boys Explorers Club Legacy, a legacy that is now fortunate enough to add Girls Explorers Club and the Short Tailed Weasels alongside the veteran Raccoon Kits. Mulch was moved, blackberries battered, roots were wrangled and there was even enough time for some laughs to be shared as well. What a wonderful day and strong beginning to our service work at Connelly Creek.

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos in our Photo Gallery!