every day something new happens

today, i lost my first person on the trail. They were later found... and were uninjured... but that was slightly traumatizing.

Vantage

We escaped to the east side this weekend to celebrate our friend Scotts 31st birthday. This required us to fill the Forester up to the brim with climbing stuff and then throw 5 bikes on it... it was like seeing Frankie drive down to the Grand Canyon all over again. Thankfully, Bernard braved the trip and the 5 of us that ventured eastward together had an amazing drive... which included a stop on the way back in Cle Elum to do a pretty awesome mountain bike ride. Here are some photos from the trip.

beautiful views from the Sunshine wall. The columbia river is just a little rather yonder

remembering how to climb... kinda unsuccessful.

Frankie with his various types of camo. amazing

on belay

Joe Killing it. First time out climbing in years and just takes his shirt off first climb.

Anyway, it was a great weekend. We camped out at Vantage and did the obligatory wolf howl form the cliffs past sunset. The first day i was just really struggling and had issues even completing a 5.9, but redemption came on sunday... I did hang a few times, but still was able to finish a 5.10b, which made me feel pretty warm and fuzzy. Really looking forward to the pass opening soon so I can get over to Mazama to start climbing. But for now, back to cloudy days and weather in the 40's.

Just on a side note... one of the blogs I have on the side is from Cliff Mass, who is the go to go guy for weather and information in the PNW/Seattle area. He had a post a week or so ago confirming that this is one of the worst springs on record. Typically between 2/15 and 4/15 you'll get (on average) at least 15 - 25 days above 55 degrees. This spring, we've had 2.

sunshine?

I'm pretty sure the blinding orb in the sky providing warmth and light is the sun... but it's been so long that i'm not quite sure. If we could send astronauts up into the sky to further confirm my hypothesis, i'd greatly appreciate it.

The black-capped chickadee has picked up its pace when issuing its call. Typically it's a very slow chhhhick-(deep breath)-deeeee. Today though, i think this warming orb has spurred a sense of urgency so the call is now chickaaaaa-deee.

I'm in Bellingham this morning with the sun filling my living room... i'm slightly bitter that I already promised myself I'd stay indoors and work most of the day, but I think I might just have to venture outside in order to stay with it.

Which leads me to a question/request. So, i've been trying to weed the garden/lawn at our house here, just by pulling the daffodils out of the ground... which is pretty darn difficult. Those roots are like steel!! Does anyone have any suggestions for an organic non-pesticide weed remover? See, i'm asking this question based on my reader base that has grown from 2 to the thousands, so I'm sure in no time i'll have an answer.

On a different note, i journeyed to the big city yesterday to attend some meetings. It was bizarre going to Seattle with the "in-and-out" strategy in mind, but then again I was just a side-kick. It was also bizarre going to meetings where I sat quietly and just listened. It's kind of nice to be an observer versus an engaged participant. You always leave with a much different perspective.

Okay. i'm breaking free. im moving this laptop and "desk" outside to bask in the sun. Today, i will get a tan.

breathe in

and out. and now, a poem:

When you move
through the waters
with your mind
still and holy
then from all the life
and all the things growing
and all the animals
the sparks of their souls
come out and cling to you
and then they are purified
and become a holy fire inside you

stolen from an art exhibit, that was stolen from an ancient Hasidic saying.



views of grizzlies... a species that once roamed the North Cascades and was nearly decimated. There are reported to be at the very most 20 that still roam through the wilderness of the north cascades national park.

CATS!

My friend Hanna & i used to always send photos of cats to each other when we worked in a box in a box in a box back at K2. she actually had more boxes then I did... but you get the point. I was surprised today to receive cats in my inbox. in the spirit of finding awesome cat photos, i thought i would share.

dorking out

In my effort to know every single bird that exists... I was stoked to be walking down the path today to find myself surrounded by 20 birds looking like this.


The Ruby Crowned Kinglet has made its way up the valley to the institute parking lot.

As well as this little guy


Spotted Towhee!!!

It was pretty amazing. I just stopped mid-trail... at first the birds scattered, but then they slowly came back and got as close as a few feet away... just curious, as I was with them. I stood there silently for about 5 minutes just watching. It was so amazing to see them all hopping around from branch to branch.

pretty darn cool

last week

so, i will have no pictures for this post and will be very vague for two specific reasons:
1. last week was one of the most difficult weeks I had teaching
2. this is the internet, and i don't want to get in trouble for posting stuff with school


So, last week we had a group of students here from inner-city Seattle. Most of them have never been outside of the city before, and if they have, it definitely has not been to the forest. Most of them were so excited to be here, until the weather happened. It was either raining (hard), or snowing, or sleeting or snowraining the ENTIRE time they were here. It broke my heart. So many of the kids desperately wanted to be here, but it's so hard to enjoy a place if you're freezing and wet the entire time.

There were a few amazing moments. We took my group out in the big canoe one day when it was snowraining out and i was sitting in the front of the canoe. It just happened that three people right behind me were complaining and just seemed miserable. So, i had an "adult" conversation with the whole canoe and asked them if they wanted to continue or to turn around. Everyone else in the canoe (i had a group of 10 total) did not want to turn around. They wanted to keep going and one girl even said "we will never have the chance to do this again. We have to keep going." wow. can you imagine how many adults would have said "yeah, i think i want to turn around."

The following day we had the option to hang out around campus and stay "dry" or to get soaked and walk to the waterfall. The hike to the waterfall is about 1.5 miles, and is a pretty steady uphill with only about 600 feet of elevation gain... which is a lot if you only ever hike around on sidewalks. Once again, the entire group wanted to push on and make it to the waterfall. I provided them with the option to turn around and this time the entire group agreed that they needed to go on since they would not be able to see a waterfall in nature again... that they would rather struggle in the rain while being cold and tired then succumbing to the comforts of home. Are you kidding me? Just to make sure i am stressing this enough. 12 year old kids from the inner-city would rather walk in the cold rain and snow for a total of 3+ miles to see a waterfall. I know I can't say that I would do the same.

I was exhausted after the week was over. Between the weather and the extra pressure to keep the group going was just a lot to handle.

This week I have another amazing group. This time most of my students immigrated to Washington in the past few years from Mexico. Most of my group speaks in spanish the entire time and want to touch and explore everything! And true to Washington weather, it is raining and snowing again.

Swamp Canoe

sorry for the long pause. last week was rough. I'll get to that in a later post.

For now - swamp canoe.

On Friday afternoon (over a week ago), Dad and I went for a canoe ride in Faver-Dykes State Park. You're able to rent canoes there and then peruse the Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve or the headwaters of Pellicer Creek. We chose the headwaters direction since it would require us to paddle against the tide in the beginning and then have a smooth and easy paddle back to the dock. On my next trip, I am definitely going to check out the Aquatic Preserve.

Anyway, 4 miles of paddling brought us to the swamp, which was pretty rad. calm murky waters, beautiful palm trees, cedars, oaks and cypress trees. We encountered a fish that was gigantic, some cool birds and an alligator that i swear tried to swamp our canoe.

My trip to Florida was pretty amazing this time around. It's always a good time, but we really explored a lot of the more natural places of Florida, which actually was not that difficult to find.

Enjoy the pictures.

entering the swamp

The Captain steering us into the abyss

trust me, there's a bird there... and it looks cool when you blow it up

more swamp

egret

update

it's snowing here


i'll write something more profound tomorrow... for now, succumbing to jet lag.

sun = caught

Since i arrived in Florida 5 days ago, the weather has been less then desired... rain, thunder showers, mild temperatures and more rain. But today, it stopped. The forecast for the next three days is sunny and in the 80's. Here's the catch, i'm supposed to leave in about 3 hours to go back to Washington where it is raining. surprise.

BUT

that all just changed when the nice lady at United Airlines changed my flight for free and i get to stay through Sunday. Take that sunshine!!! i'll be basking in your greatness in mere hours while securely obtaining a sunburn.

yes!