it's kinda been a long day. I had a laundry list of things i wanted to do today:
run
laundry
update this blog
get photos off my camera
read
and yet i just got home after 13 hours of training today and absolutely none of those things are going to happen... so i'm sorry i've been neglecting this as I know I have incredibly dutiful followers that are on the edge of their seat daily to see what is happening in my microcosm
Alas, you must wait another day... but i leave you with a list of things I will start talking about:
1. park ranger training
2. three days of bird stalking
3. NC wild training
4. the naturalist/runner dilemma
until then, i suggest you look at one of the blogs on the side of this panel and see what fun updates they have to offer
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
brief update
1. it's raining again
2. send socks
3. i need to go running... losing motivation as the tempo of the rain increases
4. must plant an oak tree (literally)
5. only 8 page left to go on my research project
6. finished 1st in my division at ski to sea for females (!!!)
7. still raining
8. still tired from ski to sea. must sleep more
9. running out of things to put on this list
10. last session of mountain school... then i'm finished with my teaching practicum
update finished.
2. send socks
3. i need to go running... losing motivation as the tempo of the rain increases
4. must plant an oak tree (literally)
5. only 8 page left to go on my research project
6. finished 1st in my division at ski to sea for females (!!!)
7. still raining
8. still tired from ski to sea. must sleep more
9. running out of things to put on this list
10. last session of mountain school... then i'm finished with my teaching practicum
update finished.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Spring in the Methow
So, right after the Grad retreat Scott, Laura & I loaded into the van and made the 7 hour drive over to Twisp. Typically, this would be a 2.5 hour drive (max) but since the pass was and is still closed, we had to go ALL THE WAY AROUND. At least it was sunny out.
The great thing about the Methow is that it's a desert/brush landscape due to the lack of annual rainfall. But, low & behold, it rained and POURED the entire weekend. We watched the river come up nearly 2 feet in a 30 hour period of time. Spring in the methow turned into rain in the Methow... however, we survived. NCI puts on adult field classes, and the focus of this class was to explore the varied vegetation that blooms in the Methow in Spring as well as the migratory birds that call the Methow home for a few weeks each year. There was only one issue. This area of Washington is about a month behind this year due to the long and cold winter we have had... so, all of the plants that typically would be blooming right meow, are instead a small sprout in the ground... and all the birds that typically fly around catching insects and feeding on nectar were hiding due to the rain.
yet, we persevered and experienced our own spring in the Methow.
Pipe Stone Canyon
The great thing about the Methow is that it's a desert/brush landscape due to the lack of annual rainfall. But, low & behold, it rained and POURED the entire weekend. We watched the river come up nearly 2 feet in a 30 hour period of time. Spring in the methow turned into rain in the Methow... however, we survived. NCI puts on adult field classes, and the focus of this class was to explore the varied vegetation that blooms in the Methow in Spring as well as the migratory birds that call the Methow home for a few weeks each year. There was only one issue. This area of Washington is about a month behind this year due to the long and cold winter we have had... so, all of the plants that typically would be blooming right meow, are instead a small sprout in the ground... and all the birds that typically fly around catching insects and feeding on nectar were hiding due to the rain.
yet, we persevered and experienced our own spring in the Methow.
Wolf Lichen on a Ponderosa
We had a slide show one night in an art gallery. I saw this artists work this past spring and fell in love with it, and was happy to see it again
SPRING!
Pipe Stone Canyon
More of Pipestone Canyon
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Farm hands
The last day of our grad retreat found us at Blue Heron farm, located in Rockport. Blue Heron is this amazing farm run by two amazing people that have a contagious enthusiasm for the environment, sustainable agriculture, community farming and the national park. So, Friday morning we all found ourselves wrist deep in fertile organic soil planting various onions that will later be sold at the Skagit Co-op and served at the ELC.
Horse Kisses!
I had a great time and can't wait to go back to the farm again! It was such an amazing experience to plant our own food and recognize the importance of using pesticide free chemicals to ensure that we're putting the healthiest things into our bodies.
Horse Kisses!
The Fruits (or onions) of our labor!
Grads hard at work
Plants hanging out in the green house
A very feisty rooster
I had a great time and can't wait to go back to the farm again! It was such an amazing experience to plant our own food and recognize the importance of using pesticide free chemicals to ensure that we're putting the healthiest things into our bodies.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Catch-up
So, i've been kinda MIA lately due to a lot of different mini-events that all occurred at the same time. So, i'm going to play catch-up with this blog and fill you in with where i've been over the past few posts.
Grad Retreat!
Each quarter we venture out and go explore some "new" location. For this retreat, we decided to stay a little more local and paddled toward Thunder Arm, which is on Diablo Lake. Typically, this wouldn't be that difficult since it might be 3 miles away (im giving it the benefit of a doubt). However, on this fine day, a storm was settling into our lake with gusts i'm guessing reached around 50 mph, and a pretty fine dousing of rain. Luckily, when we set out paddling, the wind was only around 10 - 20 mph, so no capsizing... but definitely some interesting paddle techniques were utilized. We would raft up on the leeward sides of islands, take a breather and then paddle on.
After we reached our campground, we promptly set-up our tents and went out to explore. Teresa, Tanya, Codi & I ventured toward the highest point on our little peninsula, and found ourselves hanging onto dear life. The wind had seriously picked up and we were all doing our best to not get blown over.
Then the rain started. I'm usually a fair sport for hanging out in tents in the rain. Today I was not. So, I proposed that we start drinking (it was maybe 3pm)... and drink we did.
By the time the rain and wind let-up, we were all on a solid path to getting hammered... and didn't even really notice that we could venture outside of our covered picnic table. We quickly made dinner... told stories and passed out.
We all woke up the next morning to clear and calm skies! Codi, Teresa & I loaded into the canoe, and traveled further up Thunder Arm where we encountered tree swallows, violet green swallows, golden eyes, mallards and snow capped mountains. It was such a beautiful morning that I couldn't ask for more.
Grad Retreat!
Each quarter we venture out and go explore some "new" location. For this retreat, we decided to stay a little more local and paddled toward Thunder Arm, which is on Diablo Lake. Typically, this wouldn't be that difficult since it might be 3 miles away (im giving it the benefit of a doubt). However, on this fine day, a storm was settling into our lake with gusts i'm guessing reached around 50 mph, and a pretty fine dousing of rain. Luckily, when we set out paddling, the wind was only around 10 - 20 mph, so no capsizing... but definitely some interesting paddle techniques were utilized. We would raft up on the leeward sides of islands, take a breather and then paddle on.
After we reached our campground, we promptly set-up our tents and went out to explore. Teresa, Tanya, Codi & I ventured toward the highest point on our little peninsula, and found ourselves hanging onto dear life. The wind had seriously picked up and we were all doing our best to not get blown over.
Then the rain started. I'm usually a fair sport for hanging out in tents in the rain. Today I was not. So, I proposed that we start drinking (it was maybe 3pm)... and drink we did.
By the time the rain and wind let-up, we were all on a solid path to getting hammered... and didn't even really notice that we could venture outside of our covered picnic table. We quickly made dinner... told stories and passed out.
We all woke up the next morning to clear and calm skies! Codi, Teresa & I loaded into the canoe, and traveled further up Thunder Arm where we encountered tree swallows, violet green swallows, golden eyes, mallards and snow capped mountains. It was such a beautiful morning that I couldn't ask for more.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
tiny people. big mountain
Taken from "North Cascades Geology"
Mount Baker is one of the youngest members of the Cascade Volcanic Arc. It is probably less than 30,000 years old and has not been eroded enough to expose its granitic roots. The most conspicuous young lavas associated with the volcano flowed down Sulphur Creek less than 10,000 years ago, erupting from a small cinder cone near Schriebers Meadow. An explosive eruption of steam blew out of Sherman crater, near the summit of Mount Baker in 1843, and steam still hisses into the sky from vents around the rim. We have every reason to expect future eruptions from Mount Baker.
On Thursday morning, we woke up at 3:19am, and began shuffling around the house. Thankfully I laid my clothes out the night before, so I was 51% sure that I was putting the right clothes on. I downed a bowl of oatmeal and we loaded into the car. We bid adieu to Chris & Linden who stayed the night and were heading out the door toward Shuksan.
We picked Chris up at 3:45am and started the drive on 542 toward Glacier Creek rd. The moon was nearly full and the sky was perfectly clear. We could see the outline of peaks pass by as we zoomed down the road toward our destination. At 5am we started the snowmobile and drove up Glacier Creek road for about 2 miles until we reached the trailhead. The sun had not risen, but dawn was upon us and the sun was filled with pale blues, yellows & oranges. We started skinning at 5:30am.
We made good time and reached the summit at noon. I opened my bag of cookies and enjoyed the views of the North Cascades, Olympics, Rainier and Canada. The video below includes some photos that Frankie took as well as path up to the summit.
Share your Adventures with SpotAdventures
Mount Baker is one of the youngest members of the Cascade Volcanic Arc. It is probably less than 30,000 years old and has not been eroded enough to expose its granitic roots. The most conspicuous young lavas associated with the volcano flowed down Sulphur Creek less than 10,000 years ago, erupting from a small cinder cone near Schriebers Meadow. An explosive eruption of steam blew out of Sherman crater, near the summit of Mount Baker in 1843, and steam still hisses into the sky from vents around the rim. We have every reason to expect future eruptions from Mount Baker.
On Thursday morning, we woke up at 3:19am, and began shuffling around the house. Thankfully I laid my clothes out the night before, so I was 51% sure that I was putting the right clothes on. I downed a bowl of oatmeal and we loaded into the car. We bid adieu to Chris & Linden who stayed the night and were heading out the door toward Shuksan.
We picked Chris up at 3:45am and started the drive on 542 toward Glacier Creek rd. The moon was nearly full and the sky was perfectly clear. We could see the outline of peaks pass by as we zoomed down the road toward our destination. At 5am we started the snowmobile and drove up Glacier Creek road for about 2 miles until we reached the trailhead. The sun had not risen, but dawn was upon us and the sun was filled with pale blues, yellows & oranges. We started skinning at 5:30am.
We made good time and reached the summit at noon. I opened my bag of cookies and enjoyed the views of the North Cascades, Olympics, Rainier and Canada. The video below includes some photos that Frankie took as well as path up to the summit.
Share your Adventures with SpotAdventures
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
gone paddlin'
so, im about to head off on a 5 day naturalizing adventure... the first 2.5 days around the ELC, and then the next 2.5 days out in Twisp... so i will be incommunicado. BUT, to tide you over while i'm gone... here are some photos from my trail run to Big Beaver yesterday. Ross lake is around 95' below average right now. (WHOA) so i had to go check it out for myself. 14 miles later i was back at the car and exhausted.
but it was worth it.
looking north toward Hozomeen & Desolation
it's a long boat haul from the shore to the dock!
Jack Mountain in the distance
Waterfalls can be seen again in their natural form with the water level so low. Typically this is all covered by the lake
Trail runners paradise!
but it was worth it.
looking north toward Hozomeen & Desolation
it's a long boat haul from the shore to the dock!
Jack Mountain in the distance
Waterfalls can be seen again in their natural form with the water level so low. Typically this is all covered by the lake
Trail runners paradise!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)