Friday, June 24, 2016

Daredevils Club Finishes Strong at Racehorse Falls



Meeting up for their overnight, the Daredevils Club arrived at the drop off location for the final time. Hanging out waiting for everyone to show up, the boys who were there had a great time chatting with the mentors, watching a college student who was moving out get some help from the two local chickens, and just enjoy the notion that we were going to be together for the remainder of the day. No pick up time lingering on the back burner of our minds it felt as though the day was ours to do with as we wanted, when we wanted. In other words; a sense of freedom. Loading up into the mentors cars we made sure we had all the gear and hit the road.

Driving east along Mt. Baker Highway we enjoyed the quaint countryside views and emerging foothill as we followed the Nooksack River out to Racehorse Falls. Arriving at the end of a bumpy gravel road we got out and decided to explore a bit and pick a campsite before unpacking. Following a trail just behind the parking area, the boys were immediately amused by a couple banana slugs who were of course, munching on a banana someone had dropped on the trail. One can’t help but chuckle at the irony. Moving along we broke out of the woods and clambered over a mess of a log jam that was once deposited along the banks of the creek during a massive flood. Making our way to the creek we explored upstream, found a few potential campsites, and then were inspired to find the infamous waterfall that gave name to this area. Studying the landscape we noticed a sharp incline further up the valley with a gap between the trees and knew that must be our destination. The boys darted off, scampering over logs and rocks. Looking closer it became apparent many of the rocks had ancient fossilized remains of trees, leaves, and even large shells. There is something truly magical about looking at a fossil, especially one of an ancient cedar tree whose scaly tips remain identical to their living relatives growing tall and proud around us. 
Further up the creek bed we finally caught our first glimpse of the waterfall. If seeing their cascading brilliance wasn’t enough, one of the boys quickly shouted out “CAVES!” as he noticed a few small crevasses delving deep beneath the rocky boulders below the falls. So much to see, so much to do, but it was time to turn around and head back and establish our camp for the evening. Good thing we headed back when we did, as the skies darkened, and rain droplets began pitter pattering all around us.

At the cars the boys began unloading the gear, and to their dismay there were only enough tents for the mentors. It appeared as though someone had forgotten to pack tents for the Explorers. Appearances can be deceiving, however, as are the sly mentors who used sleight of hand to stash the Daredevil’s tents beneath the car out of sight. Convincing the boys they had forgot the tents, everyone was immediately faced with the reality of needing to improvise a shelter for the evening. Although this notion was not met with much positivity, the mentors expected as much and were prepared with a thick skin. 

There is nothing quite like an approaching darkness to inspire one to buckle down and build a shelter. This was the Daredevils Club’s last outing with Boys Explorers Club so of course they should have known there would be a test of their determination, will power, and skill. One Explorer decided to get started on a debris shelter, while another took advantage of a tarp provided by the mentors. The third, however, had his mind made up that he would sleep in the caves near the waterfall. The mentors thoroughly enjoyed themselves as they set up their tents and began working on some fire-starting skills, all while listening in keenly to the boys and tracking their morale to ensure no one’s edge was being stretched too far. 

With a tarp shelter near completion and the start of a debris shelter well underway, the mentors felt satisfied with the response of the Daredevils Club. They faced reality, came up with a plan, and put in a strong effort to prepare for nightfall. One of the mentors returned to the cars to retrieve some snacks and of course the tents. Upon arrival to the campsite the Daredevils Club were flabbergasted to find a tent. With some angry grumbling, the boys munched on granola bars and cursed the mentors for their treachery. They quickly got over this however, and with food in their stomach and a tent to shelter in for the night their spirits lifted once more. Time for some exploration.

Returning to the waterfalls, we decided to trek up the hillside and see what we could find. Following an old mountain bike trail we hiked up and up to an overlooking view of the falls. Seeing the large pool above the falls and the water funneled into the gap to pour effortlessly down the cliff face was a sight to be seen. Continuing our journey upward we soon came across bush after bush of Red Huckleberry with copious amounts of red, juicy berries, ripe for the picking. After demonstrating their ability to improvise a shelter, seeing these boys gorging on wild edible fruits was icing on the cake for the mentors. It appeared as though these boys truly could survive out here if needed. Hiking further up we hit a freshly built logging road and decided to turn back. On our return hike we found even more abundance of food; Salmon Berry and even a Mountain Huckleberry with its blueberry like fruits. All this snacking was making us hungry for a real meal. Time for dinner.


Returning to camp we readied the stoves and boiled some water for Mac n' Cheese. A special treat was in store so we even cooked up some bacon to mix in the macaroni. A meal fit for a king, or at least a hungry Explorer. After dinner it was time for a fire. Collecting wood was as simple as finding a good log jam and picking up the seasoned wood. Despite its sun bleached exterior, splitting into the wood we discovered beautiful, red, straight grained cedar. What a find! The mentors brought the boys together for a quick discussion about the theory of multiple intelligences, and prompted them to ponder which intelligences resonated with them and what they hope study and eventually which profession they would like to enter when they come of age. The Daredevils Club was sent out for a lengthy sit spot as dusk approached and the Swainson’s Thrush rhythmically called to one another welcoming the night. 

Getting an ember with a bow-drill, dropping it into the tinder bundle, and blowing life into the flame, the mentors soon had a healthy fire.  As the last of the light disappeared the boys were called in and instinctively circled around the fire. Without any prompting by the mentors, each Explorer shared what they thought about while on their sit spot, how they felt about the theory multiple intelligences, and what they hoped to be when they grew up. Their openness and sincerity was a beautiful reminder of just how close this group had grown over the past year and soon discussions evolved to a depth the mentors could not have anticipated. 


Revisiting the surrealness of this being their final outing together, our discussion evolved into what it means for things to come to an end; what it looks like, how it is perceived, and how we process it. The analogy to death was all too apparent because this was the “death” of their group. No longer would the Daredevils Club join together for another outing. Some of the things the boys said were incredibly profound and demonstrated a depth of wisdom and character beyond their age. It was an honor to be a part of this moment and witness the growth of these boys as arriving adults who are now capable of understanding and processing incredibly deep and complex topics. To spend an evening encircled around a fire, in the wilderness, at night, talking about life and death, happiness and sadness, the past, present, and future, is something sacred and timeless. There is no better way for us to have spent our last outing as the Daredevil’s Club than how we spent it. Heading to bed, we all slept well that night knowing that the Daredevil’s Club would have a clean death and everyone who was a part of it would be at peace with this reality.

The following morning we woke up to a cloud filled sky. Mentors sipped coffee and listened to the creek as the boys awoke and proclaimed they were hungry. Looking to the mentors for breakfast they soon had to face the reality that the mentors would not make them breakfast. Though they still have much time left for childhood, after the previous night it was clear to the mentors that these were arriving adults and they could figure out how to boil some water and make oatmeal. They could do this on their own, they knew what to do, and it was time to do it. Instead of complaining they got the stove ready, boiled water, and found oatmeal and all the fixings. We had another fire after breakfast which kept us warm during sporadic showers and provided a centerpiece for playful conversation.

As morning transitioned to afternoon we broke down our camp and hauled everything back to the cars. We decided to spend the remainder of our time exploring the logging roads. We packed up lunch and piled into the car. Up and up we went as views down onto the Nooksack River and the valley opened up before us. Soon, though, we hit a gate. Piling out of the car we decided to hike further along the road to see what we could see. Immediately we began encountering piles of scat filled with what appeared to be berries and seeds. Taking a closer look at the size, and a few tracks off the side of the road we deciphered the culprit. Five toes, moderate-large piles of scat, berries, seeds; Bear. We soon noticed many other signs of coyote, deer, and other critters, game trails popping out off of the roadside here and there. This was a wild place that clearly belonged to the animals who lived there, though they obviously enjoyed the old logging road for ease of travel. Soon, however, it was time to head back.

Loading into the car one more time we stopped to cook lunch. One more meal together and it was time to go. Driving back to town we had just enough time to stop at LaFeens for some donuts to celebrate a successful camp out and culmination of our time together in Explorers Club. Getting back to our pick up location we had a few more minutes together before parents arrived and it was time to say goodbye. Clearly it was hard for the boys to say that last goodbye, but as with all challenges that face us in life, they are unavoidable and inevitably we must face them. Although this was the end of the Daredevils Club and these boys time in Explorers Club, it was also the beginning of their next step in life as individuals and arriving adults. 



There is no doubt that each one of these Explorers will always be an Explorer at heart and keep with them their playfulness and enthusiasm for life and all its joys. At the same time they are becoming young men and facing a big world with so much going on in it. Of course there will be ups and downs, but after all the time the mentors have spent with this group, there is no doubt they will be able to overcome any challenge they face and not only survive, but thrive. It was a real honor to get to know each and every one of the Daredevil’s Club and we are blessed with countless memories that will undoubtedly bring a smile to our faces no matter where we are or how much time has passed. We are so proud of this group, their resiliency, courage, and playfulness and wish them the best of luck in their promising futures. 

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos from our overnight here!

Friday, May 6, 2016

Daredevils Club, Storm Wolves, and Barred Owls Help Clean Up Connelly Creek

Meeting at our new park and ride drop-off location the Daredevil’s Club were finally all present for their last service outing as a group. With plenty of sunshine to accompany us, we walked over to the service site to take inventory of what had been done by previous groups, what was left to do today, and how we would make the most of our time. We also talked about the importance of setting a good precedent for the younger groups, and leading by example and emphasizing safe tool usage, proper technique, and strong work ethic. At first it took the group a little while to get going, but after taking a quick snack break and drinking down some water the Daredevil’s kicked it into gear and got down to business.

As the Daredevil’s Club finished constructing a make-shift fence around a recently discovered bees nest the next group, the Storm Wolves, arrived. After taking some time to walk through the service site with the Daredevil’s Club the Storm Wolves had no hesitation and jumped right into cutting back the blackberries and digging up root balls. It was great to see these two groups get together after both groups found plenty of enjoyment discovering one another’s shelters during previous explorations this season. Each group continued developing the other’s shelter, one at Galbraith and the other at Clayton Beach, and created some pretty impressive structures despite having never met the other group (until now!). As the outing progressed the groups intermingled and found that they actually had quite a bit in common. Watching the Daredevil’s Club working alongside the Storm Wolves, the mentors took note of their maturity and impressive role modeling. Coming from a group that can sometimes get side-tracked with goofiness, these older Explorer’s really stepped up today and were very impressive.

While the Daredevil’s Club and Storm Wolves were making solid progress, everything was kicked up a notch when the Barred Owls showed up. After getting a demonstration on proper tool usage from the Storm Wolves they get right to work. Talk about a bunch of motivated Explorers! Half of the group took on the extensive bramble of Himalayan Blackberry that has been choking out a willow grove for years while the other half grabbed shovels, began digging up blackberry root balls, and clearing out an old drainage ditch. This by no means is easy work and the whole day the mentors never heard a peep of complaining out of any of the Explorers.

With lots of solid work getting done the service site began to transform. The once tall Reed Canary Grass lay flat, stomped down by Explorer’s feet. The ground churned from shovels digging up massive clumps of blackberry root. The willow grove once choked out by blackberry finally stretching out to absorb the sunshine that was previously getting all sucked up by the broad leaves on the climbing vines of blackberry. Despite not having any mulch today, the site has been prepped for the next group to get a thick layer of mulch down. Vast tunnels have been slashed through the massive blackberry bramble allowing the Explorers to divide and conquer the remaining patches the formidable thorny plant. Not only did these boys fill numerous garbage bags full of Himalayan Blackberry, but they did a great job of taking the next step towards really establishing the natural stability of the Connelly Creek service site.

With the Padden Creek Daylighting Project well underway downstream all of our hard work is suddenly taking on a new perspective. Not only are we working towards eradicating invasive species alongside Connelly Creek, creating natural habitat with native species,  and developing a self-sustaining native habitat, but we are creating a piece to the proverbial puzzle. With salmon able to swim up Padden Creek for the first time in in over a century the Explorers are creating an optimum habitat for them to return to Connelly Creek to spawn and continue their prolific and dynamic influence on our region. For now it may seem like hacking at blackberry and shoveling mulch, but the impact these boys are having on their community is one that will last for years to come. One of the Explorers on this outing actually mentioned this and said he dreams of one day being able to pull a salmon out of Connelly Creek with his hands. Now that is a vision we can all appreciate and thanks to all the hard work from the Daredevil’s Club, Storm Wolves, and Barred Owls that dream may one day become a reality. 

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos from our outing here!

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Daredevils Club Revisits Clayton




Meeting in the Lost Lake Trailhead parking lot just off of Chuckanut Drive, the Daredevils Club reunited for some exploration at a classic Explorers Club location; Clayton Beach. Hiking down the stairs to the trail we decided it would be good to take some time to explore the ravine and forest before dropping down to the beach. Winding our way along the trail down into the ravine we stopped beside the stream to take it all in. Taking in our surroundings we noticed the landscape had been carved out by this babbling brook cutting a deep groove in the forest exposing rock faces and producing a series of small waterfalls along its way. It is hard not to get lost in a moment of appreciation for the beauty of this forest.

After a few minutes of feeling out the area we decided to trek up the stream in search of fossils. Picking our way along the slippery rocks and ducking under vine maple we slowly worked our way back up the ravine. Little bits of sedimentary rock with darker specks and shapes on them gave us the notion we were on the right track. Finally getting to the top of the creek we found large chunks of the stream bank that had eroded off, exposing numerous fossils of leaves and sticks. The Daredevils Club enjoyed poking around, breaking up some of the other rocks in search for more fossils. Touching a fossil is one of those experiences that evokes curiosity. How old is this leaf? How long had it stayed locked within this riverbank before a heavy rain broke it free? What did this landscape look like when this leaf fell off its tree? Taking a moment to contemplate these sorts of thoughts not only helps us envision a prehistoric version of the very place we call home, but also gives us a unique perspective on the vastness of time and the incredible probabilities at play for an ordinary leaf, one in millions if not billions, encountered the perfect set of circumstances to become fossilized and eventually one day be discovered by a member of the Daredevils Club.

Returning to our packs we took some time to explore a bit more before heading down to the beach. Discovering a downed Western Red Cedar the mentors were instilled with inspiration for the Daredevils Club to complete a fire by friction kit before the culmination of their season, and their Boys Explorers Club experience. Harvesting the curving limbs for of the cedar tree we each cut ourselves a bow for a bow drill kit. Next we needed to find some seasoned cedar to carve into a spindle and fireboard. Discovering the downed cedar was too fresh and tight grained, to split easily we took inventory of our surroundings and pressed on a mission for some new materials to harvest. Remembering a downed cedar from a few seasons ago we headed a bit further down the trail and found it would make perfect material for carving spindles and fireboards. Enough with the forest, fossils, and fire by friction, time to get down to the beach!

Continuing along the trail we made our way down to Clayton Beach where it is impossible not to have a good time. The day was a bit blustery and overcast which in all honesty was perfect for this outing. Not only did the clouds offer protection from the sun, but without the warm rays of sunshine all the fair-weather beach combers were nowhere to be found. Climbing amongst the rocks the Daredevils Club found a driftwood fort that had been built last fall by a younger BEC group. In fact, it was there very group, the Storm Wolves, that had an epic outing of shelter building at Galbraith inspired by the debris shelter that the Daredevils Club had constructed in the fall. It was only fitting that we took some time to add onto this driftwood shelter and in no time the DDC had a cozy little shelter to tuck themselves away in and out of the cool coastal breeze that was becoming a bit chilly.

With some free time under our belts it was time to hunker down and focus on some skills. Getting out our freshly harvested cedar, we split it up into spindle blanks and fire boards using the batoning method with our knives. Next we found a good spot to sit down, eat some food, and carve our spindles. The mentors had a great time hanging out with this group while carving. It is easy to get lost in carving and fall into silence, but these boys are full of jokes and silly anecdotes that make it impossible not to smile. It’s tough to think that this is our last season together as the Daredevils Club. There have been so many good times and so much growth from this group over the years. After our service outing we will have one more outing which will be an overnight at Racehorse Falls. Tim and Peter have set the intention for every member of the DDC to finish carving their bow drill kits and get a coal, and ensuing fire, with each of their own kits. This won’t be easy, but will be a great way for these guys to put a stamp on their Explorers Club experience and demonstrate how far they have come over the years. The mentors are already getting excited about our upcoming overnight and despite it being our last outing together, the Daredevils Club is primed for an epic experience marking the culmination of their time in the Boys Explorers Club. 

Check out the rest of our photos from this outing here!