We couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day for the DareDevils Club to kick of the Spring 2015 season. Blue skies, sunshine beaming down upon us through the trees, a new explorer to welcome to the DDC, and a traverse along Chuckanut Ridge awaiting us. As we began our ascent to the ridge, we became aware not only of the plentiful bird language, but also of a beautiful outlook to over the San Juan Islands. What a wonderful place to take a moment and fuel up or bodies with lunch before hitting the brunt of the hiking. Maintaining proper energy levels and nutrition on a hike will be key for those of the DDC who will be going on the backpacking trip this summer. This is just one of the many skills the DDC will be focusing on this season as we prepare ourselves for a summer time multi-night backpacking trip.
Soon enough we were at a junction in the trail. What better place to get out the map and compass and figure out where the heck we are?! Many variables are at play with navigation, so the boys took a moment to focus on their surroundings and focus their awareness. The sun, the landscape, landmarks in the distance, sounds. Next we transitioned to map and compass to ascertain more information to help our decision making. Finally we settled on a route and took the left path instead of the right. Perhaps a seemingly simple decision, yet one path led toward home and the other away from home. The difference between warmth, shelter, and food, or a cold, dark, hungry night in the woods.
As we traversed upon the upper most section of the ridge, we were suddenly surrounded by a new noise. Not one easily heard at first, but more like a meandering stream in the distance. Only this stream flowed with cars not water. Without the mountain to deflect the sound waves, the interstate suddenly became very aware to us. Along with the new noise was a tremendous view of Mt. Baker glowing in the afternoon sunlight. These observations not only help us hone or senses, but are vital bits of information that we can patch together to determine our location and the direction we must go.
Descending down the northern most section of the ridge we began to notice one of the concentric rings extending outward from our unseasonably early spring. Sprouts and buds. All around us plants were beginning to push out fresh new leaves, some even beginning to open up there flowers. Incredible at this time of year! Not only is it fascinating to witness the arrival of Indian Plum and Salmonberry blossoms, but to notice the arrival of the Roufus Hummingbird and other creatures who rely on these flowers for nourishment. What will happen when the Salmonberries are ripening? Will the Swainson’s Thrush know to plan a return flight from Southern Mexico three weeks earlier than usual?
After some pop quiz plant I.D. to pass the time on the trail, we finally arrived at Arroyo Park. There’s nothing quite like a giant glacial erratic with an enormous downed tree teetering atop it to suck explorers into a vortex of interaction with their natural environment. Free play; there truly is nothing quite like it.
Alas, to end our day we gathered upon the top of the large boulder for a closing circle. While sharing apple slices we each shared something we were grateful for in that moment. This gave us a pause in our journey to reflect on where we had been, what we had done, and what we will be taking with us from this experience. Some of us taking home bird language in our ears, others a lesson on the difference between what you can do and what you should do, but all of us learned a thing or two about the concentric rings of influence that ripple out from an action we, others, or the natural world makes.
Make sure to check out the photo gallery from our outing! There you can see all the pictures from our outing.
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