Vespula Veterans Tracking on the Nooksack River

Managing Hazards is an essential part of being a wilderness traveler.  In our region weather systems that bring rain, particularly lots of rain, are a common occurrence and usually usher in several hazards that we have to be aware of.  While flooding is one of the most dramatic and dangerous hazards that we may encounter in our travels to both wild places and places close to home, we also should consider the stability of the soil we are traveling on and below, as well as our own body temperature and comfort.  Our day trips have always been a fantastic way to safely explore these hazards so when we encounter them on longer wilderness trips they appear less daunting, which allows our group to find the most appropriate way to manage the hazards we encounter and still explore the wild places that beckon to us.

With this in our minds the mentors met the Vespula Veterans for yet another outing in heavy rain.  When the mentoring team plans our outings we give some consideration to what weather conditions may occur, but it is often difficult to balance the desire to go to places that our groups rarely visits with what the weather may be doing when we are there.  Compound this with the fact that we are typically planning these outings at least six months ahead of time and we are often guessing and hoping for what the weather might bring us.  The rising rivers were on the mentor’s minds all night and in the morning after sleeping on several alternative plans we decided to stick with the original plan to head out to the Nooksack and see if we could safely explore its banks, catch a glimpse of its energy in flood from a couple of safe vantage points, and even find a few tracks.

After arriving at Samish Woods the Vespula Veterans boarded our trusty companion Stubbs and we all headed out the Mt. Baker highway towards Truck Road just east of Deming where Deming Homestead Eagle Park is located.  There is a small parking area along side of truck road that provides river access to the Nooksack though several of its flood channels.  When we arrived it was raining hard and the wind was beginning to pickup.  We left the parking area and walked down into a heavy thicket of young alder and cottonwood trees.  The abandoned flood channels were coved in a thick green moss and a well-worn trail took us towards the river.  Along the way we were keeping our eyes open for animal tracks in the sand and mud.  Our hope was to find a couple of tracks worthy of making casts with plaster.  Eventually we left the cover of the alders and emerged onto a side channel of the river that was not flowing, along it there were  several deep pools and lots of sand and mud.  The group spread out looking for tracks in the unrelenting rain. 

Eventually we wandered over towards the rivers edge and circled up to discuss the hazards currently present for our group.  After out cirle some folks watched the slow rise of the river and the various debris floating downstream, while others searched for more tracks to investigate.  Eventually the cold and wet urged us to seek shelter.  We wandered back towards the Stubbs as the water began to trickle into the side channel.  It came slowly at first but it steadily began to fill the puddles and connect them.  It was clear that we had to say goodbye to this spot or risk very wet shoes and boots!  We crossed the final ditch between the river park and the parking area just as it was begining to fill up as well and climbed up onto the path.  We ate lunch and snacks under a very small picnic shelter.  The group was quiet and cold at first, but after some food spirits were much higher. 

We decided to get back on Stubbs and head back towards Deming to check another good tracking spot under the shelter of the bridge at Nugent’s Corner.  When we arrived we found a number of good tracks to cast near the river.  The mentors demonstrated how to mix up the appropriate ratio of plaster to water and how to create a simple dam of mud around the track.  The secret is to achieve a mixture similar to pancake batter and pour it in the track and the surrounding ring.  You let it dry until you can wipe a finger across the back and it comes away clean rather than white with plaster.  Then you rinse the cast until most of the mud or sand has been cleaned off.  While the group was making casts the river was slowly rising.  From our vantage point we could see the power of the river in flood carrying away large trees and debris in the main channel, from the safety of a stable wooded bank.  Eventually the water spilled into our side channel and we had to leave our tracking spot.  We circled up nearby, gave thanks and enjoyed our apples with the steady roar of the river behind us.  The rain once again continues to be our teacher and it is clear there is still plenty to learn from this incredible force that shapes so much of our lives here in Whatcom county.

Many thanks to the explorers and their families for being prepared for the weather this outing had to offer.  It is always a great pleasure to explore with the Vespula Veterans and the mentors are already looking forward to the next outing at Lake Padden-rain or shine!