Exploring Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve

The beginning of a new season is always full of excitement for mentors.  We wonder about how the group will have changed over the winter, what challenges will emerge before us, and what adventures we will share together.  We all enjoy the prospect of wandering in new locations and following wherever our curiosity leads us.  We have also been deeply excited for the chance to explore Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve.  It is a huge and exciting tract of land that is perfect for the Vespula Veterans. 

Once everybody gathered in the parking lot we made a quick survey of the map, and began ascending the gated road up into the forest.  Despite a threatening sky and a fresh breeze, the weather held and made for very comfortable hiking.  Along the way we noted the steep and rich hillsides relatively fee from the dominant invasive species.  Alder groves gave way to second and third growth forests filled will Western Red Cedar, Red Alder, Western Hemlock and Douglas Fir.  Many inviting streams crossed under the road and dropped steadily down the mountain forming beautiful gullies.  Along the roadside we noted an abundance of fresh nettles sprouting out of the earth and decided to harvest some for tea higher up the mountain. 

The Vespula stopped for some food and water farther up the mountain and a lively discussion about our political process ensued, we listened intently to the deep concern that the boys voiced about the future of our country’s political leadership.  While it is not our place as mentors to suggest which politicians or policies would best benefit out nation, we did offer our empathy towards how difficult it is to be excluded in that process.  It was easy to see that many of these young people were worried and frustrated that they are unable to participate directly in the voting process, yet it was incredible to see the deep concern for community these boys have.  They are growing into the compassionate and involved leaders our world needs. 

Eventually we decided to leave the trail and wonder across the hillside up to a small ridge in a grove of Western Hemlock and Western red cedar.  On top of a small knoll we found an old campfire ring, and some bike trail building tools and decided it was a perfect spot to brew some nettle tea and play a game of spider’s web. 

One group of boys began setting up the game and others helped gathering some suitable tinder for starting a fire.  Despite the heavy rain of previous days and very soggy soil, we were able to find some dry cedar and a ton of dry hemlock twigs from fallen trees.  We started the fire using a stick of fatwood gathered from a nearby stump and a ferrocium fire starter.  Dry hemlock twigs, fatwood shavings, and a ferrocium fire starter are a very effective combination to start fire in inclement weather.  If you can locate some Western Hemlock trees you can typically find some very fine “twiggy” branches that the tree has lost in a storm.  These branches have lots of surface area and are often dry as they tend to sit up off of the forest floor.  If you can gather a “hug” sized bundle then you should have enough to ignite larger sized wood. 

Locating fatwood in our forests requires identifying partially decayed Douglas Fir Stumps.  Some of them have sections of resin-saturated wood, typically forming a spire shape, that is easy to remove.  Small shaving s of fatwood will easily catch a spark from a ferrocium rod.  We gathered a couple of large pieces of fatwood and using a saw and knife we cut and split them up into useful pieces for future fire starting.  It is a very useful thing to have stashed in your backpack.  We sparked the fire into life and brewed up a lovely pot of Nettle Peppermint tea while. 

We gathered around the fire briefly and sent the boys out on the land for a sit spot before the closing meeting and our hike down.  As mentors, we are always reading the group and trying to find the right way to engage the boys with the land.  The sit spot, which these boys have been doing for many years continues to be something they enjoy.  It may not captivate them like the excitement of starting afire or using edged tools, but it is quietly connecting them to the land and calming their minds. 

The mentors extinguished the ashes of our small fire and poured tea as we began our closing meeting.  We discussed the upcoming season and shared our observation that there is a desire for the vespula to continue to work on skills including carving, plant identification, and firecraft.  We are planning on devoting our upcoming Baker Lake over night, the final outing of spring, to skills, since we will have more time to devote to them.  We closed with thanks for the land and time together.  Exploring new locations is always exciting and it was clear that we were grateful to be doing it with one another.

Thank you Vespula Veterans for your commitment to this program.  You continue to show up and seek time with one another exploring the land, practicing skills, and serving your community.  The mentoring team feels deep gratitude towards your investment into this program.  Finally, thank you to the families that support and encourage your sons to participate. As your son grows older we know that there are many opportunities available for them.  We are grateful to have the opportunity to share our knowledge and skills with them and watch them learning how to be string members of our community.