Gathering at the Cyprus Gate Overlook the Vespula’s looked
out from their vantage atop Chuckanut Mountain and marveled at the view of the
San Juan Islands and Bellingham Bay. We gathered the group and introduced Bobby
Faller, a new mentor to the Boys EC. He let the group know that Greg was not in
attendance because he had the opportunity to participate in a blacksmithing
workshop and that the group would have to “forage” on ahead without him!
We oriented ourselves to the land and passed out jobs. After
our fire and skills day out at Lookout Mountain the Vespulas were excited to
continue our tradition of Nettle Tea. The mentors let it be known that one of the younger boys at the last outing had
forgotten to return a component of the backpacking stove, hindering our ability
to make tea. The group suggested that we have to fire and boil our tea and
their inspiration led to led great talk about land use. The mentors explained
that the majority of the Rock Trail is on State Park Land, which does not allow
fires in anything but a fire ring.
After our meeting adjourned a few boys got to work
processing a chunk of Yellow Cedar the mentors had brought for carving projects
and we were off. Only a few minutes down the trail we ran into a Washington
Trails Association crew. It was fascinating to watch the crew building support
walls trying to control the erosive force of water run off and foot traffic on
the trail. The Vespula’s were asked to by the trail crew leader to stop before
they got to a work party who were constructing a large rock retaining wall. The
Shielder’s did a great job of respecting the construction zone and the workers.
The group was giddy as we explored down the trail. The
topography of the land was truly fascinating. To our West loomed massive Sandstone
cliffs nearly fifty feet high and to our East the land dropped off steeply into
the wave like ridge folds that eventually lead down to the Lost Lake basin.
Within the troughs of the Sandstone folds were large boulders laden with
Sphagnum moss, Licorice Fern, young Western Hemlocks, and Red Huckleberry. The
boys said it reminded them of the mythical forest from Lord of the Rings.
Passing close the cliffside we found a place stop to and
have some lunch. The group spent and little time climbing and exploring the
base of the cliff and found a foot and a half opening in the wall that expanded
into a cave big enough to fit three of us.
Feeling some inspiration a few Vespula’s called out for a
game of Spider’s Web on the ridgeline below us. About twenty minutes went by and
group was still exploring and squirreling out. Those who had the initial idea
for the game asked why we were not playing. This was a great moment for the
boys to track that they are co-creators of their experience in the Four Shields
and they needed to put forth the initiative to set the game up.
While placing the bandanas for the game we came across a
deer skull. Looking at the lower mandible we noticed the teeth were quite worn,
possibly indicating that this was an elderly deer. We played Spider’s Web for a
solid forty-five minutes, crawling through the damp, but warm undergrowth. A
light rain refreshed us as we played bringing sweet smells of spring and a
therapeutic drizzling sound to land. In the end the flies prevailed and we
packed up and headed down towards the lake.
Passing by massive Douglas Fir along the lake’s shore we eventually
wandered to a wetland on the north side. The group climbed on a twenty -foot
tall root ball of a Sitka Spruce that had fallen into the wetland. The mentors
took a moment to point out the difference between Spruce, Fir, and Hemlock
cones. We also had the group revisit another abundant plant growing out of the
water, Poison Hemlock. Together we investigated the identifying characteristics
of this toxic plant. Its leaves were fern-like, toothed, and finely divided
while its stem was hallow, hairless, and had purple blotches just starting to
form.
Ingestion of Poison Hemlock causes toxic alkaloids to attack
the nervous system, causing symptoms such as a burning sensation in the mouth,
nausea, vomiting, confusion, rapid heartbeat, seizures, and respiratory
paralysis. For some people, even touching the plant may cause a severe skin
reaction through contact dermatitis.
Arriving at the lake another group pointed out an immature Bald
Eagle fishing atop a mature Doug Fir and we stopped to watch this skillful
fisher. Navigating to the Eastern outpour of the lake we explored the
magnificent waterfall created by its overflow. Feeling the call the mentors
gathered the group for a sit spot and the boys spread out within earshot of the
mentors and falls. Settling back into the land the sound of cascading water and
the calls of the Varied Thrush filled the air.
Our sit spot was interrupted when one of the boys ran over
and said someone in our group was hurt. Navigating to their sit spot the
mentors came to find out that one of the Vespula’s had decide to try and do
some bouldering while in their sit spot, popping a dinner plate sized piece of
stone off the ledge which landed on his leg. This near miss was scary for both
the mentors and those involved. After some patient assessment we decided he was
capable of hiking out, despite a slight limp.
Circling up by the lake we debriefed that event and reminded
the group that a sit spot was truly a time to sit. As the boys get older in the
program our mentors hold a bigger container for sit spots and this comes with
more responsibly. Turning our focus towards the rest of the spring season we
had a discussion about the powers and challenges of our Explorers Mentor
Apprenticeships while sharing apples.
Sitting in peace and calm of the lake the Vespula’s gave a
sincere and thoughtful round of thanks, our biggest power of the day. The group
gave thanks for our time together, for the gentle reminders of the wilderness
to pay attention, for the opportunity to engage with risk management, for the
unique mix of micro-ecosystems throughout our hike, for an abundance of water
and its powers to shape the landscape, and for a beautiful mountains right in
our backyard.
Hiking out we came across what the boys thought was a
Salamander; it actually turned out to be a Rough-Skinned Newt. The Newt had
amazing camouflage and blended right into the trail. The mentors cautioned the
group not to handle the Newt. The Newts’ body produces a neurotoxin called
Tetrodotoxin; the same toxin found in Pufferfish. Lifting its head the
Newt exposed its bright Orange underbelly that warned “danger, don’t eat me!”
The group agreed that we could have spent the rest of the day watching the Newt
travel across the wetland, but we had to muster our energy for the big climb up
the hill. Arriving back at the parking lot sweaty and tired we greeted
the parents and shared the tale of our adventure.
For more photos from the outing
please visit the Vespula Veterans photo album from our Rock
Trail exploration. Also if you have not already please check our Ross Lake Loop Backpack for this summer of 2016. Click here
to see more details about the trip.
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