Short-tailed Weasels explore at north Lake Whatcom

The Short-tailed Weasels first dedicated winter outing came in with classic Pacific Northwest style: cold, light, steady rain. Regardless of this we had a few new faces out and energy ran high. In fact, before our outing even kicked off a group of boys disappeared down the trail and into the woods while our mentors, Conor and Jedidiah chatted with their parents. They emerged a few minutes and crow calls later, running and short of breath. The energy of these first boys was reflective of the rest of group and day.

Initial discoveries

After we had everyone together we met under the dripping canopy to discuss our plan for the day. The Short-tailed Weasels focus for this season is the Art of Carving, so we knew we all wanted to get some carving in. However, as we have learned in the past, cold and wet are not the best conditions for carving. The boys unanimously agreed that before we got our knives and got to work we should do some exploring, find someplace a little dryer to set up shop, maybe play a game, and warm up a little. And so began the search for someplace dry among the red cedars and hemlocks of a temperate rainforest.

Heading out to explore

We observed that the area along the trail near our opening circle would be a good place to play a game, but we didn't want to pass up the opportunity to find someplace really great. We headed out south along the trail, deciding to keep this first place in mind in case we didn't find anywhere better. Shortly thereafter we arrived on the shores of Lake Whatcom. The view of the lake being somewhat hypnotic, we decided we wanted to stay and have a snack. As we lingered, we realized it was wet and the wind off the lake was cold, and although this was a fun place to look out, skip rocks, look for tracks, and play in the sand, that it would be too cold to carve here and that we should move on.

Checking out the lake

We decided to head north along another trail that seemed to parallel our first. Making excursions off to either side in search of base camp locations, we located a shelter likely made by an earlier group of explorers. Here we spread out to look around and played a couple rounds of 'hide'. Our rule is we never play 'hide' more than twice in a single location. With these two rounds up, we decided that although this place was nice, we wanted to find a location better suited to a meatier game: Spider's Web. We headed west through the bush to complete our circle and return to our starting location. It turns out sometimes the first place you find is the best after all, though we never regret searching.

Checking out a found shelter

After playing two very intense rounds of Spider's Web and warming up we settled in to carve. After a review of knife safety protocol, we decided to carve something simple and pragmatic: digging sticks. Digging sticks were an important tool for First Nations people in our region and serve us in our harvesting endeavors just as readily today. Being a simple pointed or chisel tipped stick, they are also well suited to developing our carving abilities. Being a personalized tool, all shapes and sizes emerged. Partly because so much of the wood in our area was wet and rotten, and partly because the parameters for digging stick construction are so loosely defined, the boys spread out and found a variety of different woods of different shapes and sizes. In the process they discovered some of the qualities varied woods posses.

Getting to work on some digging sticks

Circling up and giving thanks, we ended our day. We all agreed that all though the day had been fun, we were glad we could return to a warm, dry house. For our next outing we'll be heading out to Tenant Lake to explore the wetlands.

Be sure to check out the rest of the photos from this album here.