Salamander Efts Traverse Chuckanut Ridge

For this outing the Salamander Efts met on Cleator Road, alongside blooming Coltsfoot, to make the trek along Chuckanut Ridge to Arroyo Park. The morning was chill, but sunny, and after a long winter the weather was refreshing. We would be doing a traverse for the first time since fall and this was also refreshing in a way. Many of our exploratory outings are relatively unstructured and going for a hike to a known destination is therapeutic in a way; it gets the circulation up and removes any burden of decision, allowing us to sink into the land a bit, enjoy our surroundings, and make conversation along the trail.

Taking in the view over the islands.

Nearing the end of their final season with Explorer's Club, the Salamander Efts are now a relatively small group. With only four Salamanders out, however, it is easier for us to delve into the natural history of this beautiful region. As we traversed the ridge we had ample time and opportunity to stop and investigate the flora and fauna we passed. The spring season delivered us the new growth of plants and song of birds. We brushed up on our tree identification, discussing the differences between Red Alder, Big-leaf Maple and Cottonwood. We saw and smelled fresh Skunk Cabbage displaying its brilliant yellow flowers from the mud. We walked through groves of blooming Salmonberry and took the time to notice the butterfly shape of its leaves. We even found a salamander while poking around for signs of life beneath a log on the forest floor.

An Oregon Ensatina found beneath a moist log.

Reaching the ridge with the sun overhead we stopped to have lunch and take in the view. With swallows, Ravens, and a pair of Eagles floating in the early afternoon updrafts, we surveyed the landscape with binoculars. Chuckanut ridge, which runs roughly north-south provides sweeping vistas to both the east and west. With this in mind, we took a moment to revisit the orientation and navigation skills we learned when still new to Explorer's Club. Looking at the position of the sun, the ocean, mountains, and local terrain features we determined which direction we were heading down the trail. After lunch we took off along the ridge until we came to a trail junction. At the intersection of the trails there was a checkpoint map and we stopped to look at it and compare what we had determined by observation to the information on the map. We came to a decision about which direction we needed to go to get to Arroyo Park, but also discussed what we we would do if we lost our way and there was no map.

Digesting the view with our lunch.

We ended our traverse with time to spare at Chuckanut Creek in Arroyo Park, a long time Explorer's Club favorite. We decided to spend the remainder of our time along the creek, exploring up and down its length and enjoying time with friends in the sun. Winding down the day, we looked back at our time with Explorer's Club, but also forward to the end of our season and graduation, and although our day was relaxing, we didn't forget our goal to master Fire by Friction. After service, our next outing will be an overnight campout at Racehorse Falls and our goal is for each of the Salamander Efts to get a coal and flame with the Bow Drill.

Enjoying the Creek

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

Salamander Efts Fire up the Bow Drill at Lake Padden

Meeting at Lake Padden on an early March morning, we arrived in the presence of light rain and snow. However, even in these mixed conditions, the first signs of spring were apparent. Skunk Cabbage poked its head out of the depths, Indian Plum was leafing out, and a group of robins squabbled over some territorial dispute. In contrast, the last time we were here was in the torrential downpours of early October. As this group grows older we as mentors like to hand more of the group process and decision making over to the boys, and, with only four Salamander Efts on this outing, group decision making went quickly. We discussed our options and decided to head southeast along the trail for some tracking and exploration, meanwhile looking for a place to settle down and work on skills.

Heading out for the day

We took a circuitous path through the woods, clambering over and across logs. We climbed down giant root balls and circumnavigated a swamp. Along the way we encountered a great diversity of sign as well as bird life. We encountered the sign of almost every woodpecker species native to our region, and were surprised to have close encounters with three of those species: Hairy, Downy, and Pileated. It is a great joy as a mentor to see these boys progress and how well they can make their way through the woods on their own when compared to some of our younger groups. After about an hour of exploration we decided it was about time to find somewhere flat and dry to settle in and practice our skills.

Red-breasted Sapsucker sign. These are rows of sap wells the bird has drilled into a living tree.

Sign of a Pileated Woodpecker. Notice the rectangular shape of the holes.

Beginning with our last outing, the Salamander Efts have begun working on the Art of Fire by Friction. This skill is an almost perfect incarnation of our seasonal focus, the Art of Thriving, in that it is built upon a foundation of many other skills, and symbolic of their mastery. From awareness of fire conditions, to harvesting and carving the components, to coaxing the coal into life and blowing it into flame, the boys must draw upon almost every other skill we have previously practiced in Explorer's Club. It is also a skill that requires a great deal of patience, perseverance, and self-motivation for success. The Bow Drill challenges even those most skilled and experienced in the outdoors.

Setting up shop.

We found someplace as dry and clear as we could and set up base camp. Our conditions were somewhat challenging to say the least. With a full night of rain and snow the forest was dripping wet and after just a few minutes of sitting down it started to feel rather cold. Starting a fire even by traditional methods would be difficult. However, something we know from the past is that when we need fire the most, conditions are often are often also the most challenging, even more so with Fire by Friction. These challenges were taken in stride as we moved out to collect materials. The Bow Drill has four major components: bow, spindle, fireboard, and handhold. We all collected these components and began shaping them to our basic needs.

Firing up the Bow Drill in the rain.

Once our sets were crafted we started putting them to use, burning the spindle into the handhold and fireboard. After learning the proper form, dealing with loose strings, wobbly spindles, and cracked fireboards, we realized this skill might not be as simple as it initially looks. Although none of us created a coal this day, we learned a lot about the physics and mechanics of the Bow Drill, which is the foundation of future success. We learned that this is a skill that very much relies on form over force, and that a well crafted and smoothly operated kit is the key to success. Our goal is for every one of the Salamander Efts to succesfully make fire with the Bow Drill by the end of this season and we will continue working on this skill each time we go out.

Crafting kits and working on form.

We rounded out the day with a sit spot, spending around 15 minutes in silence and solitude contemplating our day and our time with Explorers Club. As this is the Salamander Efts last season with Boys Explorers Club we wanted the boys to think about what their time here and their experience with the natural world means to them, and what lies in store for them in the future. For our next outing we will be traversing Chuckanut Ridge and hopefully delving deeper into these subjects as well as continuing to perfect our Bow Drill technique.

Hairy Woodpecker lets us get a good look at him.

Check out the rest of the photos from this outing here.

 

Salamander Efts Begin Learning Fire By Friction at North Galbraith

The Salamander Efts met up at North Galbraith Trailhead on a chilly, damp Sunday morning. This was perfect weather for us to begin the journey along discovering a timeless skill: The Art of Fire by Friction. Taking advantage of the recently altered landscape, we had a treasure trove of materials to harvest after the recent deforestation a half mile down the trail. But before we jumped into harvesting, it was time to get an introduction into what it takes to make a “bow-drill kit” and what it means to learn this skill.

Gathering under an cave-like overhang just felt right to begin learning this skill

  

Spreading out near the bike jumps, some of the Explorers discovered an small cave like overhang that would be just the right size for an opening circle. Squeezing in, we formed a circle and after some squirelliness from a few group members, we settled in to learn about the bow-drill. It was fitting to be doing this under such a prominent natural shelter and added to the timeless nature of this skill. Examining the kit the boys learned about each piece and its purpose. From the obvious bow, there was also the spindle, fireboard, top rock/block, and items to create a tinder bundle. A quick demo from one of the mentors showed how all these items worked together to create an ember through friction. This ember is then transferred into a tinder bundle and with the addition of oxygen blown into the mix of ember and tinder, a flame is produced. 

The bow, fire board, spindle, and top block/rock, with cedar bark for tinder

Not only is this a fun skill to learn about, but it also holds incredibly significant place in the development of humankind as we know it and the technology we have developed over thousands of years to allow us to live all across the world, explore the depths of space, access an endless wealth of information online, and basically do anything beyond basic survival day to day. The ability to create fire on demand, cook food, and even preserve food enabled early humans to not only survive, but thrive and begin developing the early forms of culture and technology that are now the basis of our everyday lives. There is something almost magical about learning this skill and once you can create fire from a few easily gathered materials in the forest, fire almost becomes a part of you that you can carry with you wherever you go.

Investigating the deforested lands where this group played Life and Death in the Forest a little over a year ago

It was now time for us to indulge in this ancient skill as we moved through the forest and out into the recently deforested lands where we could gather materials and find a location to begin learning this skill for ourselves. This group has always been one to get lost in the art of goofing off and their focus hard to wrangle at times. Initially it was looking like our outing was going to be a wash and despite a lot of fun and exploration when the mentors gathered the group up to rally and get going on gathering materials and putting together their own fire kits. Spreading out Explorers searched for potential spindles to harvest while mentors cut and processed some downed Western Red Cedar to use for fireboards. Everyone was able to track down a few materials and we gathered up once more to start carving away and refining our materials into something that could produce an ember.

Practicing with a fresh bow-drill kit

Despite a wandering focus and plenty of good times to be had, the Salamander Efts managed to gather up the basic materials for a bow-drill kit. We hunkered down for the remainder of our outing and a few of the Explorers actually had a go at getting an ember. Despite their fruitless labors, they honed their technique and began acquiring the muscle memory required to become proficient enough to get an ember. Of course learning such a skill will take many hours of practice, the Salamander Efts not only got off to a good start, but as always, had a good time doing it. The mentors are looking forward to practicing this ancient skill with the Salamander Efts as we progress into spring outings and their final season together before graduating into the Four Shields. This is an exciting time to be working with this group, and as they grow into arriving adults, the mentors hope they can begin learning not only the basics of the bow-drill, but the concentration, determination, and patience that is inevitably required to become proficient at this skill. These traits can then permeate into other aspects of their lives and hopefully give them a head start over their peers as they journey through adolescence and beyond.

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos from our outing here!

Gathering together for closing circle to give some thanks before heading home

Salamander Efts and Red Tailed Eyas Learn About Life and Death in the Forest

Meeting up on a chilly morning at Lookout Mountain, the Salamander Efts and Red Tailed Eyas came together as two of the eldest groups in Boys Explorers Club. It has been a tradition over the years that two of the oldest groups of Explorers get together for an outing for an epic games day. The game of the day would be “Life and Death in the Forest” which teaches us about the intricacies of the food web through playful embodiment of those who call the forest home. Herbivores, Omnivores, and Carnivores make up the basic players in the game with food sources, water sources, and medicine sources scattered throughout the playing field. The struggle between life and death becomes surprisingly real when time is running out and the only thing standing between you and that last food source is a hungry Carnivore licking his chops for a shot at one last meal. With many of the Explorers having heard about this game from friends or family, this highly anticipated moment in their Explorers Club career was about to begin.

Gathering together for an opening circle

As we hiked together up the trail, we were immediately faced with both life and death in the forest. This time, however, was no game. At a junction in the trail a dank, decaying aroma crept into our nostrils and made us all pause. Peering through the foliage was eerie sight to behold, ribs, rotten flesh, a hoof, and looking right back at us; a skull. This was a perfect reminder that although for us Life and Death in the Forest is a fun game, for all of our furry and feathered friends it is a very stark reality. Picking our way through the underbrush, we investigated further to find the carcass of a deer. The close proximity to the trail and lack of debris covering the carcass ruled out any cougar as the culprit. Plenty of game trails came in and out of the brush where the carcass was likely indicating coyotes had been feeding here, and perhaps the occasional off leash dog that couldn’t resist a good sniff. The true killer may never be known, but since the deer seemed young in size and without much wear on its teeth, natural causes seemed unlikely. With the droning of cars on Lake Luis Rd still drifting over the hillside, the prime suspect was unfortunately an automobile.

The deer carcass we found in the woods

Moving on from the deer carcass, we continued along the trail chatting amongst ourselves when a brown blur sliced through the canopy overhead. Getting a better angle, we gathered around to observe a Barred Owl perched up at the top of a Red Alder. It lingered long enough for everyone to get a good look before silently swooping away, back into the forest in search of some peace and quiet. Having discovered impeccable instances of both life and death in the forest it was time to get down to business. 

Taking a break from the game to test Tinder Fungus as a coal extender

Traversing off trail we found a good spot to set up base camp and circle up to talk about the day. Having two groups together meant a bigger circle than usual, but everyone seemed to hold focus and let the mentors go over the game plan. With our game set up, the rules explained, and participants prepped, all that was left was to start. The Herbivores got a head start to disperse into the landscape and begin stealthily scouring the forest for food and water. Next the Omnivores were sent off needing to pick a priority of plant food, water, or hunting to begin the game. Finally, the Carnivores were let loose much to the dismay of the Herbivores and Omnivores who now flinched at every twig snapped and fern rustled. Explorers and Mentors alike ran, crawled, climbed, ducked, dove, scurried and scampered. For over half an hour the struggle between life and death was all that mattered. This crash course in survival was graded with a pass or a fail. It didn’t matter how you survived, no style points were awarded, and whether you charged fearlessly into the onslaught or crawled quietly around the melee did not matter as long as you survived. Finally the game was called to an end and despite the mayhem the majority of us survived to see another day… or at least another round!

An unsuspecting Herbivore in search of food and water...

Little did he know it was an ambush!

Finishing our second round of Life and Death in the Forest, we gathered up for some informal free time working on bow drill, testing TinderFungus, or just goofing off with friends. Everyone enjoyed some down time after all the excursion during our games and we soon transitioned into closing circle. Reminding the boys of the need for strong focus, respectful listening, and genuine openness we all took a turn speaking from our hearts and sharing gratitude with the group. Having two of the older groups together for this was a good reminder for the mentors of where the newer, younger groups are striving to be. The Salamander Efts and Red Tailed Eyas have set the bar high for the younger groups through their enthusiasm and energy, thoughtfulness, compassion, and sincerity for themselves, one another, and the natural world. As the Salamander Efts graduation from Boys Explorers Club looms on the horizon, the Red Tailed Eyas are sitting on deck to become the eldest group next fall. We will miss the Salamander Efts as they move on to the Four Shields program, but can’t wait to see how the Red Tailed Eyas respond to their new role a year from now. 

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos from our outing here!

Gathering together for a closing circle