Salamander Efts get rained on at North Lake Whatcom

Go outside into the rain for five hours then come back inside and settle down to read this blog. Your hands are cold with minimal dexterity and that rain gear you thought worked really well has soaked through in many spots leaving you with a damp feeling.  The Salamander Efts were welcomed by steady and heavy rain for their first outing of the Spring season. We all gathered, finding some protection from the giant Red Cedars and Hemlocks, at the North end of lake whatcom. This location is great offering mature forests along the steep slopes that flank Lake Whatcom and our watershed. As soon as everyone had arrived we walked into the woods and embraced the rain.

Despite the rain we still made time to find a spot for an opening circle;  reconnecting after the Winter and setting our intention for the day and season. Despite the rain and the fact that the longer we sat the colder we got many of the boys found it hard to focus on each others words and not derail the circle. These boys have the tools they need to make effective decisions and utilize the circular leadership we model even if they don't always use them. Tim and I held the circle letting the boys make their own decisions about the day. Finally we were moving, heading toward the shores of the lake.

We moved along the path at a brisk pass, our motion warming our bodies as we noticed the budding indian plum and salmon berry. We decided to just walk for a while since the rain made it hard to stop for too long. The rain quieted our surroundings and made it feel very peaceful with the lake stretching out to our right and the dense forested slopes rising to our left.

After hiking for about 1.5 miles we again had a decision to make; some of the boys wanted to head up a trail that broke away from the lake while others wanted to continue along the main lake trail. It is always a balancing act know which group decisions the boys have the skills to tackle and which ones they need more guidance with. This decision of which way to go on the trail is one that the Salamander Efts have made many times and are well versed in. Tim and I did not say much and waited for the boys to organize themselves.  After close to twenty minutes of half hearted attempts to make a decision Tim and I realized the boys were not going to make this decision on their own and would need some guidance before standing in the rain caught up with us. With a little help from the mentors the Salamander Efts came to a decision and we headed up unto the woods to find a lunch spot.

After a short lunch we headed back down to the main trail as the rain had made the steep roots and rocks of the hillside very slippery. Back on the main trail we again settled into a brisk hiking pass. We even stopped to play a few games of hide and cougar stalks deer as our bodies warmed up. As we hiked we all kept shuffling layers and breaking into short runs to keep our bodies warm.

By about 3:30 we reached the 2.5 mile mark and decided this was our turn around point. Dropping our packs we began throwing rocks into the lake and exploring rotten logs. the movement was good. A few of us started doing jumping jacks, sprints, and pushups to keep ourselves warm. It was time to start hiking again and we turned around feeling warmer and happy to be headed back toward the warmth of cars and houses.

The day was a test for many in staying warm and also mentally handling hard conditions. It is not easy to stay out all day in the rain, relying only on your cloths and trees for protection. This wet day stretched all of our edges mentally and physically. Another lesson of the day was in group decision making. The Salamander Efts still have work to do in this area, but given the hard conditions of the day they are right where they need to be.

I realized what a wet day it had been when on the way home i opened my pack to get my lunch to fine a standing puddle of water and a soggy sandwich. Thank you Salamander Efts for exploring even in the rain and thank you parents for your continual support. Be sure to check out the Photo gallery for more pictures!