The connection cacophony began immediately - is there such a thing as Fall Fever (like spring fever)? If so, many of these girls had it and words were spilling out like the cascades we passed later along the trail. We bottled that energy into Stubbs and headed east, checking in with one another about summer and autumn changes.
We also discussed the Ten Essentials in some depth, and agreed that yes, they are essential even for a day hike (and talked about why that is).
- Navigation (map and compass)
- Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
- Insulation (extra clothing)
- Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
- First-aid supplies
- Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
- Repair kit and tools
- Nutrition (extra food)
- Hydration (extra water)
- Emergency shelter
- Communication (emergency communication device)
We also pointed out different life zones that we would pass along the trail (and then really noticed these as we were hiking):
Hemlock, Redcedar, Douglas-Fir Zone Elevation 0-2,000 feet (most of the drive up)
River Valleys: Forest Floors Thrive on Soil
Most recipes for life in nature's kitchen start on the forest floor with fertile, moist soils, teeming with
life. The hemlock, redcedar, Douglas-fir forest contains a great diversity of plants and animals, including more than 3,400 species of "bugs".
Silver Fir Zone 2,000-5,500 feet (on the drive up)
Mountain Forests: Wet and Wooded Mansions
If mountain forest habitat was a many-roomed house, the rivers and streams would be its hallways. Thousands of watery corridors connect the mountain slopes to the sea. These wet and wooded forests of the silver-fir zone provide shelter for many animals, including insects and birds.
Subalpine Zone 4,000-7,000 feet (Heather Meadows)
Mountain Meadows: Winter Welcome Mats
Subalpine creatures nestle down in a habitat that invites chilly weather and nearly shrugs off summer. Stunted trees cluster on humps amid open meadows and rocky outcrops awaiting snow melt for a brief chance to grow after eight months of cold in the subalpine zone.
Alpine Zone Elevation 7,000+ feet
Rocky Ridges: Life in an Icebox
At high elevations, nature's freezer defrosts drip by drip. Cracking blue clusters of ice bury the tops of treeless rocks. Frigid winds and constant snowfall challenge organisms to adapt. Ice worms and red algae are some of the few life forms nurtured at the summits of the alpine zone.
After a double-check of gear at the trailhead, we headed up to Heliotrope! Aimee was in front with the jackrabbits, who leaped and sprung up the trail faster than most groups she's ever hiked with, while Laurel and Mell noticed nature more along the trail with the following group. We checked the map frequently along the way to practice navigation skills, and crossed many beautiful waterways.
After a great hike through old hemlock, we emerged into the subalpine zone, had a lovely conversation with a marmot, and had our breaths taken away by the site of the massive Coleman glacier. Wow. Impressive is too small a word to describe this mammoth block of wavy ice. We discussed why we couldn't glissade down it, the danger of crevasses, and then brainstormed all the things glaciers are connected to – streams, rivers, lakes, sea, electricity, drinking water, storage system, clouds, mountains, salmon and myriad other species – and why they're so important to our region. We also discussed the human history of the area and the importance of what we name things and why - is it Baker or Komo Kulshan? Both? Does it matter?
We enjoyed a too-short (and cold) Peaceful Place by the glacier (check out the photo below of Makenna in her Peaceful Place - she's the blue speck in the corner) and then, far too soon, it was time to descend (many girls could have happily gone up and up and up)
We had a long, productive, and interesting conversation about the H.E.L.P. Project on the bus ride home (see email sent previously) and ended our day with our very fitting words of the day: Glacier Glory!
Mottos especially in use today: The Trail is the Teacher, Stretch Your Edge, Be Prepared, Safety First
