Four Shield's Spring Campout Along the Baker River

The Four Shields met up at Cascades Montessori ready for two days of expansive time spent camping out in the Mt. Baker Snowqualmie National Forest. Before boarding the bus the group learned that it was going to be a Shielder’s birthday the following day. The group thought it fitting that we pick Big Leaf Maple blossoms and Dandelions to make fritters as part of our celebration for him.

After a relatively uneventful cruise down I-5 and Highway 20 we transitioned from pavement to gravel and our pace slowed. There is nothing like the jolt of the bus on a bumpy dirt road to let you know that it is time to slow down from city pace and begin to get into more of a backcountry mindset. Looking out the windows we took in spectacular views of Mt. Baker from Boulder Creek and Jagged Ridge on Mt. Shuskan.

The weather was hot and muggy as we arrived at our camp location near the Baker River trailhead and the group leisurely ate lunch and made camp in the midday heat. Our spring campouts are a great chance for the Four Shielders and mentors alike to knock the rust off and remember all the efficient systems we have developed as wilderness travelers and skilled outdoor-persons.

Once camp was in order we circled up and chatted a bit about a phenomenon that happens the more proficient we become with any given skill. Often times when we become comfortable with a skill we let our guard down and injuries and mistakes can happen as a result. In this instance the mentors were speaking to low awareness of the four Shielders in regard to knife usage and keeping the camp free of crumbs and smellables. It was important to remind the group that we were more than an hour away from definitive medical care and this particular river valley was home to large mammals that would jump at the opportunity to rummage through camp for food.

With some reorientation to backcountry living at the forefront of our minds the group made a decision about how they wanted to spend their time before dinner.  They chose to take a free exploration down the Baker River bar with a search for some straight-grained Western Red Cedar for firewood and carving. Then to take some time at camp working on carving, saw practice, and char cloth making.

Stepping out onto the river bar the sun reflected off the water and sand intensifying the solar radiation. The group searched the sand for tracks and sign and marveled at swift and crystal clear water flowing from the snowy mountains above us.

The Shielders embraced the day as they ambled along in conversation. It is clear to the mentors that holding this space for the Four Shielders without driving them too much creates vital time for them to decompress, reflect, and process all that goes on in their busy lives.

Finding a side channel of the river we took a dunk into the chilly water. For most of us it was the first swim of the year. Lying back on the sun warmed rocks the boys relaxed into the calm of the late spring, listened to the bird songs that filled the valley, and let go of any stress or preoccupation on their minds. They were firmly present in the moment. Although our Mentors always leave time for check-ins as a group in circle we often find that the best way to get to know where each participant is at is in moments like this, where our dialogue flows freely and is often Four Shielder led.

Together the group harvested enough Western red cedar for twenty fires and a few of the boys questioned why we were taking so much. A mentor commented that this would be not only for our fire, but also for the elder Explorers who were currently practicing their fire by friction skills. Our position as Four Shielders require us to support our fellow Explorers by helping to harvest the wealth of resources that the younger groups do not have access to in their front country locations.

Making our way back to camp the group processed the Cedar, got a stove going for char cloth making, and began working on carving projects until dinner time. On the menu for the evening were black bean burritos and chips and salsa. It is exciting to feel the Shielders enthusiasm to cook on these campouts. Our mentors are always curious if this excitement translates to their kitchens at home.

Circling up for some thanks before dinner the mentor’s hearts filled with joy to listen the group express their gratitude genuinely and sincerely. Giving thanks has become as important a part of the process for the Shielders as it is for mentors.

After dinner part of the group jumped at the opportunity to be on dish duty and made quick work of dinner clean up. The mentors highlighted the group’s ability to be attentive to the group’s needs, which this critical component of Expeditionary Behavior. The group’s ability to demonstrate Expeditionary Behavior is what gives the mentors confidence in leading the group on longer wilderness trips and in the Shielder’s own wilderness trips that are only a few years away. As mentors if we can work ourselves out of a job then we know we have done excellent work.

With considerable effort the group got a fire going with the tinder fungus that they had processed the previous outing and gathered around for a bit of circle time. Knowing that the boys were starting to get tired the mentors kept our check in brief. Going around the circle they asked the Shielders to do some reflection on their season in the Four Shields and where they were at currently in life outside of our programs. This prompted great check-ins and active listening from the group. Setting the Outdoor and Environmental education our mentors teach aside, encouraging middle and high schoolers to be open, genuine, and honest with one another and to give them practice being vulnerable and sharing their emotions in front of their peers is the some most important work we do in the Four Shields.

We woke up to the “croakus” call of a raven eyeing our camp for any food we may have dropped the night before. We cooked a leisurely breakfast and hung our tents up in the sunshine to dry out from the morning dew. After our first breakfast we whipped up a batch of dough and got some oil heated up for our fritters. Getting a small fire going from the left over wood we sang Happy Birthday to one of the Four Shielders and feasted on the syrupy doughy goodness of the Maple Blossom and Dandelion Fritters. What a treat!

Circling up there was much work to be done before we headed out once more to explore again. Packs needed to be packed, dish cleaned, tents folded and bagged, and the campsite swept for trash. This work did not go as efficiently as the previous nights and the mentors reminded the group of our three commitments: don’t waste anyone’s time including your own, be here now, and encourage the heart. Once the bus was packed up and things were in order we headed down to the river bar to take a long sit spot. In keeping with our strong theme of gratitude we needed to do some reflection and thank a special mentor for his dedication and presence in Four Shields over many years. Giving each of the Shielders a note card and a pen the mentors informed them that Greg Schayes needed to graciously make his exist from his role as a mentor in the Four Shields in order to better be able to support his family. Greg’s plan was to be at this campout to provide the opportunity for processing and mark the transition, but with the recent passing of his mother he was needed at home. The Shielders headed out on a sit spot to write Greg their thank you letters.

Nestled in a mountain valley along a wild flowing river the boys got quiet and listened to the land. We would like to thank Greg for bringing his passion, presence, wisdom, encouragement, structure, mentorship, love, care, empathy, skill, and so much more to this program.

Parents we are thankful to bring a close to our 2017/18 year in the Four Shields. We could not do this meaningful work without your support and trust. We hope you see your Four Shielder next year. 

For more pictures from our campout please visit the Four Shield's photo album.

Four Shields Make Big Leaf Maple Blossom Fritters and Tinder Fungus at the Yew Street Woods

The Four Shielders arrived at a new outing location, coined the Yew Street Woods, and quickly began to slide down the dome-shaped water reservoir that was extra slick with morning dew. After getting their energy out we circled up for an opening meeting to bring our focus towards the days outing.The mentors informed the group that our day would be all about skills, specifically frying Big leaf Maple blossom fritters and processing a tinder fungus. After reviewing our three group commitments and introducing Adam Yost, a newer EC mentor, the Shielders were anxious to get to know what tinder fungus was. The mentors passed around an object that looked like a piece of fruit leather and felt like suede while explaining that the object was called tinder fungus. Fomes fomentarius or Horse Hoof fungus is a polypore that grows on Birch tree snags. The name, Fomes fomentarius means, ‘to use as tinder’. It is extremely flammable and has a nice slow burn, which makes it excellent for starting fires.Elaborating the mentor explained that in 1991 hikers found the preserved remains of a naturally mummified man who lived between 3400 and 3100 BC in a glacier in the Otzal Alps between Austria and Italy. Ötzi the 5000-year-old “Iceman” was found with a similar polypore fungus in his pocket. He is thought to have carried the mushroom to preserve fire, use as insect repellent, and as a bandage. How exciting to think that in harvesting, processing, and practicing the technique of using tinder fungus as fire starter we’re carrying on a tradition that is at least 5,000 years old. Connecting the boys to the natural history and stories behind Earth skills brings relevancy, responsibility, and an element of sacredness to learning this knowledge. The process of turning the raw fungus into usable tinder involves cutting the middle of the fungus (the Amadou or trauma layer) into thin slices, boiling it for a few hours with the ash of a Paper Birch then pounding it flat with a mallet. Before heading out we took the opportunity to harvest some Big Leaf Maple Blossoms from a low hanging branch. As with any harvesting we do in the forest, it is important for the Four Shielders to really get to know what they’re harvesting. With a bag full of blossoms we headed down Yew Street to connect with the power line trail that would lead us to the west side of Galbraith Mountain.Spring in the Pacific Northwest is a wonderful time to be out on the land. A full spectrum of the color green engulfed the forest as buds sprouted in leaves. Salmonberry flowers were in peak bloom and the Cottonwood leaves sent their sweet aroma into the air. The boys too felt this seasonal change and it is wonderful to hear them expressing their gratitude for their connection with the seasonality of the land.Finding an opening in a logging clearing half of the group set up our stoves while others carefully carved off the trauma layer of the Horse Hoof fungus. The knife skill and technique required to remove the trauma layer from the inner and outer layers provided just the right amount of challenge for the Shielders. The fungus would need to boil for at least an hour in order to be malleable enough to pound into a flat layer.  While the fungus was boiling away we got roughly a half an inch of Canola oil hot in a cast iron skillet and mixed up a batter very similar to what you would use to make funnel cakes. Click here to see a full recipe for Maple Blossom fritters on a wonderful blog called, Fat of the Land. The fritters sizzled and fried in the oil sending a sweet carnival aroma out into the forest. The boys joked that we could set up a fritter stand and sell them to hungry mountain bikers for a profit!Once the maple fritters were nice and crispy we dusted them powdered sugar and dipped them in maple syrup, YUM! The group leisurely sat and ate fritters until we could eat no more. While we ate the boys practiced igniting pieces of some already processed tinder fungus and were surprised to see how long the tinder smoldered.We spent the rest of our day finishing out our skill process, following our interests, and enjoying the sunshine. While exploring the logging land we found some clear indicators of spring, a Red Legged Frog and Trillium flowers. A Trillium can take up to ten years to produce its first flower and seed. The flowers are common in the forest, but important in the ecosystem for pollinators and ants that eat off the seeds before discarding them and dispersing them in the process.Remembering that play is important even when your in Middle and High School we went through a couple rounds of Hide and circled up for a closing meeting. The boys shared thanks for the opportunity to engage in skill work, especially cooking, for the signs of spring, for the decompression and release they feel after a day on the land away from life’s stressors, and for the beautiful weather which was deeply nourishing after a long winter. Our mentors are thankful for each opportunity with your arriving adults and for the conversations that grow while our hands are occupied with skills work.


For more pictures please visit the Four Shielders’ photo album from the day. Thanks for reading!

Four Shields Build Snow Caves in the Sunshine at Mt. Baker Ski Area

The Four Shielders arrived at Cascades Montessori energetic and alert for they finally had the weather window they needed to run a safe and fun snow cave outing. As the old adage goes, the third time’s the charm! Hopping aboard our bus Moose we headed out Highway 542 in search of snow. Cruising along the North Fork of the Nooksack River the Explorers marveled at the frost that blanketed the farmland.

We arrived at the upper parking lot of the Mt. Baker Ski Area, which was still icy from the cold clear night, but the current weather felt unusually warm and comfortable. The mentors made sure the group was outfitted with two very important items for our exploration, sunglasses and a large dollop of sunscreen for their faces!

Circling up at the backcountry gate the mentors asked the group to focus for a safety discussion and reminded everyone that venturing out into the backcountry during winter required careful tracking of weather and a heightened awareness of the hazards that can be present.

Together the group was challenged to remember what safety terminologies and guidelines we had discussed on our previous snow cave outings. We reviewed: backcountry travel and etiquette, avalanche prone slopes and their degree of angle, terrain traps and cornices, wind loading, storm slab, loose wet snow avalanches, tree well hazards, dehydration, the curse of high ego and low skill, and sticking together as a group.

Building upon this knowledge the mentors gave a talk regarding the previous two weeks weather and snowfall in relation to: the daily temperature, amount of rain/snowfall, precipitation in relation to snowpack stability, wind direction and speed, direction of wind loading on slopes due to transportation of snow, NWAC’s detailed avalanche forecast and current level of danger rating, and recent observations skiers had made in the backcountry. By far our biggest hazards of the day were solar affected slopes, the deep persistent layers within the snowpack, sunburns, and tree wells.  

The boys were anxious to get digging, but the mentors needed to mention one other important point. We are very clear with the Explorers that just because they are learning information relating to avalanche awareness and backcountry winter travel that does not give them license to duck the ropes while at the ski area or venture out into the winter wilderness without supervision or an experienced adult.

Leading the charge the Explorers headed out on a path that offered a safe and efficient travel route to their identified snow cave building location. It’s powerful to see the Shielders developing a familiarity and affinity for this landscape. We took in the crystal clear views of the snow-covered North Cascades peaks while we relaxed into the comfort of the day, drank some water, and snacked on our lunches.

Scoping out a twenty-five to thirty degree slope with a deep wind deposited snow bank the group walked out a perimeter around the snow cave site, as to not compress the snow, and used a probe to determine that the depth was well over the length of the ten foot probe.

Digging out a platform the boys excavated seven feet vertically, throwing the snow downslope and watching out for snowshoe travelers on their way up to artist point passing below.

Initially the work went quickly. Outlining the entrance of their cave the boys used a snow-saw to cut blocks out of the wall until a shoulder-wide entrance to the cave went roughly a body’s length back. From this point the work of digging got difficult because the consolidation of the layers deep in the snow pack and the expansiveness of the sunny day leading the group need to roughhouse, lounge, and dig their own snow tunnels.

Stopping for a snack the group cut out a small kitchen space to make hot chocolate. Our conversation wandered as our snow melted and came to a boil. The mentors often have a listening ear for the Shielders side conversations because it brings up many quality conversations and teach points as they process culture and the world around them. On a few occasions during this outing the group’s language got a bit derogatory and offensive. In these moments the mentors were quick to nip these conversations in the bud. They explained to the group that whether one individual is serious or not when poking fun of another person, thing, or group words have the power to change the way we think over time based off of how we use them. It is our intentional use of kind, considerate, and socially just language that builds character and supports a health community.

Conversations that may not be offensive to the speaker and/or the listener might be offensive and disparaging to the groups or people that they directly affect. In these cases the context of the statements and the intention behind them don’t matter, it is how they effect and are perceived by whom they exploit that matters. This type of language also supports others who might genuinely believe in oppressing these groups, giving normalcy to behaviors and mindsets and at the very least emboldened and affirm these attitudes. As mentors this is our job to continually remind these arriving adults of the power they hold and the way in which their actions affect others and themselves.

After some difficult digging and sawing we ended up making a snow cave big enough for one person to sleep in. Demolishing our cave was seemingly more fun than building it! After making a sweep around our camp we gave thanks and made our way back to the wilderness rope line.

Being in the presence of the mountains has the power to humble both mentor and Shielders alike as it provides a window into forces much greater than us. This shift in perspective calls us to be present and engaged, increases our discernment, encourages forethought and reflection, and is restorative in nature.

One take-away our mentors have had time and time again with the Four Shielders is that they love being together in the mountains. Whether it watching the water come to a boil, the sunlight traveling on the peaks, engaging in the skill of snow caving, or body sliding down the hill and throwing snowballs at each other, they can’t get enough!

After two cancelled snow cave outings The Four Shielders were thankful for the opportunity to be in the mountains. They expressed gratitude for their knowledge gained through the experience, for the creative medium of snow, for deep spring snowpack that provides us drinking water, for quality gear that enriches our experience, for the warm of the sun, for the opportunity to participate, and for the expansiveness of the terrain. Our mentors are thankful to have spent another day in the mountains with this fine crew of arriving adults.

For more pictures from our outing please visit the Four Shields’ photo album from the day.