Fall/Winter 2006 by North Cascades Institute

cel ebr at ing 20 y e a r s in t he fiel d

NORTH CASCADES INSTITUTE t programs,

activities and events f or all ages

0607 FALL WINTER

progr a ms a nd ac t i v i t ies for a l l ages

NORTH CASCADES INSTITUTE LOOKS AT CLIMATE CHANGE, P.4 i

CONSERVATION is our

GOAL

©LEE MANN, 2006 360 85 6 5700 ~ 209

Mountain School has brought more than 12,000 students to the North Cascades since 1989. â&#x20AC;şâ&#x20AC;ş Field seminars provide a way to experience firsthand the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest.

EDUCATION IS OUR 2

TOOL w w w.ncascades.org

Fall ’06/ Winter ’07

360 85 6 5700 ~ 209

4 6 7 8 10 20 22 23 24 28

›› NICHE – (ECOLOGY) THE ROLE OF AN ORGANISM WITHIN A COMMUNITY

FIND YOUR NICHE Climate Change Speaker Series Stewardship/Eagle Watchers An Evening with Subhankar Banerjee Thunder Arm Writing Retreat Field Seminars 2006 Summer Scrapbook Mountain School Graduate Program Group Rental Facilities Desolation Angel

www.ncascades.org/events

Although soggy Northwest naturalists might sometimes find it hard to believe, climate change threatens the robust waterfalls and creeks for which the North Cascades are known and admired. In fact, North Cascades National Park is one of the top 12 national parks that are most at risk of global warming, according to a recent study by the National Resources Defense Council. Experts estimate that many North Cascadian streams get close to half of their late-summer flow from glaciers in the high country. According to the NRDC study, local glaciers have lost 80 percent of their ice since 1959, and in the Thunder Creek watershed, which flows toward our Learning Center, receding glaciers have already reduced summer streams by 31 percent. In a part of the world where water influences and shapes every aspect of the landscape, flora and fauna, this is sobering news indeed. Our series of presentations on climate change in the North Cascades will intrigue any hiker, naturalist or lover of the outdoors who would like to know more about how global warming is leaving its mark on the Northwest landscape and what implications it has for our future. Please join us for oneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or allâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;of these provocative conversations that will engage, challenge, perhaps even inspire anybody who feels passionate about the Pacific Northwest.

NORTH CASCADES INSTITUTE

LOOKS AT CLIMATE CHANGE

w w w.ncascades.org

Elizabeth Kolbert On Global Warming

Richard Gammon Are We the Weathermakers?

Tuesday, December 5; 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall, Seattle $15 to $60

Thursday, December 7; 7 p.m. Village Books, Bellingham Free

In the din of the escalating contro-

Richard Gammon teaches in the ocean-

versy about global warming, the calm

Jon Riedel and Erin Pettit In Our Own Backyard: Climate Change in the North Cascades

ography and atmospheric science depart-

has a keen interest in translating science

for her best-selling book Field Notes

Wednesday, December 6; 7 p.m. REI, Seattle (Meeting Room) Free

from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature

Jon Riedel, geologist, and Erin Pettit, University of Washington

related to the topic, including Elizabeth

and Climate Change (2006). Drawing

glaciologist, will provide an insider’s look at how global warm-

Kolbert’s Field Notes from a Catastrophe,

on interviews with environmental

ing is changing the Northwest landscape we love so much. Jon

Tim Flannery’s award-winning book, The

scientists from Alaska to Greenland,

manages hydrologic and geologic resources for North Cascades

Weathermakers and Al Gore’s film, An

Kolbert elucidates the science,

National Park and has up-close and relevant experience with

Inconvenient Truth.

deciphers the politics and shares the

climate change and shrinking glaciers. In addition to her teaching

stories of people living near the North

and research schedule, Erin leads Girls on Ice—a remarkable

Pole whose livelihoods are literally

North Cascades Institute program that teaches young women

melting away. This important program

leadership, science and wilderness confidence-building skills on

is co-sponsored by Seattle Arts &

Mt. Baker’s shrinking Easton Glacier—and spends part of each

Lectures and tickets may be ordered

year in Antarctica. Their remarks will be accompanied by stunning

by calling (206) 621-2230 or www.

photographic images of the North Cascades.

voice of journalist Elizabeth Kolbert calls for sober analysis and concerted action. Kolbert’s award-winning series “The Climate of Man,” published in

The New Yorker, became the basis

ments at the University of Washington and is an authority on climate change. He into public understanding and will discuss a number of current books and films

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEB PAGE AT www.ncascades.org

lectures.org. © B R ET T B A U N T O N / B R ET T B A U N T O N . CO M

360 85 6 5700 ~ 209

STEWARDSHIP GET INVOLVED— EAGLE WATCHERS NEEDED Mead once wrote, “we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.” North Cascades Institute strives to put Mead’s wise philosophy into action, and our volunteer Stewardship Program is one of our proudest successes. For example, since 1992, our Eagle Watchers program has played a vital role in protecting bald eagles by managing the attention they attract and helping to deepen people’s appreciation for one of the North Cascades’ most vital species. Thanks to abundant runs of wild salmon, the Skagit River Watershed boasts one of the largest wintering populations of bald eagles in the Lower 48 states. As the eagles arrive in December, perfectly in tune with the salmon spawn, so do thousands of people vying for views of the majestic birds roosting in riverside trees or eating fish along gravel bars. You can help us this winter by volunteering as an Eagle Watcher to educate visitors about eagle and salmon biology and the Skagit River watershed. As the seasons change, so do our volunteer opportunities. Trade in your eagle-viewing scopes for hiking boots or a pick mattock and volunteer with us as a Mountain Steward or Native Plant Steward. All of our Stewardship programs include professional training from Institute staff and our partners.

“In the end, we conserve only what we love,” Margaret

VOLUNTEER! CALL US AT (360) 856-5700 EXT. 209 OR VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG /STEWARDSHIP 6

w w w.ncascades.org

TERRA INCOGNITA:

COMMUNITY, CONFLICTS AND

CRIMES

Caribou along Teshekpuk Lake in western Alaska, home to a 26,000-member caribou herd and summering grounds for more than 60,000 molting geese. The region was opened to oil exploration last winter. 360 85 6 5700 ~ 209

“TO LOOK AT HIS PHOTOS IS TO WALK INTO THE WILD” –SEATTLE P-I ART CRITIC REGINA HACKETT

AN EVENING WITH SUBHANKAR BANERJEE November 4-5, 2006 (Saturday night–Sunday morning) North Cascades Environmental Learning Center

s$175

Years ago, Subhankar was toiling as a computer consultant at Boeing while nurturing a photography habit on the side. Today, he travels the world as one of the most prominent voices for the conservation of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, sharing his vivid photographic record of the Arctic’s dramatic landscape and teeming wildlife in galleries, museums and natural history centers across the country. His photos of moose and muskoxen, sandhill cranes and slatybacked gulls took center stage in the political debate about the fate of the Arctic Refuge when Sen. Barbara Boxer held up his work on the floor of the U.S. Senate in 2001 to refute the Bush Administration’s claim that the Refuge was “a flat, white nothingness.” Subhankar contributes to North Cascades Institute’s examination of climate change with a special presentation at our Learning Center focusing on Alaska’s arctic regions, from the Western Arctic to Teshekpuk Lake to the Wildlife Refuge. In addition to his most recent photographs from this year’s journey, Subhankar will share his firsthand observations of the effects of global warming in the northern latitudes. He will also address how climate change influences resource conflicts and look at the challenges of balancing oil and coal extraction with the Arctic’s fragile ecology and ancient indigenous cultures. This special overnight event will take place at the Wild Salmonberry Dining Hall on Diablo Lake, and will feature an informal gourmet dinner of local and organic foods prepared by chef Charles Claassen. A fireside presentation by Subhankar will follow, with plenty of time for questions, discussion and getting acquainted with others. Your ticket includes overnight accommodations in our cozy lodges (shared occupancy) as well as a continental breakfast and an optional naturalist-led walk the following morning.

TO REGISTER FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL EVENING, CALL US AT (360) 856-5700 EXT. 209. 7

T HUNDER A RM

Writing Retreat [41] GARY FERGUSON, KATHLEEN DEAN MOORE AND ANA MARIA SPAGNA October 10-14, 2006 (Tues–Sat) 2c/24 ª North Cascades Environmental Learning Center S $575, P $725

GARY FERGUSON

KATHLEEN DEAN MOORE

ANA MARIA SPAGNA 8

Each year, North Cascades Institute invites a few of our favorite writers to come to the North Cascades and share the secrets of their craft with us. From Ann Zwinger on field studies to Tim McNulty on evocative imagery, Barbara Kingsolver on narrative arcs to Robert Michael Pyle on metaphors, and from William Dietrich on research to Scott Russell Sanders on voice, our teachers have established a legacy of writing instruction excellence unparalleled in the Pacific Northwest. This year’s eighth annual Writing Retreat, to take place October 10-14 at our Learning Center in the wild heart of the North Cascades, is no different. For the benefit of writers both polished and green, we’re bringing Gary Ferguson, Kathleen Dean Moore and Ana Maria Spagna to the shores of Diablo Lake for four days of productive writing practice, exchanging ideas, sharing work and engaging in dialogue with fellow writers. The Thunder Arm Writing Retreat is about more than writing. Your four days spent at the Learning Center include cozy overnight accommodations in a breathtaking mountain setting, scrumptious dinners in our beautiful dining room featuring fresh and organic foods from local producers, naturalist-led hiking and canoe adventures and time for socializing, introspection and rest.

eral books that explore the natural and cultural history

GARY FERGUSON is the author of sev-

KATHLEEN DEAN MOORE combines her

of the Rocky Mountains, including The Great Divide: The

roles as mother, wife and

Rocky Mountains in the American Mind, Hawk’s Rest: A

Distinguished Professor of

Season in the Remote Heart of Yellowstone and his most

Philosophy at Oregon State

recent title, Decade of the Wolf: Returning the Wild to

University to create rare essays

Yellowstone, winner of the 2005 Montana Book Award.

that are deep, wise and full of

Gary’s writing deftly combines personality, politics

heart. “Possessing the soul of a

and poetry, and he crafts narratives that one reviewer

poet and the voice of a trouba-

described as moving “with the exhilaration of a kayak

dour,” says Amazon.com, “Moore

run in a mountain river.”

writes luminous essays about what it means to love a place

ANA MARIA SPAGNA comes

not in the glib way one ‘loves’ a

from the Institute’s own backyard, joining us from the

cold drink on a hot day but pas-

small town of Stehekin, where Lake Chelan and the

sionately, a love that is so deep,

North Cascades meet. When not working on a trail

so ingrained, it must be encoded

crew or building her own house, Ana creates essays

in one’s DNA.” Her books include

that emerge from her time spent in the wild. Her

Riverwalking: Reflections on

first collection of essays, Now Go Home: Wilderness,

Moving Water, Holdfast: At Home

Belonging, and the Crosscut Saw, is a personal

in the Natural World and The Pine

memoir deeply anchored in the landscape and full

Island Paradox. Kathleen teaches

of wry humor balanced by a broad sense of wonder.

Environmental Ethics and the

Ana’s latest work has appeared in Orion, Utne Reader,

Philosophy of Nature at OSU, and

Open Spaces, Backpacker, Oregon Quarterly, Best

is also the director of the Spring

Essays NW and the new anthology A Mile in Her Boots:

Creek Project for Ideas, Nature

Women Who Work in the Wild.

and the Written Word.

Thunder Arm Writing Retreat

w w w.ncascades.org

360 85 6 5700 ~209

NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY

FIELD SEMINARS

›› www.ncascades.org/seminars

this catalog reaches you, the days will be shorter and the nights longer as another summer slides by. Autumn and winter bring new opportunities to explore and enjoy nature, and North Cascades Institute offers many ways to get outside and experience our spectacular corner of the planet. From several birding outings to a salmon stroll, you can discover the wildlife with whom we share this special place. Nature journaling and a field sketching class offer pathways for your creativity to reach out to your surroundings, while our Thunder Arm Writing Retreat and a handful of writing workshops will provide necessary exercise for your muse during the dark days ahead. Join Loa Ryan to learn Tshimshian cedar basketmaking, hunt for mushrooms with Fred Rhoades or meet your local salamanders alongside David Drummond. Our instructors are the very best in their fields—from Learning Center architect David Hall to Methow Naturalist publisher Dana Visalli to swan guru Martha Jordan—and each field seminar is a unique opportunity to share in the hard-won insights gained from a lifetime spent carefully observing the phenomena of nature. At North Cascades Institute, we believe people who experience the particularities of their home ground firsthand are liable to care more deeply about its well-being. Out of that care grows the passion to conserve and restore Northwest environments. From the braided Skagit Delta to the snowy North Cascades, our new line-up of seminars will take you deeper into the spirit of this vivid place, enriching your life in ways both sudden and subtle. So grab a raincoat, put on your sense of adventure and join us outside .

SEE YOU IN THE FIELD! REGISTER TODAY AT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG

©NASA

By the time

Understanding the Universe: Astronomy’s Big Questions [42] KARL SCHROEDER October 20-22, 2006 (Fri-Sun) Learning Center

18 ª S $245, P $345

The heavens unfurled over billions of years in an infinitely complex and beautiful manner, birthing, in part, the dazzling blue planet we call home. Join Karl Schroeder for an in-depth look at the big questions: How was the universe created and how does it continue to evolve? What are the origins of matter and how did it lead to life as we know it? Does life exist elsewhere? Mixing telescope time with lectures and experiments, we’ll address these issues and more while viewing celestial objects in the day and night sky. This course will focus on several topics in astronomy and cosmology, including the birth and death of galaxies, dark matter, black holes and astrobiology. w w w.ncascades.org

Gifts of the Rain: Northwest Mushroom Ecology FRED RHOADES October 20-22, 2006 (Fri-Sun) Learning Center

[43] 1c/18 ª S $245, P $345 © H E AT H E R A . W A L L I S - M U R P H Y / W I L DT A L E S . C O M

Autumn rains nourish a proliferation of mushrooms in western Washington. Look closely and you’ll see a spectacular variety of fungus among us. As we explore shadowy forests and open meadows, we’ll learn about identification techniques and how mushrooms have evolved to become the remarkable organisms they are today. Although mushrooms are an ever-popular delicacy, this course will focus on habitats, interrelationships and microscopic study, though our talented kitchen staff will showcase tasty mushroom treats at one of the dinners. This is an introductory seminar, but experienced mycologists are welcome. 360 85 6 5700 ~ 209

Pages from Nature: Field Journals and Observation HEATHER A. WALLIS-MURPHY October 27-29, 2006 (Fri-Sun) Learning Center

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary,” Pablo Picasso said. Come along with Heather, wildlife biologist and artist, for a three-day workshop creating your own unique nature journals. We’ll learn outdoor painting and drawing techniques to record plant and animal observations with an emphasis on field identification of the natural world. Expect inspiration from art and science during the weekend, as

[44] 1c/18 ª S $245, P $345

journals fill with intriguing notes, field sketches and watercolors that trace the unique details of wildlife and landscapes of the Diablo Lake area. Heather, who finds “studying and painting nature brings order from chaos,” will help students explore both the solitude and the energy of natural systems during the weekend course. Scientists, naturalists and artists of all skill levels are welcome. 11

SEMINAR INFORMATION First-timer 20 percent discount If you’ve never taken a field seminar with us, you’re eligible for a 20 percent discount. See page 19 for complete details.

Pricing and scholarships © N O RT H C A SC A D ES I NST I T UT E

person (limited). To make seminars available to a wide audience, we offer scholarships for our Field Seminars to students, teachers,

S (shared occupancy) is the tuition for sharing a room with other participants. P (private occupancy) is the tuition for a room for one

seniors over 60, environmental educators, conservation professionals, low-income participants and others. Applications available online or by phone.

Meals All Learning Center seminars include meals prepared by our chef Charles Claassen and feature local and organic foods. For day trips and seminars in the field, participants are responsible for their own meals unless noted otherwise in seminar descriptions.

Gathering Experience: Natural History Essay II SUSAN ZWINGER November 10-12, 2006 (Fri-Sun) Learning Center

Weaving History: Tsimshian Basketry [45] 1c/18 ª

SEE PAGE 19 FOR MORE REGISTRATION DETAILS

S $345, P

[46] 18 ª $495

S $245, P $345

credit and clock hours Many seminars and retreats are offered for optional academic credit (400 level) through Western Washington University (WWU). The number of credits available is listed to the right of the title of each seminar. A written project is required; grading is on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. We will send your registration to the university, which will bill you $48/credit. All credits are pending approval by WWU. North Cascades Institute is also approved by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to grant teachers clock hour certification. The fee is $3.50/clock hour. The number of clock hours available appears with a ∫ symbol to the right of each seminar.

LOA RYAN November 10-12, 2006 (Fri - Sun) Learning Center

Taking your writing to the next stage is the goal of this new seminar taught by one of the Pacific Northwest’s best natural history writers. Dozens of Susan’s previous students have asked for an advanced writing class with challenging new exercises. Nature in the North Cascades will be the inspiration for writers with some experience or who simply want to push their prose to the next level. A weekend filled with intense writing exercises, process discussions and nature wanderings will offer specific new techniques and tips. Poets, novelists and purveyors of other genres will also benefit from exploring this elegant first-person art form.

Create your own traditional ‘Yuusl, or berry basket, under the guidance of Tsimshian weaver Loa Ryan. Drawing from historic and prehistoric basketry methods, we’ll use strips of natural, richly dyed cedar bark to plait a basket. The design will be open to the individual, from a clean, simple design to the beautiful checkerboard patterns of Nigilhwa’d, or “opposite pattern.” As our baskets take shape, Loa will share insights into the Tsimshian culture. Tsimshians are known as the “people of the Skeena,” reflecting their home along the Skeena River in northern British Columbia, including Prince Rupert and throughout the coastal islands. Materials are provided. w w w.ncascades.org

STAN WALSH November 18, 2006 (Sat) Sauk River Valley

[47] 12 ∫

$75

Late fall is a wonderful time to explore salmon-bearing rivers and streams. Join Stan for an easy threemile ramble along the Sauk River, the major tributary to the Skagit River, for an engaging discussion of the natural river processes that form salmon habitat and shape salmon life histories. If water levels and turbidity permit, we’ll observe chum spawning behavior, examine the differences between males and females and discuss the role of salmon as an important source of marine-derived nutrients in the riverine ecosystem. Our day on the banks of Sauk River will put us in touch with the lifeways of the salmon, a bellwether species of the Pacific Northwest. 360 85 6 5700 ~209

The Cycle of Life: Bald Eagles and Salmon of the Skagit River LIBBY MILLS January 6, 2007 (Sat) Skagit River

©TREVOR ANDERSON

Totem of the Pacific Northwest: Sauk Chum Salmon

Feathers and Form: Birds as Art [1] 6ª

LIBBY MILLS January 7, 2007 (Sun) Padilla Bay

[2] 6ª $75

$75

Each winter, hundreds of bald eagles migrate from Canada and the San Juan Islands to feast on salmon in the Skagit River. Bundle up, grab your binoculars and spend the day with Libby, a naturalist who has studied this phenomenon for more than 20 years. We’ll visit several spots along the Skagit to see eagles feeding, perching and spiraling on invisible updrafts or flying toward night roosts hidden in wooded valleys. We’ll examine the interrelated biology of salmon and eagles, their adaptations and migratory zeal, as well as conservation strategies for these intertwined species. Tuition includes van transportation from Sedro-Woolley.

When Libby Mills heads into the field to observe wildlife, she never forgets her sketchpad and pencils. Field sketching has long been a crucial skill in the naturalist’s toolbox, and John James Audubon and David Allen Sibley both relied on quick, accurate drawings created in the elements to further their comprehension of avian life. Join Libby, a talented naturalist and artist, for a day appreciating the beauty of birds by way of the sketchbook. A day’s focus on feathers and form will help you to see birds in a fresh way. Our goal will be drawing from museum birds, photos and life, including focused field time in the Padilla Bay Reserve. Open to all skill levels.

$$ SAVE SIGN UP FOR BOTH of Libby Mills’ seminars– a weekend full of birds, art and Skagit Valley explorations— and SAVE $10!

DON BURGESS February 3, 2007 (Sat) Bellingham Bay

Venture onto the teeming waters of the Puget Sound aboard the warm and comfortable Snow Goose, a spacious 65-foot research vessel. Led by an enthusiastic field ornithologist, we’ll cruise Bellingham Bay in search of a variety of seabirds, from harlequin and long-tailed ducks to loons

[5] 6ª $105

and western grebes. Savoring the whims of weather and sea, we’ll enjoy outdoor and indoor activities, including Don’s step-by-step flying lesson that illustrates the physiological and aerodynamic principles of bird flight. Tuition includes boat charter.

©AMY BROWN

Avifauna Afloat: Birds of Bellingham Bay

Talon and Beak: Falcons of the Flats DAVID DRUMMOND January 27, 2007 (Sat) Skagit and Samish Deltas

[3] 6ª $75

In wintertime, the Skagit and Samish deltas are filled with movement, sound and song. The habitatrich flats are renowned for their diversity of winter birds. Discover this avian Shangri-la with David Drummond, founder of the Merlin Project and one of the Skagit Valley’s most experienced bird researchers. We’ll learn about the life histories, behaviors and feeding strategies of a broad range of species, focusing on hawks and falcons, but perhaps spying shorebirds, waterfowl and snow geese along the way. After an indoor presentation in the morning, we’ll head into the field to study hunting adaptations, wintering ecology and habitats. Tuition includes van transportation from Sedro-Woolley. w w w.ncascades.org

Winter Visitors: The Ecology and Conservation of Trumpeter Swans MARTHA JORDAN February 10, 2007 (Sat) and February 18, 2007 (Sun) (Due to high demand, we are offering this seminar twice this winter!) Skagit Delta

[6, 7] 6ª

$75

Each winter, the Skagit Valley hosts one of the largest wintering populations of trumpeter swans in the United States. Led by Martha, a passionate biologist and founder of the Trumpeter Swan Society, we’ll observe these graceful and beautiful birds as they gather in the Johnson/DeBay Slough Swan Reserve near Sedro-Woolley. Broadening our scope to include tundra swans and other waterfowl, we’ll cover their biology, life histories and habitats. We’ll also discuss conservation strategies designed to protect these birds and their wintering grounds. Transportation included. 360 85 6 5700 ~209

Salamanders, Newts and Frogs: Amphibians of the Puget Lowlands [8] DAVID DRUMMOND March 31-April 1, 2007 (Sat eve-Sun) Anacortes and Padilla Bay

1c/12 ª

Writing on the Water: Place and Narrative CLYDE FORD April 14, 2007 (Sat) Bellingham Bay

[9] 18 ª $165

$135

Amphibians love Washington State, including 14 native species of salamanders and 10 native species of frogs. In fact, two of our salamander species live nowhere else on the planet! Join David, a field-honed naturalist, to learn about the natural history, behavior and adaptations of these delightful creatures. We’ll investigate several local lakes and wetlands. Dip nets and flashlights in hand, we’ll search for roughskinned newts, treefrogs and red-legged frogs in a variety of forested and wetland habitats. Come nightfall, we’ll tune our ears to the evening chorus and celebrate the songs of spring. Participants are responsible for their own meals and accommodations.

Writing that is informed by the environment makes for a stronger, more vivid story, but how exactly does one bring a sense of place into their work? This new seminar is an on-the-water workshop for writers that explores the essential interaction between narrative and place. Join award-winning author Clyde Ford for a day-long workshop aboard the 65-foot trawler Snow Goose while cruising the San Juan Islands. Through discussion, individual and group exercises and short writing assignments, we’ll explore how to allow the environment of the Pacific Northwest, particularly the waters and islands, to influence the stories we tell. More than simply the background upon which our stories unfold, we’ll investigate the power of place as a character in our fiction and a motivating force in our nonfiction. At the conclusion of the day, we’ll read selections of our written work that captures significant aspects of our time on the water. All levels and genres welcome. 15

Environmental Architecture

ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHITECTURE:

GREEN BUILDING

DESIGN AND OPERATION

[10] DAVID HALL AND RUSS WEISER OF THE HENRY KLEIN PARTNERSHIP WITH JEFF MUSE AND ERIC DEAN KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY DAVID MILLER OF THE MILLER/HULL PARTNERSHIP, AUTHOR OF TOWARD A NEW REGIONALISM: ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHITECTURE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST April 20-22, 2007 (Fri-Sun) 1c/18 ª Learning Center S$265, P$375

Spend Earth Day weekend with the Learning Center’s architects, director and facilities manager examining green building design and operation–including the challenges we face in “walking the talk” at our year-round campus. Nestled at the foot of Sourdough Mountain in North Cascades National Park, the Learning Center will be awarded silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program. Highlights range from efficient heating and lighting, minimal waste and site restoration to construction with salvaged, recycled and low-impact materials such as 84 percent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood. Along with behind-the-scenes tours and group discussions, we’ll learn about LEED’s commercial and residential programs, which provide helpful strategies for anyone interested in environmental

architecture. On Saturday night, special guest David Miller, author of the Toward a New Regionalism: Environmental Architecture in the Pacific Northwest, will join us to share insights about building with geography, culture and ecology in mind. Sunday afternoon, we’ll visit the director’s green-built home, designed by David Hall and built by Indigo Construction. Located in nearby Rockport, the “Pacific Rim farmhouse” combines a strong sense of place with a no-fuss layout featuring passive solar design, blown-in cellulose insulation, radiant ceiling panels, salvaged and FSC-certified wood and flooring with bamboo, linoleum and stone. Whether you’re an architect, builder, homeowner or a sustainable design enthusiast, you’ll love this class. Inspired and informed by new friends and colleagues, you’ll leave the weekend with fresh ideas and energy for your own green building projects.

w w w.ncascades.org

The Language of Birds: Tracking Avian Life CHRIS CHISHOLM April 27-29, 2007 (Fri -Sun) Newhalem Campground

[11] 18 ª $195

When listening to a birdcall, do you wonder who it is or what the call means? Each species has its own language for marking territory, mating, begging, aggression and alarm. Roam forest, meadow and stream with Chris, a naturalist who specializes in bird vocalizations and wildlife tracking. Rising early and staying out late, we’ll track a variety of avian life by studying calls and songs along with prints, feathers and scat. We’ll gain a deeper appreciation for and understanding of raptors, water-loving birds and perching birds while enjoying the beauty of the North Cascades from Newhalem Campground and beyond. 360 85 6 5700 ~209

NIGHT, SOURDOUGH MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT

The Natural Flow: Sustainability Lessons in Nature DANA VISALLI May 5-6, 2007 (Sat-Sun) Methow Valley

[12] 12 ª $195

Explore how nature works in terms of energy flow and resource cycling, using our wild surroundings as springboards for inspiring lessons, in this timely new seminar. Join Dana for a weekend of spring hikes, creative brainstorms and deep discussions amid the profuse wildflower meadows of the east slope of the North Cascades. As our culture approaches the peak of global oil production, we’ll discover what we can learn from the ecology of previous civilizations and the natural pathways leading toward sustainability. Participants will leave with an understanding of the benefits and challenges of living a less energy-dependent lifestyle.

A late-summer sun Threads the needles of McMillan Spires And disappears in a reef of coral cloud. Winds roll the mountain trees, Batter the shutter props. I light a candle with the coming dark. Its reflection in the window glass Flickers over mountains and Shadowed valleys Seventeen miles north to Canada. Not another light. The lookout is a dim star Anchored to a rib of the planet Like a skiff to a shoal In a wheeling sea of stars. Night sky at full flood. Wildly awake. —TIM MCNULTY From Through High Still Air: A Season at Sourdough Mountain Pleasure Boat Studio, 2005

FOR MORE ON FIRE LOOKOUTS IN THE NORTH CASCADES, TURN TO PAGE 28 17

Wilderness First Responder

BACKCOUNTRY

MEDICINE

Part of being a responsible backcountry traveler is to be prepared for whatever situations the unpredictable wilderness might serve up. With this in mind, North Cascades Institute and Remote Medical International are once again teaming up to offer two courses that teach essential backcountry emergency preparedness skills. Join us to earn Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician certification in the North Cascades. Both experiences will open up new professional career opportunities and help you become more self-reliant and skilled at adjusting to dynamic conditions in the field.

December 10-18, 2006 (Sun-Mon) Learning Center

[50] S$750

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification is considered the industry standard for guides, outdoor educators and expedition medical personnel in remote areas. Wilderness First Responders should be able to effectively make decisions when a hospital is hours, or even days, away. The Remote Medical International teaching style emphasizes wilderness assessment and care, decision-making, hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to function in remote areas. This program is designed for individuals who have a high likelihood of using their training in the field and it provides a strong foundation for progression to more advanced levels of training. Because students must understand how to use and apply specialized equipment during an emergency, the course involves real equipment. Remote Medical International’s WFR course is recognized around the world—including by the American Mountain Guides Association and the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides—and meets both Washington State and National Guidelines for First Responder Training.

Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician February 1-March 2, 2007 Learning Center

[4]

S $2,795

Wilderness Emergency Medical Technicians (WEMT) have opportunities to serve in unique work environments like ski patrol, medics in national parks and on wildland fire lines, standby rescue at remote locations and businesses, performing medical duties on expeditions and working for urban ambulance services. Remote Medical International’s WEMT program is taught by Remote Site Paramedics and prominently features experienced wilderness EMTs, critical care nurses, paramedics and emergency physicians as guest lecturers. The course format is a combination of lectures, realistic scenarios in real time and hospital emergency department internships. Unlike many WEMT courses that focus heavily on urban care, this course prepares the student for making critical decisions when the hospital is not an option. Taught in the wilderness environment of the North Cascades, advanced subjects include foley catheter insertion, IV therapy, suturing, antibiotic administration, airway management, pain management/narcotic administration, eye assessments, specialized rescue considerations, dentistry and primary care.

TO LEARN SPECIFIC CREDENTIALS RECEIVED FOR EACH COURSE, VISIT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG

w w w.ncascades.org

FIELD SEMINAR REGISTRATION INFORMATION Registration

valid for registrantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first seminar only. If registering

in seminar description. Overnight accommodations

You can register for seminars online or by phone with your Visa or MasterCard. Call us at 360

for multiple seminars at one time, discount will be applied to most expensive course. Full payment

are for paid registrants only. We cannot accommodate pets or unregistered guests.

856 5700 ext. 209 or download the appropriate application from www.ncascades.org. Online regis-

required at time of registration. Standard cancellation policy applies.

The Learning Center is our new field campus on Diablo Lake. The campus features trails, a canoe

Cancellations

dock, outdoor learning shelters, classrooms, an amphitheater and a library. Facilities and local trails

tration is not available for the Subhankar Banerjee eventâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;please call to register. If you would rather mail in your payment, registration forms are available at www.ncascades.org. Upon receipt of your tuition, we will send a registration confirmation that includes an outline of when to expect detailed class information. We keep seminars small to ensure quality and enjoyment.

Tuition Our tuition is on a per-person basis unless stated otherwise and includes a $45 non-refundable registration fee. We cannot provide discounts to participants who arrange alternative lodging. Attendance at seminars is for paid registrants only.

20 percent first-timer discount First-timer discount applies to new participants in adult field seminars only. Offer does not apply to Subhankar Banerjee or Elizabeth Kolbert events, Family Getaways, WFR/WEMT trainings or any other programs and cannot be combined with other offers or scholarships. Maximum discount is $75. Discount

360 85 6 5700 ~ 209

Our seminars proceed rain or shine. Participant cancellations received 21 or more days before the start of a seminar will receive a full refund minus a $45 registration fee. Participant cancellations received less than 21 days before the start of a seminar will not receive a refund. If we are forced to cancel a seminar, participants will receive a full refund or transfer option.

Risk and responsibility Our programs are conducted in the field and often involve hiking or canoeing. Participants should be in good physical condition and prepared to spend full days outdoors. Some Field Seminars and waterbased classes have special safety concerns and require preparation. Please read and follow pre-trip letter recommendations. Field seminars are for adults only. Children 14 years and older may sometimes participate, pending approval by the adult education coordinator and instructor. Approval must be obtained prior to registration. Approved minors must be accompanied by

are ADA accessible. The Learning Center has three lodges for housing participants and instructors. Each a responsible, participating adult. Pets do not make good participants, so please leave them at home. We may encounter insects, inclement weather and other unpredictable circumstances. Weatherappropriate clothing is required. Participants assume full responsibility for their own safety and must provide their own health and accident insurance. You will be required to sign a health/risk and hold-harmless waiver before the course begins.

Accommodations We provide programs to meet a variety of comfort and activity levels. Accommodations range from our Learning Center to various campgrounds. Sleeping arrangements vary from tents to bunkrooms to private rooms. Some seminars require participants to provide their own bedding or camping gear. At facilities other than the Learning Center, participants must provide their own food unless meals are noted

lodge has shared gender-specific bathrooms with showers. The bedrooms vary from two to three twin beds per room. Rooms with three beds are configured bunk-style. Bedrooms also include ethernet ports, one or two writing desks and two built-in wardrobes. Participants are asked to bring their own bedding and towels; linens are offered for a small rental fee. Delicious, healthy meals incorporating local and organic foods are provided in our lakeside dining hall for paid registrants only. If you have special dietary requirements or food allergies, we will gladly attempt to accommodate them with advance notice. Camping-based seminars take place at reserved sites in established automobile-accessible campgrounds throughout the North Cascades. Participants are responsible for their own food, often sharing potluck dinners. Water and restroom facilities range from primitive to fully modern and are described in the class materials sent to participants.

TRI Y A D

SUMMER SCRAPBOOK The summer of 2006

N O RT H C A S C A D E S W IL D

Below/Left: In partnership wi th Student Cons Park, the Institu ervation Associa te took dozens tion and North of students out Cascades Natio summer full of of the city and nal campsite restor in to the Ross Lake at io n wo wilderness for rk, hikes up De forming of frien a solation Peak, dships that will canoe explorat last a lifetime. ions and the

was the busiest season in the Instituteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. We celebrated our 20th anniversary at an overflowing picnic gathering in June and always had several different programs happening simultaneously, both at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center and throughout the Northwest. It was a summer to remember. Here are a few of our favorite memories.

Top Left: Word spread far and wide about our free, naturalist-led canoe and trail outings at the Learning Center, and more than 350 people turned out to soak up the scenery and learn more about the Diablo Lake ecosystem. 20

w w w.ncascades.org

F A M ILY G E TA W AY S

IR L S O N IC E Above: Glaciolog ist Erin Pettit led a dozen girls fro flanks of Mt. Ba m all over the wo ker for an intens rld onto the icy e week of study mountaineering in g glaciers and cli skills, field rese m ate change, arch techniques and leadership experience. Right: Native Plant Stewards continued work on the revegetation of the Learning Center site while Mountain Stewards taught natural history and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leave No Traceâ&#x20AC;? ethics to hundreds of hikers in the Mt. Baker area during another successful season of volunteer stewardship. 360 85 6 5700 ~209

ST E WA R DS

H IP he un d t m aro o r f s ilie tting al fam Center, ge a ti o n r g e n i n e n r l ti - g Lea o o. e : Mu a t th e her, t A b ov ered ch ot h a t e a g o ry nd t count ture a to na r e s o cl 21

believes children exposed to nature and educated in the natural sciences gain a valuable connection that will serve them their whole lives. Mountain School, which has served more than 12,000 children since 1989, is our nationally recognized residential environmental education program offered in cooperation with North Cascades National Park. Mountain School students come to the North Cascades for three days and two nights with their school class to learn about ecosystems, scientific investigation, geology and the natural and cultural history of the mountains through hands-on, experiential-based activities. North Cascades Institute offers Mountain School programs for upper elementary through high school students at our expansive new Environmental Learning Center, a wilderness campus located on the shores of Diablo Lake beneath Sourdough Mountain that includes lodges, classrooms, labs, a library and dining hall. A unique network of trails and shelters surrounding the Learning Center provide quick and easy access to the surrounding wilderness and incredible outdoor learning opportunities. Mountain School participants stay in dormitory-style lodges and fresh, delicious and nutritious meals are served in the lakeside dining hall. If you want more information on how your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classroom can experience the transformative effects of Mountain School, contact Bree Yednock at (206) 526-2562 or visit our Web site at www.ncascades.org.

ÂŠ B E N J A M I N D R U M M O N D / B E N D R U M . CO M

North Cascades Institute

MOUNTAIN SCHOOL

BRING YOUR CLASS TO THE MOUNTAINS

www.ncascades.org/school

GRADUATE PROGRAM CULTIVATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS OF TOMORROW

www.ncascades.org/graduate

Establish your career

in environmental education and earn a M.Ed. while working with the Northwest’s best educators, naturalists and conservation leaders. In collaboration with Huxley College at Western Washington University (WWU), North Cascades Institute’s graduate residency program allows you to spend a year in the North Cascades while exploring all aspects of environmental education, nonprofit management and Learning Center operations. The program begins each June with field studies throughout the North Cascades region. Our hands-on coursework incorporates teaching and learning place-based education for people of all ages while living and working at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, a state-of-the-art facility designed for environmental education. At the end of the seven-quarter program, our graduate students receive a Master of Education in Environmental Education from WWU and a Certificate of Nonprofit Administration, but, equally important, they will have a well-rounded resume reflecting the diversity of skills necessary to become the next generation of environmental leaders. FOR DETAILED INFORMATION OR AN APPLICATION PACKET, CALL (360) 856-5700 EXT. 209 OR EMAIL NCI@NCASCADES.ORG. NEXT PROGRAM BEGINS SUMMER QUARTER 2007. 23

NORTH CASCADES ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER

GROUP RENTAL FACILITIES Bring your group

to the North Cascades and host a group meeting or retreat at the Learning Center. Our unique field campus inspires reflection, understanding and connection to the natural world, as well as to each other. Group rentals include: ›› Lodging for as many as 40 guests ›› Delicious catering with local and organic foods ›› Conference rooms, trailside shelters and a library ›› Internet access, projectors and other supplies ›› Naturalist-led activities like canoeing and hiking exclusive to your group

The Learning Center primarily serves as a home for North Cascades Institute’s educational programs. However, as our calendar allows, we meet the needs of groups who want to experience the North Cascades through their own retreats and meetings. Conference fees help subsidize our youth education programs and scholarships for low-income participants. RATES, BOOKING AND OTHER INFORMATION AT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/LEARNING_CENTER OR CALL (360) 856-5700 EXT. 212

w w w.ncascades.org

HELP US

CONSERVE AND RESTORE NORTHWEST ENVIRONMENTS

Please consider a gift to North Cascades Institute and join our mission to conserve and restore Northwest environments through education. Your support will help us:

GIVE TODAY YOUR SUPPORT makes our work possible. Return this form to North Cascades Institute, call us at 360 856 5700 ~209 or donate online at www.ncascades.org.

share our flagship program, Mountain School, where children explore North Cascades wildlands up close with their classmates, teachers and chaperones. Children who attend show greater appreciation for their environment and improved attitudes toward classroom learning and teamwork. Mountain School is a life-changing experience for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth.

name

a d d r ess

cit y

state

zi p

phon e ( day)

phone ( e ve n i ng )

inspire teenage girls to be leaders and scientists through Girls on Ice, which combines leadership, mountaineering and science. Based on the Easton Glacier in the North Cascades, it is led by professional female glaciologists and mountain guides, and helps girls feel at home in the wilderness while gaining a new appreciation for science. Your financial support will help all qualifying girls participate regardless of their ability to pay.

introduce low-income, inner-city youth to the magic of wild places through our new North Cascades Wild. Led by experienced naturalists and wilderness guides, teenagers camp, canoe, hike and participate in the restoration of hiking trails and native plant sites. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a powerful way for young people to learn more about their public lands, each other and themselves. If you believe direct experience in the natural world inspires change, please make a contribution to North Cascades Institute. Help a generation of young people step outside.

ema i l a ddress

donation amount q $250

q $500

q $1,000

q $5,000

q Other

I would like to pledge $_______ per month for _______ years, for a total of $_______. Please bill my credit card.

method of payment q Check, payable to North Cascades Institute credit ca rd number

q Visa

q MasterCard expi rati on date

si gnatu re ( as name a ppea rs on ca rd)

NORTH CASCADES INSTITUTE 810 state route 20, sedro-woolley, wa 98284

360 85 6 5700 ~ 209

MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS ulty at Western Washington University in the

the Wild to Yellowstone, winner of the 2005 Montana Book Award.

Science, Math, Engineering and Technology Education Department. An accomplished field

Clyde W. Ford [9] writes nonfiction and

Don Burgess, MS [5], is on the fac-

biologist and teacher, Don is renowned for his contagious enthusiasm for avian life, especially chickadees, owls and shorebirds.

Chris Chisholm [11] is founder of the Wolf Camp Cooperative and author of Wolf Journey: Trail of the Naturalist. He has extensive training with Tom Brown Jr. and other pioneers of the earth skills field. Chris is a delightful teacher who specializes in wildlife tracking, bird vocalizations, ethnobotany, wilderness survival and Pacific Northwest ecology.

David Drummond [3, 8] is founder and president of the Merlin Falcon Foundation. A research wildlife biologist and principal investigator for the Coastal Forest Merlin Project in Washington and British Columbia, he is a naturalist, educator, consultant and worldwide bird guide.

Gary Ferguson [41] is the author of several books that explore the natural and cultural history of the Rocky Mountains, including The Great Divide: The Rocky Mountains in the American Mind, Hawk’s Rest: A Season in the Remote Heart of Yellowstone and Decade of the Wolf: Returning 26

fiction aboard his Bellingham-based, 30-foot biodiesel trawler. He won the 2006 Independent Publisher Award for best mystery/thriller and was a nominee for the Zora Neale Hurston/ Richard Wright Foundation 2006 Legacy Award in contemporary fiction for his series of nautical thrillers set in the San Juan Islands.

David Hall [10], partner in charge for the Henry Klein Partnership in Mount Vernon, is the architect of our new Learning Center. David has spent 26 years designing sustainable homes and public buildings. He is an avid gardener, watercolorist and backcountry flyfisher. Martha Jordan [6, 7] is a wildlife biologist, dog trainer and professional massage therapist. As a board member of the Trumpeter Swan Society and consultant to federal and state agencies, she has worked to protect swans and their habitats for 25 years.

sounds of nature in field journals, books and

teaching medical techniques to people who are

Heather A. Wallis-Murphy [44]

on audiotape.

far from a hospital. Learn more at www.remotemedical.com.

is a retired U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist with more than 30 years of forestry and wildlife experience in the Pacific Northwest. She is also a watercolorist and runs her own naturalist

Kathleen Dean Moore, PhD [41], a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Oregon State University, has written several award-winning books including Riverwalking:

Reflections on Moving Water, Holdfast: At Home in the Natural World and The Pine Island Paradox. Kathleen teaches Environmental Ethics and the Philosophy of Nature at OSU, and is also the director of the Spring Creek Project for Ideas, Nature and the Written Word.

Jeff Muse, MS [10], is North Cascades Institute’s Learning Center director and graduate residency supervisor. With eight years at the Institute, he enjoys linking nature study to the choices we make in building construction, business practices and community life, and believes naturalists are pathfinders for sustainable design.

Karl Schroeder, MS [42], is an amateur astronomer, former president of the Seattle Astronomical Society and a builder of telescopes. When he is not teaching, working with the elementary school science program Project Astro or giving talks to astronomy clubs, Karl enjoys hosting star parties to show people the wonders of the heavens.

Libby Mills [1, 2] is a wildlife biologist, artist and naturalist for the Nature Conservancy’s Skagit River Bald Eagle Preserve. She has taught at the Audubon Ecology Camp in Maine and aboard ships from Baja to Alaska. Libby records the sights and

Fred Rhoades, PhD [43], teaches biology at Western Washington University and specializes in mushrooms, lichens and mosses. He has conducted field studies in the Northwest for many years and enjoys sharing his knowledge with all ages.

Heather was selected to represent wildlife and art at the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival in Washington D.C.

Loa Ryan [46] was born and raised in the Tsimshian village of Metlakatla, British

Stan Walsh [47] has worked as a fisheries biologist for the Swinomish and Sauk-

Columbia. A member of the Metlakatla Band, Tsimshian Nation, royal house of ‘Xpe Hanax and the Raven clan, Loa prides herself on learning and teaching about the ancient methods of Tsimshian basket weaving.

Suiattle Tribes for 17 years. Stan also works on hydropower impacts on salmonid species with Seattle City Light to monitor salmon and steelhead spawning in the Upper Skagit River, and has helped to develop minimum flow releases from the Skagit Hydroelectric Project that ensure successful egg incubation and fry emergence.

Ana Maria Spagna [41] lives in Stehekin, where Lake Chelan and the North Cascades meet. When not working on a trail crew or building her own house, Ana writes essays that emerge from her time spent in the wild. Her first collection of essays, Now Go Home: Wilderness, Belonging, and the Crosscut Saw was published by Oregon State University, and her most recent work is in the new anthology A Mile in Her Boots: Women Who Work in the Wild. Dana Visalli, MS [12], is a field

Remote Medical International [4, 48] has experience in tactical and disaster medicine, emergency medical services and search and rescue operations across the globe. The Seattle-based company specializes in

notecard and nature journaling business out of her home studio in Leavenworth. In 2005,

botanist specializing in rare plant species. As director of the Methow Biodiversity Project, he coordinates a biological inventory of the Methow River watershed and publishes The Methow Naturalist, a seasonal natural history journal.

Russ Weiser, PhD [10], is the sustainable design coordinator for the Henry Klein Partnership in Mount Vernon. Before studying architecture, he was on the faculty at Virginia Tech, studying how plants respond to their environment. His passion is combining architecture and biology to design beautiful buildings that don’t place stress upon the natural environment. Susan Zwinger, PhD [45], is the author of The Hanford Reach, The Last Wild Edge, Stalking the Ice Dragon, Still Wild, Always Wild and co-author of Women In Wilderness. A gifted artist and naturalist based on Whidbey Island, Susan received the Governor’s Author’s Award in 1992. w w w.ncascades.org

Fall/Winter 20062007 catalog Editor: Christian Martin Designer: Jesse Kinsman www.kinsmancreative.com

Cover Art

The cover painting by Skagit artist Rebecca Fletcher is a detail of Mt. Baker’s Easton Glacier, “a particularly dramatic section,” she explained, “all toothy and split and shadowed blue.” A transplant from New England, Rebecca has made the Pacific Northwest her home since 1976. Gradually gravitating to the North Cascades, she still remembers how raw and wild the mountains seemed compared to the east, how intimidating yet welcoming. The light and drama of the wilderness is her greatest inspiration. Contact Rebecca at PO Box 453 Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 or bfletch@wavecable.com. We are also grateful to be able to reproduce the artwork of Libby Mills and Heather A. Wallis-Murphy.

Photography The Institute is fortunate to have photographer friends who are generous with their work. We are thankful to them for providing evocative images of North Cascadian landscapes and wildlife that make our catalogs works of art in their own right.

An experienced naturalist and outdoor educator, Paul Bannick creates most of his images while kayaking, hiking or snowshoeing in the Pacific Northwest. After working in the computer software industry for 15 years, he followed his passion for environmental activism and is currently working with Conservation Northwest. His work reflects this conservation ethic, and a perusal of his portfolio uncovers images of reptiles, amphibians and mammals of the Pacific Northwest, as well as a dazzling array of bird life. www. paulbannick.com

Todd W. Burley combines his passion for experiencing the great Northwest with his naturalist training to produce images that capture the essence of this place. A Washington native, Todd worked for five years in the North Cascades National Park, volunteered with many NCI programs and currently resides in Seattle where he is an outreach coordinator for a small nonprofit organization. www.tburleyphotography.com

With family roots in the Skagit Valley area that stretch back to before Washington was even a state, Lee Mann’s allegiance to his homeplace is obvious in both his photography and conservation ethic. Lee began his career as a schoolteacher, but his mountaineering and photography habits got the best of him, and, since the 1970s, he has been devoted full-time to his craft. He now runs a successful business publishing his best work on posters and cards, running a gallery in Sedro-Woolley and managing his Web site. We’re excited to have Lee’s work in our catalog as he provided the cover image for our very first catalog 20 years ago! www.leemannphotography.com Additional photographs supplied by Subhankar Banerjee, Brett Baunton, Trevor Anderson and North Cascades Institute participants and staff.

Pat Buller shoots rugged North Cascades landscapes in pursuit of his obsession for capturing remote regions on film. His work often involves strenuous hiking and bushwhacking. “Much of my time is spent off-trail navigating around cliffs and slogging through swamps, windfalls and avalanche tracks,” he said. “I go through all this trouble just to take pictures from lakes that are often nameless, fishless and far from any climbing route. This might be old hat for some people, but not many, I wager.” www.pdbphoto.com.

John Suiter is the author of Poets on the Peaks, an excellent book that tells the stories of Gary Snyder, Philip Whalen and Jack Kerouac serving as fire lookouts in the North Cascades wilderness. The book is rich with Suiter’s dramatic black-and-white photographs of peaks, rivers and other details of the North Cascades. He recently moved to southeastern Pennsylvania after 28 years in Boston, and is currently working on a biography of Gary Snyder, under contract with Shoemaker & Hoard Publishers.

2006 North Cascades Institute. All rights reserved. Art and photo copyrights remain with creators and are used with permission. Jack Kerouac photo © Walter Lehrman. Poets on the Peaks excerpt © John Suiter. Rest of text © North Cascades Institute 2006. North Cascades Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or disability in any of our policies or programs. Staff and Board listed online at www.ncascades.org.

KEROUAC

IN THE CASCADES

Jack Kerouac in Mill Valley, California, May 1956, a few weeks before he arrived at Marblemount for his stint as a fire lookout

››

on Desolation Peak 360 85 6 5700 ~ 209

AS AUGUST TURNED SLOWLY INTO SEPTEMBER, JACK’S SPIRITS SOARED. HIS LAST DAYS ON DESOLATION—ONCE HE WAS CERTAIN THEY WERE THE LAST—WERE SOME OF HIS BEST AS HE REAFFIRMED THE SPIRITUAL QUEST THAT HAD BROUGHT HIM TO THE MOUNTAIN IN THE FIRST PLACE. PERHAPS HE HADN’T BEEN GIVEN THE SORT OF VISION THAT HE’D SOUGHT—AT LEAST NOT THE HUI-NENG BLAKEAN PYROTECHNICS HE HAD EXPECTED—BUT HE HAD SEEN ANOTHER WORLD. FOR A TIME HE HAD BEEN PRIVILEGED TO DWELL IN THE REALM OF THE IMMORTALS, WHERE, AS IN THE OLD ZEN SAYING, HE “WHISTLED AT THE MOON AND SLEPT IN THE CLOUDS.”

©JOHN SUITER

“Those afternoons, those lazy afternoons, when I used to sit, or lie down, on Desolation Peak, sometimes on the alpine grass, hundreds of miles of snowcovered rock all around, looming Mount Hozomeen on my north, vast snowy Jack to the south, the encharmed picture of the lake below to the west and the snowy hump of Mt. Baker beyond, and to the east of the rilled and ridged monstrosities humping to the Cascade Ridge…” We interrupt this stream-of-consciousness prose to mark the 50th-year anniversary of Jack Kerouac’s infamous stint as a fire lookout on Desolation Peak in the North Cascades. On June 18, 1956, Kerouac hitchhiked north

“…Stark naked rock, pinnacles and thousand feet high protruding from hunch-muscles another thousand feet high protruding from immense timbered shoulders, and the green pointy-fir snake of my own (Starvation) ridge wriggling to it, to its awful vaulty blue smokebody rock…” Inspired by his friend Gary Snyder, who regaled him with tall tales of mountain men and vast wilderness, Kerouac took to this remote job in order to clear his mind, mediate on the Diamond Sutra and work on various writing projects. “Hozomeen, Hozomeen, most beautiful mountain I ever seen, like a tiger sometimes with stripes, sunwashed rills and shadow crags wriggling

from the Bay Area to Marblemount and, by July 5, he was ensconsed in his mountaintop shack at 6,102 feet.

lines in the Bright Daylight, vertical furrows and bumps and Boo! crevasses, boom, sheer magnificent Prudential mountain, nobody’s even heard of it,

—FROM POETS ON THE PEAKS: GARY SNYDER, PHILIP WHALEN, AND JACK KEROUAC IN THE NORTH CASCADES , BY JOHN SUITER and it’s only 8,000 feet high, but what a horror when I first saw that void the first night of my staying on Desolation Peak waking up from deep fogs of 20 hours to a starlit night suddenly loomed by Hozomeen with his two sharp points, right in my window black—the Void, every time I’d think of the Void I’d see Hozomeen and understand—” His novel On the Road had not yet been published and the relatively unknown author spent 64 days of solitude on Desolation, descending the trail to Ross Lake only once to pick up a can of Prince Albert tobacco. From his perch, he surveyed a vast sea of wilderness and high peaks, including Mt. Terror, Mt. Fury, Mt. Despair and the formidable Mt. Hozomeen. That is just an excerpt from the first sentence (not first paragraph, but first sentence!) of Desolation Angels, Kerouac’s classic 1965 novel of his lookout experiences. w w w.ncascades.org

Canada United States

Mt. Shuksan Mt. Baker

Bellingham

Learning Center San Juan Islands

Skagit Valley

Sedro-Woolley

Winthrop

North Cascades National Park

Okanogan

360 85 6 5700 ~ 209

â&#x17E;Ł N

Leavenworth

CAD

Tacoma

Lake Chelan

CAS

Seattle

E RANG E

Glacier Peak

ID OR

NV29

FIRST SEMINAR SEASON 1986

FIRST STUDENTS ENTER GRADUATE PROGRAM 2001

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM BEGINS 1993

MOUNTAIN SCHOOL BEGINS 1990

FIRST ANNUAL WRITING RETREAT BEGINS 1998

JOIN US TODAY NORTH CASCADES ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER OPENS 2005

Celebrating 20 years NORTH CASCADES INSTITUTE 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, Washington 98284 360 856 5700 ~209 www.ncascades.org

♼

PRINTED ON 100 PERCENT POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED PAPER MANUFACTURED WITH WINDPOWER B Y CHO OSI NG RECYCLED FIBE R WE SAVE D 80 TR E ES , 34, 101 G ALLO NS OF WATE R AN D 3, 618 POU N DS OF S OL ID WASTE

FIELD SEMINARS SUMMER YOUTH ADVENTURES

MOUNTAIN SCHOOL GRADUATE PROGRAM

FAMILY GETAWAYS STEWARDSHIP