September 13, 2010

Return From the Woods!
by Ashton Fink

The group on top of Condon Mountain overlooking both the Bob Marshall
to the east and the Swan Valley and Mission Mountains to the west.

We have returned from the woods! We are taking full advantage of the comforts of our new home here at the barn. Our trip was packed full with new plant and animal identification skills, field research skills and changing weather patterns! We learned a little more about atmospheres than we had in the lesson plan, which created an even more dynamic and overall excellent trip! The nutcrackers were flying, rodents busy caching food for an earlier than expected winter and the students were busy sketching plants and animal signs. Steve, Adam and Tom shared stories of the landscape as we warmed ourselves by the fireside.

The views from Condon Mountain into the Bob are outstanding!

(L-R) Adam, Krista, and Catherine identifying plants along the trail.	Adam and Kaitlyn examining some mammal tracks in the mud.
Catherine and Alissa counting tree rings from an increment bore sample.
Brian, Alissa and Jillian making “feather sticks” a form of fire building.
Alissa is journaling the fresh tracks found in the mud.	Jillian gazes into the glacial landscape of the Little Salmon drainage.
After a dry day we woke up to a sun dog on the horizon telling us to prepare for another atmospheric adventure! Alissa standing near Upper Little Salmon Lake after a dusting of snow.
Steve instructing a map lesson.	The group taking a break on the trail as we head out of the backcountry.

View of Steamboat Mountain as the sun is peaking between the clouds
and the western horizon line.