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J.-Schmitt-Blog2-Header

It is hard to believe that I only have 7 months left in this internship. But as the saying goes, “time flies when you’re having fun”. Variety, in this case, drives the enjoyment I have taken from this job. As the invasive species specialist on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, I naturally have been dealing with plants in general, but my tenure here has been much more than that. In the last couple months I have been given the opportunity to burn a giant “slash pile” with the Darrington Ranger District (RD) burn boss, conduct hazard tree analysis at Horseshoe Cove Campground with the Mt. Baker RD permit administrator, oversee the Whatcom County Corrections Crew as they mowed a field of reed canary grass, helped supervise 50 7th and 8th graders while planting over 700 trees, co-hosted a “weed watchers” training event for the King County Noxious Weed Control Board at the North Bend RD, released Bruchidius villosus (a tiny beetle that eats Scotch broom at the Taylor Spawning Channel) and found a  nice 5 point elk antler on the Skagit River.

Bruchidius villosus biocontrol

Bruchidius villosus biocontrol

Whatcom Co Correction Crew

Whatcom County Correction Crew mowed a field of reed canary grass. 

Planting Trees with Middle School Kids

Planting Trees with Middle School Kids

I have seen elk, deer, coyote, eagle, bass, trout, steelhead, and a river otter. As weather has been warming up, so have the animal sightings. Although I have never been one to take a lot of pictures in the past, I feel that it is important to try and document this journey. Because of this I carry my camera with me everywhere I go; you never know when you only have a moment to snap a photo of something rare out here. I haven’t taken a good shot of deer or elk yet, they are fast and most of the time I see them at a distance. Still, I am waiting to get a good shot of a bear and a cougar, which it seems, are out there in good numbers. While conducting the hazard tree analysis I was shown a cougar kill site where the cougar killed a deer and buried it under the detritus in the area. On a log the animal scratched up you could clearly see four claw marks spanning eight inches across the paw. That’s a big cat and it’s one of the few animals in the region that I have never seen in the wild. It’s only a matter of time though.

Blacktailed Deer

Blacktailed Deer

Elk Shed 1

Elk Shed

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Jul 16

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It was so much fun teaching mtadamsinstitute summer botany camp yesterday. The kids had a blast learning about plants and natural dyes. We had a field trip to bloomanddye to harvest fresh dye flowers and the older kids made bundle dyed bandanas. The young kids made indigo shibori bandanas and left with blue hands and blue arms! 💙🌿🌼💛 

I left exhausted with a big smile and full heart. Seeing the joy and happiness on these kids faces as they saw what they created was a treat. 

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She’s off for her school overnight trip! She handled all of her own packing and I am fully confident that means she’ll have at least 95% of the things she really needs. Girlfriend is on top of it! #urchinadventures #montessorikids #overnightfieldtrip #cascademountainschool
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Jan 14

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Blue Hour at Mount Adams, The #bluehour is the period of #twilight when the Sun is at a significant depth below the horizon and residual, indirect sunlight takes on a predominantly blue shade.
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Missing camp
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Dec 6

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Mt Adams in August 
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