As is evidenced by the rich cadre of writers who have found inspiration in the North Cascades, this region is almost eerily conducive to writing. Maybe it’s …
Read More of Outline of a Hollow Bird: Poems by Evan Holmstrom
Here at the Confluence Garden we’re gearing up for winter. That means bringing in the irrigation hosing, tucking in the garlic bed with a blanket of straw, …
Read More of The Confluence Garden: A Space For Growing Community
As his time at Mountain School comes to an end, 10-year-old Avi writes a letter to himself reflecting on his time in the North Cascades wilderness. Two …
Read More of Connecting the Dots: An Interview with Creative Resident Patty DiRienzo
Sunrise on Pyramid Peak, taken from the Environmental Learning Center parking lot. Photo by Angela Burlile Every Sunday I will be posting photos collected from various NCI …
Read More of NCI Weekly Photo Roundup: December 4 2016
This is the first of a weekly photo roundup series I will be posting here on Chattermarks. These photos are collected from various NCI graduate students and staff, …
Read More of Weekly Photo Roundup: November 27 2016
In the North Cascades, a mosaic of public lands—national, state, and provincial parks, national forests, wilderness and recreation areas—protects many of the region’s most beloved areas. It’s …
Read More of Polly Dyer: NW conservation hero passes away at age 96
“Located in the most remote corner of the continental United States, hunkered below a wilderness cascading down from the mountains, early Bellingham… had ambition,” writes historian Judy …
Read More of Walking Washington's History
Catching up with Jack Kerouac, who served as a fire lookout atop Desolation Peak in the North Cascades 60 years ago this summer. In this passage from …
Read More of Jack Kerouac's first morning on Desolation
Sixty years ago this month, Jack Kerouac left Northern California for the Skagit Valley and North Cascades to begin his summer as a fire lookout atop Desolation …
Read More of Jack Kerouac in the North Cascades
1. Canoe the Skagit River The Skagit is one of the great rivers of the west, supplying nearly 40 percent of the fresh water and wild salmon …
Read More of Our 10 Favorite Things To Do in the North Cascades