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adventures northwest

A River of Stories: Storytelling on the Skagit

A River of Stories: Storytelling on the Skagit
Sep 9, 2024Christian Martin

The Skagit River sustains us humans in many ways, from providing drinking water to irrigating crops to hosting fisheries. Of course, the basin is also home to …
Read More of A River of Stories: Storytelling on the Skagit

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Recent Articles

  • Nature of Writing: Creative Process for “Mountainous”
  • YLA 2026: Growing Together in the North Cascades
  • Why Do Larch Trees Turn Gold? And Why Is That So Weird for a Conifer?
  • In the Range of Fire & Ice: Peopling the Passes
  • Weekend for All: When Access Becomes Belonging

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ncascades

Inspiring environmental stewardship through education, exploration and connection since 1986.
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The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings commun The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings community together in conversation to celebrate the creative minds illuminating the natural world with the turn of a page.

This Sun, Oct 25, the Institute and Village Books welcome author Gavin Van Horn, sharing fascinating insights into the sensory experiences of nature in his new book, "Sensoria." From the mating calls of chorus frogs to elephant funerary rites to the memory-rich tastes of place, "Sensoria" offers an immersion in the sensual experiences of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling—and their interactions, combinations, and more-than-human manifestations. By exploring the sensorium among all forms of life, this volume highlights ecologically and socially diverse ways of touching the world with mind, and touching mind with the world. 

📚 RSVP Today: http://ncascades.org/now
The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings commun The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings community together in conversation to celebrate the creative minds illuminating the natural world with the turn of a page.

This Saturday, Oct 24 at 3PM, the Institute and Village Books are thrilled to welcome award-winning author-illustrator Julia Kuo for the launch of her new book "Mountainous"—a wondrous exploration into mountains. Trek up, up, up, to where glaciers slide, volcanoes erupt, and meadow flowers burst into color. Discover all of the marvelous ways mountains sway and hum, wiggle and shake, and even make their own weather. This stunning picture book is perfect for introducing readers of all ages to the mysteries of mighty mountains and the wonders of our natural world. 

This family-friendly event will feature a reading of "Mountainous," plus fun activities like coloring sheets, hands-on rock matching and more! See you there!

📚 RSVP Today: http://ncascades.org/now

🏔️ And if you'd like to learn more about Julia's creative process and the inspiration behind "Mountainous," visit our blog at blog.ncascades.org to read her guest post.
It’s LA, LA, LA, LArch season!!! Did you know larc It’s LA, LA, LA, LArch season!!! Did you know larches are conifers AND deciduous trees?!? Say what. 🤯⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

🌲 Larch trees are large deciduous trees with short needles and cones. The needles are only an inch or so long and sprout in little clusters along the length of the stems. Each cluster has 30 to 40 needles. 

🌲 Tucked in among the needles you can find pink flowers that eventually become cones. The cones start out red or yellow, turning brown as they mature. 

🌲 Stay tuned for more larch photos and facts next week. 

Have you seen larches this fall?

📸: @skandog 

Ready to experience the wonder & beauty of the Cascades in person? Enjoy 40% Fall Base Camp stays in celebration of our 40th anniversary! Book today: ncascades.org/basecamp
As part of our 40th Anniversary, we’re celebrating As part of our 40th Anniversary, we’re celebrating North Cascades Institute’s Deep Roots by sharing stories from the people who helped shape the Institute over four decades. Through conversations with founders, longtime instructors, board members, staff, partners and friends, we’re looking back at where we started, how we’ve grown, and the people and ideas that have carried our mission forward.

Libby Mills is a naturalist and artist who has taught North Cascades Institute classes for more than 35 years. She has served on the board of Skagit Audubon, lead classes in natural history for Padilla Bay Foundation and enjoys taking people into the natural world to observe, learn and sketch on both east and west sides of the North Cascades and beyond.

Deep Roots. Bright Future. Celebrating 40 years of North Cascades Institute

Learn more at ncascades.org/40
Geekin out on Geese! ⁣ 🪿 Snow Geese are a fall st Geekin out on Geese! ⁣

🪿 Snow Geese are a fall staple by the thousands in the Skagit Valley. That’s because they love open fields and bodies of water for their wintering grounds. 

🪿 Snow geese breed from late May to mid-August, but they leave their nesting areas and spend more than half the year on their migration to-and-from warmer wintering areas. They migrate in large numbers, along narrow corridors, more than 3000 miles from traditional wintering areas to the tundra and vice versa.

🪿 Snow Geese make epic journeys by air, but they are impressive on foot, too. Snow Geese chicks are well developed when they hatch, with open eyes and down-covered bodies. They can swim and eat on their own within 24 hours and within the first three weeks of hatching, they may walk up to 50 miles with their parents from the nest to a more suitable area. 

🪿 Snow Geese mate for life, choosing an individual of the same color morph as the family members they grew up with. The female incubates the eggs, spending 21 or more hours per day on the nest, while the male stands guard to defend the nest against predators.

Have you seen Snow Geese on their annual migration before? How would you describe the sight? 

📍Ancestral homelands of the Sauk Suiattle, Swinomish & Upper Skagit people
📸: @mukul.soman 

Want to learn more about birds? Visit our website for our list of upcoming fall birding trips. Link in bio.
As the season's first snows dust the Cascades, joi As the season's first snows dust the Cascades, join us to notice and learn about regional wildlife, from the mountains to the Skagit Valley in these upcoming Institute Field Classes. 

🐾 Nov 14| Introduction to Wildlife Tracking with Matthew Fortin
🦉 Dec 12 | Skagit Valley Winter Birding with Libby Mills

SIGN UP TODAY (only a few spots left!) >> ncascades.org/classes

📸 1 : Russell Blakeley
📸 2: Matthew Fortin
📸 3: Tim Leech
The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings commun The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings community together in conversation to celebrate the creative minds illuminating the natural world with the turn of a page.

Tomorrow, Oct 14, the Institute and Third Place Books welcome naturalist, eco-philosopher & author Lyanda Lynn Haupt for a conversation about her latest book, "Among the Birds: Field Notes from Cascadia." In "Among the Birds", Haupt moves intuitively from species to species, celebrating experience, memory, and the serendipity of daily life. Haupt's signature voice — curious and gently humorous — infuses each vignette with delight as she offers a closer look at the captivating quirks and habits of birds such as Steller's Jay, Anna's Hummingbird, Merlin, Black Oystercatcher, American Dipper and many more. 

Haupt will be joined in conversation by naturalist David B. Williams. Acclaimed artist Justin Gibbens, whose realistic yet whimsical illustrations grace the pages of "Among The Birds," will also be in attendance. 

📚 RSVP Today: http://ncascades.org/now
Fall is here in the North Cascades 🍂 Phenology is Fall is here in the North Cascades 🍂

Phenology is the study of cyclic & seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life. Cooler temperatures, shorter days & leaves changing colors are all phenological events, but why do these events happen? Let’s talk about the science behind fall colors. 

🍂 The main reason leaves change color is not due to changing temperatures, but due to less daylight as nights become longer. 

🍂 As days grow shorter, & nights grow longer & cooler, biochemical processes in the leaf begin bringing out those fall colors. The veins that carry fluids into & out of the leaf gradually close off as a layer of cells form at the base of each leaf. These clogged veins trap sugars in the leaf & promote production of anthocyanin. Once this separation layer is complete & the connecting tissues are sealed off, the leaf is ready to fall.

🍂 Chlorophyll, is responsible for absorbing sunlight & gives leaves their green color. As chemical changes begin to take place inside the plant, the combination of reduced light, lack of nutrients, & less water triggers the trees to start the process of breaking down the chlorophyll & the green color fades. 

🍂 Chlorophyll is so dominant it hides the other colors of leaves. Once all the chlorophyll is broken down we start to see the yellows & reds showing through as leaves change colors! Carotenoids give leaves their brilliant yellow & orange colors, while anthocyanins are found in deep red & purplish leaves.

🍂 While daylight is the main factor that brings on fall foliage, several other factors contribute to how bright fall colors are: temperature, precipitation, & soil moisture. 

🍂 Trees losing their leaves means they conserve water & spend less energy in winter. 

Are you noticing the fall colors where you live?

📍Andestral homelands of the Nlaka’pamux, Syilx (Okanagan), Sauk Suiattle & Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation 
📸: @lostinwashington

Ready to experience the wonder & beauty of the Cascades in person? Enjoy 40% Fall Base Camp stays in celebration of our 40th anniversary! Book today: ncascades.org/basecamp
Hear more from Rena Priest this Sat, Oct 10 at Vil Hear more from Rena Priest this Sat, Oct 10 at Village Books, Fairhaven as she shares pieces from her moving new collection, "Dancing to the Ticking of the Doomsday Clock." 

📚 RSVP for this event and discover more inspiring reads at Nature of Writing events in Seattle & Bellingham this Fall! http://ncascades.org/now
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