Restoring alpine vegetation in the Cascade mountains

 We kicked off a Treasured Landscapes Volunteer Vacation this summer with citizen scientists, National Forest Foundation's  (NFF) Kathleen Dowd-Gaily, the North Cascades Basecamp's Bondi family, and Therese Ohlson (retired USFS botanist) as they hiked the Maple Pass Loop to enjoy the wildflower display and learn about alpine ecology and restoration as part of a week long program to explore areas that are a part of the NFF’s Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences conservation campaign.

The Maple Pass Loop is a great example of a trail being over-loved in our eastern Cascades mountains.  The views are incredible of Black Peak, Cutthroat Pass, Golden Horn to the north, and Glacier Peak to the south.  It is a strenuous but satisfying 8 mile round trip loop.  This beloved trail has earned its popularity with over 10,000 visitors /year (explained T. Ohlson), and it is written up in many of our North Cascades hiking guide books.  However its abraided trails through the mountain heather, the bare soil on every potential overlook, and the lack of vegetation at Maple Pass show its high volume use.

The US Forest Service and NFF are working to change over-loved trail with restoration of the alpine plant communities.  The Treasured Landscapes Initiative is collaborating its efforts with citizen science volunteers and forest service employees to designate a sound user path along the trail, plant and restore native plants outside the newly designated paths, and gently block off restored areas for future generations to enjoy.   The outcome will be incredible if folks respect the efforts and take charge of their actions on this and other trails above treeline.  A grand hope is that if this restoration effort is successful, it will lead to a greater understanding of how to love and protect our alpine trail systems.

If you'd like to be part of this effort, please contact Kathleen Dowd-Gailey by email at kdowdgailey@nationalforests.org or phone at 206/832-8280.  Or let us know if you'd like to partake in the project as part of a North Cascades Basecamp citizen science effort and we can help organize a summer project for 2015. 

Basecamp Granola

This is a favorite cereal at the North Cascades Basecamp, put out daily as part of our cold cereal bar to accompany a locally grown, healthy hot breakfast we serve for our guests.   This granola recipe is truly the inspiration for this recipe blog since we have requests for it so often, and we love to share!  It holds its crunch, is loaded with nuts and seeds, and low on sugar compared to other (even healthy) granolas.  I thinks the combination of coconut oil, peanut butter, agave syrup, maple syrup, ground flax seed, our our own Basecamp honey give it the perfect sweetness and texture. One note is that each batch is unique because we like to throw the ingredients together depending on our moods.  Let us know what you think!

INGREDIENTS

DRY
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup raw almonds (chunked)
1 cup raw walnuts
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup raw sesame seeds
4 T ground flax
3 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp sea salt

WET
1/2 cup honey (substitute partial 100% maple syrup or brown rice syrup)
3 T agave nectar
3 T coconut oil
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 1/4 cup brown sugar

ADD INS:
coconut flakes, dried cranberries, pepitas, raisins

DIRECTIONS
Set oven to 100 degrees F.  In a medium saucepan, head the wet ingredients until smooth.  Stir frequently so it doesn't burn.  Stir wet ingredients into dry until well coated; it may be hard to stir at this point, but make sure everything is combined.  Spread mixture onto a well oiled jelly roll sheet, or other baking pan with at least a 1/2 inch side.  Bake for 45 minutes, removing the pan every 15 minute to give the granola a good stir and prevent over browning on the sides.  Allow to cool on the pan before putting it away in a airtight container.


Printed from North Cascades Basecamp recipe blog
www.northcascadesbasecamp.com
October 2013
inspired by Oh She Glows My Favourite Homemade Granola (to-date)

Butterflies of the Cascades

This August we hosted a fabulous retreat with Dr. Robert Michael Pyle, studying the Butterflies of the North Cascades.  Our crew for the weekend was enthusiastic, ready to learn, and ranged from the advanced lepidopteran in the field, to the laboratory researcher studying adaptations of butterflies, and onto those newly acquiring butterflying handling and identification skills.  Smiles and laughter ensued when Bob would post a release butterfly on one's nose.  What a great expression one makes when tickled by butterfly feet!

Here Bob demonstrates proper holding techniques for the group.  But sometimes they held still for us all on their own and photography was just as informative. We learned specifics such the life history of butterflies and their life stages, importance of nectaring and host plants for adult and caterpillars, and how to identify males and females.  Other discussions throughout the weekend were informative, in-depth, and focused on the bigger picture of global warming, nature deficit disorder, to collect or not to collect specimens for study, and impacts of changing habitats for butterflies in a shared world with humans. 

We look forward to hosting Bob in the future, and loved the inspiration of this amazing naturalist group! 

all three species of wood nymphs in one day!

butterflying around the Basecamp gardens to end the fun!

Raptor Migration

The Fourth Annual Raptor Migration Festival fulfilled expectations this year with great raptor viewing from Chelan Ridge to Harts Pass.  The North Cascades Basecamp was proud to be involved with a booth at Pateros Memorial Park. A crowd of 30 joined us at the Basecamp on Saturday night for summer garden vegetable curry soup and emmer brownies with ice cream dessert, followed by a great presentation by Andy Stepniewski of Yakima Audubon.   

Andy and Ellen led 15+ participants up to Harts Pass on Sunday morning to watch more of the migration magic.  The sunny ridgeline was ideal on this day for migrating raptors; wings set back, head thrust forward, and hardly a flap needed except for the balancing act to overcompensate for gusts of wind reaching 20-30 mph.  The highlight of the day was acrobatic prairie falcons at the Slate Peak parking area, numerous osprey riding the winds, and rocket-fast merlins chasing pipets.  We watched over 50 birds in their migration south, catching those thermals and riding the gusty winds.  Happy travels and we’ll see you next year! 

Our Growing Garden

The summer sun, heat, and long days have arrived in Mazama.  Our garden is loving this weather and is literally growing by the inch everyday!  Our peas and raspberries are producing a large harvest daily and it seems the cucumbers and squash grow noticeably larger by the hour.  We harvested our garlic scapes a few weeks ago (see our pesto recipe below) and are anxious to see how big the garlic is this year!
 
Here's a list of some of the things currently growing in our garden;
Veggies and fruits; arugula, apples, beans, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, cherries, cucumbers, garlic, hops, kale, lettuce, nasturtiums, potatoes, snow and sugar snap peas, radishes, squash, onions, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, spinach, tomatoes,eggplant, zuchini and yellow squash.
Herbs; calendula, cilantro, dill, parsley, oregano, basil, chives, mint, catnip, lavender,

With hot summer days here, it is often hard to imagine the cold winter days ahead.  However, we are already thinking ahead to winter, when our garden is resting and we depend on all the food we've stored away during this time of plenty.  Much of our garden bounty goes straight to the table, feeding our family and lodge guest.  The rest is processed and kept stored away- jams, pesto, salsa and such are canned; garlic, onions, carrots, potatoes are kept in dry storage; greens and berries go to the freezer. Happy harvest to all!

HONEY RASPBERRY JAM

3 cups raspberries
1 1/2 cups honey
Mash berries in sauce pan.  Heat to a boil and cook down for 15 minutes.  Add the honey and bring to just above boiling.  Cook for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and beat with a wire whip for about 6 minutes.  Spoon into hot jars, leave 1/4 inch head-space.  Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.  Enjoy!   

NORTH CASCADES BASECAMP GARLIC SCAPE PESTO

6-7 garlic scapes

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Blend in a food processor til smooth and creamy.  

Use fresh or jar it up in the freezer for a cold winters night treat. 

Bats in Mazama

Last Friday, here at the North Cascades Basecamp, we hosted students from Central Washington University visiting as part of a wildlife ecology field techniques class with Dan Beck. Arriving in the early morning, Kim and Steve took the students on an introduction to birding walk around the Basecamp property where numerous species were heard and identified. 

Later in the evening, the students returned for a trip highlight- bat mist netting. What is bat mist netting you may ask (as I did).  Mist netting is an effective and safe way of capturing both birds and bats.   Very lightweight, almost invisible, nylon nets are strung between two poles over a highly trafficked area.  In our case, we strung three nets over ponds, very close to the water's surface.  

Kent and Kim carefully setting up the mist nets

USFWS Wildlife biologist, Kent Woodruff, led the evening and proved to be an excellent source of information.  However, early on he stated that bat knowledge is very limited, especially here in the Methow Valley.  "The answer to most questions about bats is 'I don't know.'"  He attributes the lack of knowledge to the difficult task of these small flying mammals, and to the lack of funding/support for research.  Unfortunately, bats often have a negative association in our society and aren't the cuddly animals that people are willing to support and protect.  While research and understanding surrounding bats is often limited, it is clear that they do play an important role in our ecosystem and are often referred to as a 'keystone' species.

Anticipation grew as the nets were assembled and dusk arrived.  The group of 25 students and Basecamp guests sat patiently and quietly on logs surrounding the ponds and waited for the bats to arrive.  Soon the first bats were spotted and excitement grew as more quickly arrived.  It was clear everyone was enjoying watching the acrobatic show the bats put on but also anxious for the first bat capture.

After 20 minutes of waiting, our patience was rewarded with the capture of the Methow Valley's smallest bat species.  Weighing about the same as a penny, California Mytois bat (myotis californicus) is found along the west coast of America; from British Columbia, Canada to as far south as Guatemala.

The group assembled around Kent as he identified the bat.  He identified our bat by it’s keeled calcar (a cartilaginous spur of the ankle joint that extends toward the tail), small feet, color and facial features.

Pointing out the Keeled Calcar

There are approximately 1100 bat species across every continent (except Antarctica). Here in Washington State we have 15 bats species, 8 of which are currently listed federally as Category 2 Candidates, meaning adequate information is lacking to list them as endangered species. However, it is hypothesized that they should receive that designation.  Across the nation approximately 40 percent of bat species are currently threatened.  

How can you help?

• Support bat conservation and research organizations; 
• Help increase bat habitat; 
• Put up bat houses (http://batcon.org/index.php/get-involved/install-a-bat-house.html) 
• Leave hollow trees and snags intact 
• Do not disturb roosting or hibernating bats 
• Minimize pesticide use

Interested in learning more about Bats in Washington?

Basic facts about bats from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/bats.html

The recent (and first!) conservation plan for bats in Washington State

http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/species/

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Live Bat Cam

http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/batcam/index.html

Bats Northwest; a non-profit to protect bats through education and research

http://batsnorthwest.org/index.html

Methow Grist Video

Co-evolution of the red-naped and red-breasted sapsuckers

The red-breasted Sphyrapicus ruber and red-naped Sphyrapicus nuchalis sapsuckers are two woodpecker species that overlap in their range near the crest of the Cascades.  These two species are sympatric, meaning that during the evolution process, they became two new species while inhabiting the same geographic region. Generally speaking in Washington, the red-breasted live on the west side, the red-naped on the east side.   At the North Cascades Basecamp in Mazama, we’ve had the opportunity to observe both species in a cedar and birch grove that is unique to the upper Methow watershed.

This year, a male red-breasted sapsucker was observed late in the winter along the Basecamp trail.  He drummed his broken drum on local snags, showed off his beautiful red head, called his quiet “mewing” call, and even excavated a perfectly round cavity in a birch snag.  A female red-naped sapsucker was often seen in the same area, licking (not drinking) up sap with her barbed tongue, making frequent visits to his territory, and exploring the newly constructed cavity with intrepidation (poking her head up to the entrance but not entering).  Finally in mid-June, after many hours of observation, we saw the red-breasted male and the red-naped female both enter and exist the nesting cavity with food in beak for the hungry nestlings, and he was being a good dad and dropping fecal sacs to the ground as his housecleaning duties ensued.   

These two species of sapsuckers are known to hybridize in south-central Oregon, northeastern California, along the California-Nevada border, and in southern Nevada.  Genetic studies by Johnson et al (1983, 1985) showed that red-naped and red-breasted sapsuckers have the highest avian genetic relatedness ever reported, similar to that found between avian subspecies.  They also found the hybrid F1 generation to produce viable offspring, although it seems that certain F2 backcrossings may have partial sterility issues.  These studies and others confirm that although these two species are nearly genetically identical, there is a low degree of hybridization while encountering each other regularly, and therefore they are still considered as separate biological species. 

It will be interesting to see what our new fledgling hybrid sapsuckers look like, and who they choose as mates into the future.

Ned K. Johnson and Robert M. Zink. 1983. Speciation in Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus): I. Genetic Differentiation.  The Auk: 871-884.

Ned K. Johnson and Carla Bowman Johnson.  1985.  Speciation in Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus): II. Sympatry, Hybridization, and Mate Preference in S. ruber daggetti and S. nuchalis.  The Auk: 1-15.