|
|
 Connecting to Facebook
Connecting to Facebook
|
|
Letter from the Bondi's
Where has winter gone? Three long months of cold and snow and constant stream of ski lodge guests are starting to wane as the days lengthen and the sun starts to warm the ground. Besides a tripped fuse to our well pump (What? No water for 30 people?!), the winter season has been kind to all who have spent time at the North Cascades Basecamp- owners, employees, and visitors alike. Nordic ski and snowshoe trails still call us outside daily, and visitors slush by all day. But signs of change abound- bird song, lingering sunsets, spring/summer reservations, prospects of spring vacation plans (for kids, of course). Plenty to be thankful for in hind-site; plenty to be excited about... See our 'Upcoming Programs' section below!
|
In This Issue
-
Letter from the Bondi's
-
Reflections
-
Up and Coming
-
Employees Corner
-
Testimonials
-
Resident Wildlife
-
Local Roots
-
Mica's Musings
The Beauty of all Seasons
poetry by Bruce Thompson, adapted from Kim's prose ramblings
May has wildlflowers in its heart,
June sends birds abundant from the start;
July coaxes us to views on high,
August is when dragons and butters fly.
October shouts colors, in trees and down low,
Seems any season brings gifts whenever you go.
|
|
|
Reflections
The New Ecology Classroom!
This winter, we finished the Ecology Center Classroom!  The old workshop is now refinished into a beautiful studio space to host our natural history presentations, art classes, yoga retreats, science programs, as well as other events throughout the year. Our group of winter employees, interns, family, and friends all pulled together earlier this winter to help finish the project with laughter and love.
Thursday Night Soup and Presentation Series
 This winter we have seen many wonderful presentations. From discussions on Northwest nature writers, scientific exploration of native insects of the Methow, and a memorable drum circle, the Methow community members and visitors alike enjoyed the array of information.
Thank you so much to all of our presenters: Rebecca Brown, Scott Fitkin, Susan Prichard, Peter Morrison, Mike Liu, Kathleen Dowd-Gailey, Kip and Celeste Roberts, Penny Becker, Peter Donahue, Rich Beausoleil, Gay Northrup, and Idie Ulsh.
Winter Wildlife Tracking
with Gabe Spence
 A group of intrepid explorers spent a day with Gabe tracking during January's coldest temperatures. The local wildlife kept moving to avoid the cold conditions sinking into their bones too. With Gabe's amazing awareness of the landscape, we spent time tracking animals far and wide in the upper Methow area, observing their movements, patterns, and general behaviors. Thanks Gabe for your expertise!
Snowshoe Tours
MVSTA Nature of Winter
 Each Saturday this winter, an MVSTA guide led snow shoe tours on the Basecamp trails. Tour guides helped groups understand the "Nature of Winter", and see the subtle movements of the winter animals through their snow tracks. As one snow-shoer commented, groups acted as detectives deciphering the stories and motives of all the different animals' movements and tendencies. What a fun way to begin a Saturday!
|
Wintering Bald Eagle Surveys
Kim Romain-Bondi and Catherine Means
January and February
 Weekly throughout the winter, Kim and Catherine headed down valley with binoculars, a spotting scope, and enthusiastic  citizen scientists wanting to learn more about wintering bald eagles in the Methow Valley. Eagle observation surveys focus on local foraging hot spots, night roosts, and day perch locations where one can see and identify eagle age classes by eye color, size, and coloration patterns of the feathers. Formal surveys every other Sunday observed an averaged of 50 eagles/night perched, foraging or flying into their roost sites. Thank you to all our participants who enthusiastically dedicated their Sunday afternoons to a meaningful cause!
The 2013 Great Backyard Bird Count Walkabout
February 15-18th
Steve Bondi
 For two hours each day during President's Day weekend, 10 eager Citizen Scientist birders participated in the Great backyard Bird Count at the North Cascades Basecamp. By sight and sound, we recorded resident winter birds such as barred owls, red-naped sapsuckers, hairy, downy and pileated woodpeckers, red-breasted nuthatches, mountain & black-capped chickadees, golden crown kinglets, and a flock of up to 300 common red polls which kept us dizzy with their overhead flocking antics. Our list, as well as those of other contributors, can be found at www.birdsource.org/gbbc. Please join us in 2014 for the Great Backyard bird count at the Basecamp!
Painting Colorful Winter Watercolors
February 16-17th
John Adams
 John Adams returned to the Basecamp to guide participants through a two-day watercolor workshop. John, a Northwest watercolorist, helps us see the colors blazing throughout winter and bring them cleanly onto paper. Each day included a painting demonstration and discussion of color strategies and composition along with plenty of time for individual instruction. Thanks everyone for your participation!
|
Up and Coming still this Winter
We are cherishing the end of winter and celebrating early spring in the Methow Valley!
Feathered Architects: the fascinating world of bird nests
Thursday, February 28, 5:30p soup; 6:30p presentation
with Idie Ulsh
 The last of our Winter Soup and Presentation Series will finish up with Idie Ulsh, and her amazing photo documentary of how and where birds make their nests. She'll relate interesting facts about nest construction from more than 30 bird species during her extensive 3-year perusal of bird nest literature. The soup this Thursday night is of the wild mushroom variety! cost:$10
Winter Bliss Yoga and Ski Retreat
March 1-3rd
Mary Marmorstone
The first weekend in March, Mary Marmorstone leads a Winter Bliss Yoga and Ski Retreat. Participants will start and end the day with a restorative yoga session, while skiing and practicing yoga throughout the day to keep balance in mind. This retreat promises to be restful, rebuilding, empowering, and beautiful. What a great way to welcome in the spring! $25 locals special for a weekend of yoga classes! Still a few spots open for registration.
Up and Coming this Spring/Summer
Early birds get the worm! Sign up now to reserve your spot for upcoming retreats and programs at the North Cascades Basecamp this summer. Contact us at info@northcascadesbasecamp.com for more information. On another note, it looks like we will be able to offer Clock Hours for our workshops and programs this summer; inquire with Kim!
 The Nature of Art and Science
Weekend Workshop
Hannah Hinchman and Bruce Thompson
May 24-27th
 Pygmy Rabbit Conservation Field Trip
field trip to Ephrata to assist in recovery efforts
June date to be announced
 Painting Balsamroot Landscapes
John Adams
June 15th. 10a-2p
 Butterflies of the North Cascades
Robert Michael Pyle
August 16-18th
 Plein Air Watercolor Retreat
Maria Coryell-Martin
September 6-8th
|
Testimonials
"So happy to have a 2nd Christmas at Basecamp! Love the sense of family - you make everyone feel cozy and loved! I will be planting all purple veggies this spring, inspired by your delicious purple potatoes! We'll be back. Thanks!"
~Ann & Tyler, Wenatchee, WA
"We absolutely love staying here - love the skiing, the food, the values and you guys are the best! We also love the people we come with and look forward to this trip all year long. See you next year!"
~Lyda Ecob, Seattle, WA
"So enjoyed being here. Great to see the Basecamp in good hands. Haven't been in here in quite a few years. The food, the buildings, and most of all the spirit are healthy and in good hands. Thank you!"
~Adile Eustin
From the House
We welcomed Bernie & Stacey back this winter as live-in workers at the Basecamp. They can be frequently found on the Mazama trails, taking photos or engulfed in art projects, making Basecamp's home-made granola and cookies, and generally helping around the facilities. They are excited to head east this spring to complete their Triple Crown on the Continental Divide Trail.
 This winter we were excited to have some new faces as well around the Basecamp. Jill Beckerman, our Media and Advertising Intern, and Catherine Means, our Conservation Biology Intern, are childhood friends whose families spent summers hiking and camping in the North Cascades and a cherished winter weekend at the Basecamp for more than two decades! Jill enjoyed learning and connecting with the Methow Valley and Mazama business environment and community, building a new blog for the Basecamp, and engaging with the beauty of the Methow Valley. Catherine is working on a variety of different wildlife projects in the Methow Valley including western grey squirrel tracking, bald eagle surveys, and wolverine trapping!
Resident Wildlife
 If you were a nocturnal hunter, wouldn't you look forward to the long nights of winter? Snow paints the landscape white, the moon illuminates the forest and meadow, the world slips into a long deep hush. This is the perfect time of year for owls. Here at the North Cascades Basecamp and surrounding environs, undisturbed natural habitats (meadow, woodland, riverside) and plenty of food (mice, voles, hares) combine to provide excellent conditions for these stealthy night time hunters.
A pair of resident barred owls nest in the deep cedar woodlands besides the spring ponds. Great horned owls call out from the tree tops between the Methow River and Goat Wall. Two small owls, the pygmy and northern saw whet, hoot incessantly from the riparian cottonwoods. The call of the northern screech owl (think rubber ball dropped from up high) is here one minute then there the next, moving throughout the mixed deciduous/conifer woodlands. Basecamp staff and guests have noted all of these owls on the property the last few years. Now, during the second half of winter, owl pairs are breeding, nesting, laying eggs, and preparing for family expansion. If you dare to be nocturnal yourself, it is one of the best times of the year to hear and possibly see owls in our great backyard!
|
Local Roots at the Basecamp
Booth Canyon Orchard
Serving meals during the winter, including a packed lunch each day, takes strategy! How to incorporate local foods in our lunches during the heart of the winter? Stina Booth and John Richardson make it easy for us, since they furnish the Basecamp with its winter supply of heirloom apples and pears for the season.
Stina has been running Booth Canyon pear orchard in Carlton since 1995, while John, the dogs, and an additional 5 acre apple orchard joined her in 2000. Thank you, thank you, thank you Booth Canyon Orchard!
|
Mica's Musings
I grow tired of trying. Trying to keep up, that is. During the  winter months my family darts from building to building, ski trail to ski trail, person to person, EACH AND EVERY DAY! One minute Kim and Steve are at the lodge generating great smells (of food!), next minute they are chasing Amelia and Emmet as they take off their skis and run to the sled hill. Jill and Catherine? Bernie and Stacey? Hello? Anybody? Maybe somebody is in the new classroom building prepping for today's water color painting retreat? Maybe they are in the office paying those bill thingies? Bet somebody stole away to the snowshoe trail again without me...
What's a lopey dopey dog to do? Guess I'll lay here and help the snow melt. When does spring start, anyways?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
