Weed 'Em And Reap!

Day 195: "Weed 'em and reap!" For the third year running, I have been chosen as a recipient of the Sarah Reichard "Extra Mile" Award for my service with the Invasive Plant Council. On my way home from an invasives patrol yesterday (more on that in a subsequent post), I stopped to pick up my mail which included a $50 gift certificate to REI. Equal awards are given to the top three achievers, i.e., those who have devoted the most hours and have hiked the farthest in the interest of locating, removing and reporting invasive species. I haven't kept track of the number of miles or species I've logged, but since we went to on-line reporting in 2016, I've turned in 498 reports of invasives on western Washington's public lands. That said, I've noticed an astonishing lack of cooperation on the part of the agencies administrating these lands insofar as making an effort to eliminate noxious weeds even when the species are listed as Class A (mandatory control). In some cases, it's a matter of interpretation of jurisdiction: who owns the Knapweed-covered gravel bar in the middle of the river? Who is responsible for sending out a team to pull, spray, dig in an area below high-water mark? Especially in areas where weed seeds can be transported for miles on a waterway, this is an issue which is not being adequately addressed by the state weed control board. That said, even if my patrols do no more than raise the government's awareness of a rapidly expanding problem, it's a push in the right direction. I love what I do, even if it sometimes leaves me wanting to tear my hair out and scream.

No Parking

Day 148: You know what they say about "best laid plans." Well, I arrived at Pack Forest at 10 AM while the frost was still on the lichens, and was shocked to find that trailhead parking was full! I have never seen Pack's parking maxed out before, not even on a nice summer weekend. My first thought was profane and concluded with, "Well, now what am I gonna do?" My next thought was, "Damn, I don't want to be stepping on peoples' toes on the trail. Maybe now is the time to explore that side trail nobody ever takes off Bud Blancher." Yeah, I'd probably have to shoulder people out of the way for the first two miles, but then I should be able to find a little solitude. Not much of a Plan, but it was better than turning around and going home in a huff.

I had no idea where that side trail might emerge onto a recognizable route, but there isn't much of Pack I haven't explored. After I'd gone half a mile through forest, I came to a grassed-over spur road. I had a feeling I knew which one it was, and sure enough, in another half mile, I stepped out onto the familiar North 1000. I'd already managed to find some invasives and had marked them with the GPSr, intending to file a report when I got home, so I thought I'd continue on a little ways. I should know me better...a "little ways" meant taking the Wildlife Trail and the Reservoir Trail to emerge at Kirkland Pass and then...well, I was almost there already...another mile to where the Snow Queens grow. My hike (originally intended to be eight miles) manifested as eleven miles in the end result. Yes, I found more invasives, and yes, I found the Snow Queens. I was quite pleased with the way the day had turned out, especially since I only really saw PEOPLE while I was on the 1000 Road.

I got home, drew the coordinates from the GPSr in preparation for writing an invasive-plant report. I turned on the computer, and was surprised to find in my email a letter from the very people who would be receiving said report. To my great delight, the letter informed me that I had again been chosen to receive the Sarah Reichard Hike the Extra Mile Award for 2017! The award includes a $50 gift certificate from REI. Now I am really a happy camper!

Reichard Award Recipient

Day 110: Some of my friends have already heard the news: yesterday, I was honoured with the Sarah Reichard "Hike the Extra Mile" award for my volunteer service with the Invasive Plant Council. It had been announced in an earlier email, and I expected it to go no further than that public recognition. Consequently, I was rendered speechless when I opened my snail-mail yesterday and found a handsome Amazon gift card enclosed.

Quoting from the email, "In 2016, the PNW IPC honors three outstanding volunteers...Collectively, these three conservation warriors conducted 77 surveys, reported 254 new invasive plant records, hiked 264 miles of trail and volunteered 433 hours of their time searching for, reporting and removing harmful invasive plants from wilderness and other natural areas!"

Dr. Reichard was the vice president of the Invasive Plant Council and taught at the University of Washington. She passed away last year while leading a botanical tour in South Africa. Again quoting from the email, "She was a passionate scientist who paved the way and created opportunities for women in science and worked diligently to solve complex problems in the important interdisciplinary field of Conservation Biology."

I am proud to have received this honour in her name.