SCA + PORT SUSAN BAY

This past month we partnered with the SCA (Student Conservation Association) to have a crew work for two weeks on a few places where we work, mainly on the Upper Skagit and at our Port Susan Bay Preserve! 

Crews spent time working in the Upper Skagit doing manual weed control of Scotch Broom, holly, clematis and some other weeds as well as removing an old building! At Port Susan Bay crews spent most of their time looking for Spartina.

This is the first time we’ve ever partnered together for nature and we loved having them work with us to keep Puget Sound healthy and clean.

Trapped on Wizard Island

Written & Photographed by Carrie Krueger, Director of Marketing for The Nature Conservancy in Washington

Crater Lake National Park provides unexpected adventure

When the theme song from “Gilligan’s Island” begins running through your head, it is rarely a good sign. Our “three hour tour” happened in Crater Lake National Park.  We set-sail that day to tour the stunning, deep lake, and wound up trapped on the little island in the middle known as Wizard Island. 

But let’s start at the beginning:  Five families from five different parts of the country chose Crater Lake National Park for a summer vacation and reunion.  Located in south central Oregon, the park is near nothing and not particularly easy to get to.  But the trek is well worth it.  The first view of the lake is unforgettable.  The color is a remarkable deep blue and the water is surrounded by sheer cliffs and during our visit, a great deal of snow.  Once we worked through our childish impulse to pelt one another with snow, we settled into the picturesque lodge on the rim of the volcanic crater that forms the lake. We spent our first day on short hikes around the region, learning about the geologic events the formed this stunning place.

The next morning we packed sandwiches and snacks and made our way to the tour boat dock. We were promised a water tour of the lake including drop off and pick up at Wizard Island where we could explore further.  It seemed simple enough and we felt well prepared, even with many young kids in tow.

Wizard Island was a blast.  From the rocky shore, we hiked to the high point of the island where we discovered a snow-filled crater.  In no time at all, the kids had made sleds out of their rain jackets and anything else they could find and were zooming down the hills and hiking back up.  This was sheer bliss, an unexpected delight – sledding in shorts and t-shirts, on a sunny island in the middle of the nation’s deepest lake. Wow.  

Soon it was time to head to the little dock and await pick-up.  A small crowd gathered at the dock, but when the next tour boat came by, it didn’t stop.  The crowd on the boat waved and the captain called out that the boat was full and no one onboard wanted to get off at Wizard Island, so we would have to wait for the next boat.  When this same scenario happened three times over the 90 minutes, we started to feel just a little concerned.  One of us whistled the Gilligan’s Island theme and another softly sang “A three hour tour, a three hour tour.”

But in nature, there is always a way to have fun. Boredom is not an option! On the rocky shoreline, a rock-skipping contest ensued, with kids from all the waiting families (and some adults) joining in.  On the flat, smooth water, rocks could skip and skip and skip!  For those not in the skipping mood, it was time to get creative with cairns.  You know, those little towers and piles of rocks – those are cairns and it’s amazing how much fun it is to look for the right flat rocks to build with.  There were woods to explore, massive games of “eye spy” and critter spotting. 

As the hours went by and food ran low, there was a funny irony in being able to actually see the lodge hanging on the cliff in the distance.  Our home away from home, so close and yet so far.  Surely we would not be left for the night?  We were ill prepared for such a possibility, relieved we had at least insisted each child bring a light jacket.  The day had been sunny and nearly hot, but as shadows lengthened, it quickly became chilly. Just for fun, we sat on the shore and brainstormed various ways we could get from there to the lodge.  None were feasible, of course, but neither were most of the things Gilligan and his gang attempted on the old TV show.  The kids enjoyed pretending we were actually going to spend the night on the island and we talked about the various ways we would shelter and feed ourselves.

Luckily, before anyone could lose their sense of humor about the situation the tour boat company dispatched an empty boat specifically to pick us all up.  A dozen families and groupings crowded the dock and piled onto the boat and we tried to remember, did the Gilligan’s Island gang ever get rescued? 

As young adults, all of the kids on that adventure still talk about the day we were trapped on Wizard Island and the fun we had exploring nature, as we waited to be “rescued”.  Together we’ve visited many more National Parks and feel a collective sense of gratitude for the accessibility of such beautiful places and for the opportunity to commune and experience them.  For me, every foray into nature stirs a powerful sense of responsibility to protect and preserve nature so that each generation can experience wild places, little adventures and big escapes.

Treasured Experiences

Written & Photographed by Marlo Mytty, Puget Sound Programs Conservation Coordinator

Watching the sunrise at Haleakala, riding bikes and climbing up a butte in a Canyonlands sunset, floating on air mattresses in Glacier Park’s Lake MacDonald, hiking in the gorgeous diverse Siskyou forest at Oregon Caves National Monument, wandering in a maple glade of enormous moss-draped trees in Olympic National Park, a hawk gliding close and silently by through the fall colors and mist on a November hike to a Mt. Rainier fire lookout. These are just a few of the most treasured experiences of my life, all of which took place in National Parks.

A lifetime native of Seattle, of all the National parks I have visited, Mt. Rainier is closest to my heart and soul, and I think of it as home. My memories there are countless, yet its draw for me continues.  I have been there on two backpacks so far this month and the more I visit, the more I realize that there is more than a lifetime of beauty to explore in this park alone.

We have the work of visionaries like Muir, Roosevelt and many others over a century ago to thank for our National Park system, which is truly one of the treasures of this planet; drawing hundreds of millions of visitors each year from all over the world.  A century later the ambition and impact of their vision has become more apparent, and this will no doubt be the case in another century.

This kind of long lasting impact is the reason I work for The Nature Conservancy. Looking back 100 years from now, I believe that the effect The Nature Conservancy has had on the landscape of Washington, the nation and the planet will be apparent. The innovative and far reaching projects we are working on are humbling and inspiring. 

From working with major players in industry to implement sustainable and economically viable business practices, to working with communities, governments and First Nations to restore the floodplains of major rivers that flow into Puget Sound, to connecting and restoring dry forests across the west in order to reduce catastrophic wildfires, to a large fisheries project on the West coast that will have a positive impact on the fisheries and fishing communities along the entire West coast, to forming coalitions with Chinese dam builders and mining companies in Mongolia to influence siting decisions, The Nature Conservancy is tackling many of the world’s largest environmental challenges. I am continually inspired by the ingenuity and dedication of my colleagues and am fortunate to be a part of what will surely be an impact that reaches or exceeds the scale of our National Parks in the centuries to come.

Cabin Vibes

Writen & Photographed by Don Macanlalay, Social Media and Marketing Manager

My days started early in Shenandoah National Park in the heart of Virginia. As a 2009 Student Conservation Association and Park Ranger Intern, I led hikes and gave talks out in nature throughout the beautiful central district of the park. One of the perks of being a ranger intern at a National Park was living in the park, in my case, a lovely 3-bedroom cabin tucked in the forests of the park.

Every morning, I’d head over to one of the overlooks, enjoy the morning fog and smell the dewy air. This lasted just long enough before I realized I had to leave to prepare my hikes for the day. It sounded like a great idea. Hike all day, be one with nature in an absolutely gorgeous national park. There was something romantic about cabin life, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to reach a bigger audience and share stories, photos and videos of the many amazing places in nature.

Despite the glamour of living in the park, I was restless. There was something isolating about it. Before long, I found myself visiting my family in my nearby hometown of Washington, DC.

I’d talk to them about the park, its beauty, of my personal moments out in nature. Coming back to the park, I spent my nights online reading blogs about other parks and eventually it turned out that was the middle ground that I was seeking.

It was amazing that I was reading stories from someone I had never met, making me want to visit places I had never been or heard of. The heart of exploration was found, each and every evening. It took me away from the “moment” of being in one particular park, and showed me a new way to explore and share nature. 

I realized I wanted to be a storyteller, but not in the traditional sense of a park ranger going on hikes. But connecting with people who aren’t anywhere near me, who don’t have access to where I am but one day might.

Now I tell stories via social media and through the web as a Social Media Manager at The Nature Conservancy. When I see a photo of someone out in nature, I want to be in that spot and take the same photo, experience a similar thing. Working for an organization with a mission to strengthen the bonds between people and nature is amazing. This wouldn’t have happened had it not been for those restless nights in a cabin at a national park in Virginia.

Conserving Manastash Forest For Wildlife, Water and People

More streams for fish, hiking trails for people and habitat for wildlife. That is just some of what we are getting after the newest purchase of land for people and nature .

The latest addition to the Heart of the Cascades project is 1,280 acres of timberland in the Manastash, west of Ellensburg. The decade-long effort to weave together a checkerbaordof public and private lands in the East Cascades takes another step forward, adding to more than 25,000 acres of private timberlands brought into public ownership.

In this case, The Nature Conservancy has purchased 1,280 acres of timberland from Plum Creek, and transferred it to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to be managed as part of the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area.

Working with partners including the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Yakama Nation and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Conservancy continues to secure public access and protect this vital resource for our communities. The Tapash Sustainable Forests Collaborative, which includes public, non-profit and tribal landowners, is working together across in this region to restore a much larger forest landscape.

Water for the Future

Why does it matter? These particular sections of forest are full of streams and tributaries that flow into the Yakima River. Conserving this forest will protect valuable river habitat for wildlife as well as ensure water downstream for people, fish, and the rich agriculture of the Yakima Valley. Protecting these forests is an important part of the Yakima River Basin Integrated Plan, a coordinated effort by farmers, conservationists, tribes, and governments to ensure water for the Yakima Valley as climate change threatens increasing drought.

Rich Wildlife Habitat

Washington’s Heart of the Cascades is a multi-phased project designed to protect, connect, and restore the most biologically rich forests in the Western United States.

From high mountain snowfields descending to the arid sagebrush steppe of the Columbia Plateau, the Cascade forests span rugged and beautiful country that supports a diverse variety of habitats and, in turn, a broad array of species. In addition to amazing abundance of birds, mammals, fish, trees, and flowers, these forests are home to federally protected populations of grey wolf, spotted owl, ferruginous hawk, northern goshawk, and Pacific salmon. People across the region prize these forests for their many recreational activities.

Your Support will Help Save Forests for Nature and People

Today, we have a remarkable opportunity to invest in the future of this place and to protect what we love about it – lush alpine meadows, clean cold mountain streams, and the unfettered access that comes with a connected and protected landscape. We have this opportunity because tens of thousands of acres of private commercial timberlands are for sale. These lands, privatized in the 1800s to bring the railroads to the Pacific, disconnect our federal forestlands from our state Wildlife Areas. Their sale to development threatens access and opportunity for people and wildlife on this landscape.

The Heart of the Cascades project is a cooperative effort by conservation groups, tribes, residents, and public land management agencies to accomplish the following:

• Protect 110,000+ acres of forests that will reconnect a four million acre landscape
• Protect access and open space for people and wildlife
• Restore the natural functions and processes that sustain these forests, including reintroducing beneficial fire and restorative thinning where needed
• Support local economies working in a compatible way with the natural resources and values of the region

Thank you for your generous support!

BIG: Topic of the day at Puget Sound floodplains conference

By: Julie Morse, Project Ecologist

That’s a first.  Trust me, I’ve attended a lot of conferences with Floodplain Managers, Biologists, Engineers, City Planners, etc… And I have NEVER seen this kind of inspirational language show up in the middle of a PowerPoint presentation.  Presentations at these kinds of workshops are generally pretty dry - lots of numbers, graphs and figures.  Sometimes the creative speakers will throw in a video or pretty pictures to keep people awake.  But let’s be honest, these workshops are generally pretty dry with lots of “Blah, Blah, Blah…”  

Yesterday was different. 

Yesterday, The Nature Conservancy in Washington convened a workshop for people working in Puget Sound as part of our Floodplains by Design Partnership.  Despite the fact that it was a beautiful June day and plenty of people were off of vacation, despite the fact that Seattle was experiencing one of its epic traffic days, despite the fact that there were other big meetings happening in the area, despite all that, more than 150 people showed up to hear what’s happening with Floodplains by Design.

Representatives from five Congressional offices and one U.S. Senator’s office.  Staff from seven counties were there along with representatives from four of Puget Sound’s tribes. Farmers, businesses that work in flood plains and agencies came. What’s more - people even came from across the state (Yakima) and even out of state (Oregon) to hear what was happening in Puget Sound. 

There was a buzz in the room, and with good reason.  Among the successes we celebrated:

• In 2013, over $44 million in state legislative were appropriated for integrated floodplain projects
• This funding has helped catalyze 15 big projects – providing multiple benefits to a number of communities including reduced flood risks, restored salmon habitat, improved water quality, agricultural infrastructure upgrades and enhanced public access and recreational opportunities.

Colonel Estok, outgoing Seattle District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers thanked everyone in the room for their efforts working collaboratively, and The Nature Conservancy for being the glue that pulls these different groups together. He reflected on three years of incredible progress.

But it was also time to look forward.  Here are some huge opportunities for collaboration and getting Big Things Done in the coming year:

• A new capital budget request highlighting at least $50 million in compelling, ambitious, needed projects
• Potential ballot initiative to create an even larger, dedicated revenue source for multiple benefit floodplain projects
• Colonel John Buck was introduced as the new Seattle District Commander for the Army Corps of Engineers, an important partner in the FbD Partnership

The best presentation of the day was the last, given by our government relations director Mo McBroom.  Through Mo’s talk I could see her spunky enthusiasm was going to battle with her more subdued professional side.  Mo was clearly trying to contain her excitement about the potential for the legislature to help support, and be a leader nationally, in addressing water issues - whether it’s too much water (flooding), too little water (irrigation needs), or nowhere for the water to go (stormwater).  I’m not sure trying to contain her enthusiasm was really working for her, in fact quite the opposite; I thought her enthusiasm was contagious. 

Mo ended her presentation with reiterating the phrase of the day - Think BIG. Believe BIG. Act BIG.  And the results will be BIG.  There are BIG things happening in Puget Sound.  Yesterday I felt incredibly proud to be part of it.  

To hear more of what people are saying about Floodplains by Design, please visit our website – http://www.floodplainsbydesign.org/perspectives/

CLIMATE CHANGE: HERE AND NOW

Climate change may feel like something that will impact us in the future, but local environmental scientists know it is already here causing noticeable changes and creating new challenges.

Jodie Toft, Senior Ecologist for The Nature Conservancy in Washington answers some questions about how climate change is affecting us now, and what the Conservancy is doing to help.

Question: What kinds of changes is climate change already causing in our state?

Jodie Toft: There is clear scientific evidence that the impact of climate change is being felt in the Pacific Northwest.

• Sea levels are rising
• Rivers are peaking earlier
• The temperature in the Pacific Northwest is rising
• Snowpack in the Cascades has declined by nearly 25%
• Mountain pine beetles are attacking forests at record levels due to warmer, dryer conditions
• Western wildfires have increased significantly
• Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the water are causing the ocean to become more acidic, damaging marine life

Question: What do scientists predict will happen in the future?

Jodie Toft: Research shows the impact of climate change on our region will increase in the coming years:

• Air temperatures will continue to rise
• Severe flooding is predicted for western Washington, while eastern Washington will face drought, threatening agriculture, salmon and community safety
• Damage from wildfires will increase
• The ocean will become warmer and more acidic
• Beaches, tidal swamps and marshes will shrink, diminishing vital habitat for fish, birds and wildlife

Question: This feels overwhelming. What can, or is being done?

Jodie Toft: At The Nature Conservancy, our work is aimed at adapting to climate change.

• Active forest restoration including mechanical thinning and controlled burning are creating large forest landscapes that re more resilient to fire, drought, insects and disease.
• We’ve modeled and are implementing an innovative approach to manage the flood risk to Puget Sound communities through large scale projects that protect fish, habitats, farms and humans
• Along the Washington coast, we’re helping communities steward land and marine resources, and plan for the increasing impact of climate change

Virtually every challenge we tackle can be traced to changing climate. As we look to the future, our focus is on adapting to current and future changes to protect people and nature.

WASHINGTON LEGACY CLUB VISITS THE EMERALD EDGE

For thousands of years, indigenous people have plied the marine waters of the northwest coast of North America, trading, hunting, sharing knowledge and cultures. In this region, people, salmon, oceans and forests are intertwined across political borders. Conservation work must be interconnected as well. 

The Nature Conservancy has launched a new international program, Emerald Edge, to work with First Nations and local communities to protect habitat, restore forests and build sustainable economies across the world’s largest temperate rainforest, the 70 million acres stretching from Washington through British Columbia and into Southeast Alaska. 

Paul Dye, Marine Director for The Nature Conservancy in Washington, shared stories and photos from the Conservancy’s work in the Emerald Edge with members of Washington’s Legacy Club at a special lunch on June 19. 

Legacy Club members are those Nature Conservancy supporters who have chosen to make a lasting commitment to conservation by naming the Conservancy as a beneficiary in their estate plans, or by making a life income gift to the Conservancy. The Legacy Club is a way for us to recognize this profound contribution to The Nature Conservancy’s future. Members have the opportunity to meet Conservancy scientists and conservation practitioners, and get an inside view of the conservation work that is enabled by their generosity. 

We thank our Legacy Club members for their dedication to preserving the diversity of life and for their foresight in providing for its future. 

To learn more about the Legacy Club, contact Daniel Hoon, (206)436-6262, or dhoon@tnc.org.

ME, MY DAD & NATURE

By Meghan Wagner, Associate Director of Philanthropy, The Nature Conservancy in Washington

My dad can MacGyver any situation. Camping in the rain – no problem. He’ll climb a tree to hang a tarp. Without a trekking pole? He will fashion a new one for you in a hurry. His pack is always the heaviest because he takes great delight in helping out fellow hikers on the trail with any supplies they may need. My dad’s ability to improvise and enjoy the unexpected is one of many reasons why my childhood spent in nature was such a joy.

Dad grew up on the beaches and waters of Puget Sound. There is almost no outdoor activity he doesn’t relish – fishing, hiking, skiing, running. He taught ski school last winter at the young age of 68. His backyard is a certified wildlife habitat for nature to thrive. He taught me to hike, camp, paddle, swim, ski, bike, play, explore, fish, build a fire, climb trees and to love nature. He nurtured a love for the mountains and ocean in me.

Some of my most profound spiritual experiences happened in nature and with my dad. When I was 9, we were out fishing off of Orcas Island and a pod of Orca Whales came and swam by. They were talking to each other and breaching out of the water and slamming down in a majestic display. It was one of the top five experiences of my life. When we weren’t experiencing the profound, it was the ridiculous or the delicious – pulling sea kelp out of the sound and making musical horns, or cleaning fresh crab off the back of a boat. Last summer, we climbed Mt. St. Helens together on a glorious sunny day and my dad was my biggest cheerleader and motivator to reach the top of the volcano to see the spectacular view. My dad’s embrace of obstacles and adventures, his whimsy and creativity and his pure joy at being with family and friends in nature shaped me in more ways than I can count.

This deep rooting in nature led me to spend years as a camp counselor and leader at YMCA Camp Orkila, and then to devote my career to The Nature Conservancy, generating support for programs that preserve and restore nature here and around the world. It’s vitally important to me that other people have the opportunity to experience nature the way I did. But alas, they won’t have my dad who made it all so special.

Thank you dad for giving me confidence, an adventurous spirit and a passion for nature. And to all the dads out there who are biking, hiking, paddling, camping or just picnicking in nature with their kids, it matters more than you can imagine. Cherish every adventure.

MOUNT ST. HELENS, MAY 18, 1980.

Day of Remembrance: The volcano is located in southwestern Washington, and today we remember the power of nature to heal the land.

YELLOW ISLAND ADVENTURE

Much of what The Nature Conservancy does in Washington is not glamorous. Pushing back levees, cleaning up waste water and thinning forests are all vitally important, but they aren’t the stuff of postcards.

Then there’s Yellow Island. This tiny preserve in the San Juan Islands redefines natural beauty – especially this time of year. Meadows of blooming wildflowers flow down to the water, making it nearly impossible two walk more than a few steps without taking a picture. This weekend a group of 30 or so supporters visited this very special place to soak in the views and learn more about what the Nature Conservancy is doing to keep it beautiful.

Behind the beauty, there is a lot of science and hard work. To the east, in the Skagit Valley, we work to improve water quality, assuring what runs into the sound supports a healthy environment around Yellow Island and beyond. On the Washington coast, to the southwest, we restore forests, clean up streams and rivers and improve sustainable fishing practices – all to assure marine health in the region. Partnerships with farmers, fisherman, loggers and communities make this work happen. In many cases, it’s not about saving nature from people; it’s about imagining the best ways for nature and people to work together. It’s not always glamorous, though there is great beauty in the fields and farms that grow our food, the forests that shelter and clean our water and the rivers that sustain our salmon.

Yellow Island may be a crown jewel in the work we do in Washington. It’s certainly a spectacular example of the beauty of nature and an inspiration to keep up our hard work around the state. Your support makes Yellow Island – and our work in the east cascade forests, coastal rivers and around Puget Sound possible. Thank you for contributing to the multifaceted work – some glamorous, some not – that makes our state so beautiful.

FAREWELL CHRIS DAVIS

Chris Davis, the director of the Conservancy’s Puget Sound Program, has been named the Policy Advisor for Carbon Markets to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who has made combatting climate change one of the centerpieces of his administration.

On April 29, Gov. Inslee announced a series of next steps to reduce carbon pollution in Washington state and improve energy independence through use of clean energy.

Gov. Inslee also announced a Carbon Emission Reduction Task Force that includes elected officials and tribal, business and labor leaders.

In his seven years as Puget Sound Program Director for The Nature Conservancy, Chris has helped to create strong collaborations among diverse stakeholders. That’s a strength he’ll bring to this new work with Gov. Inslee.

As he’s leaving the Conservancy after seven years, he reflects on where he’s come from and where he’s going. 

Q: What’s special about working on conservation for Puget Sound?
A: The story in Puget Sound is that we still have a rich, productive ecosystem in the economic heart of Washington. We have to restore what remains of that ecosystem, and at the same time expand economic opportunity for people.

It’s so important to engage all the forces that affect that balance, including business and labor. Businesses in the Puget Sound region include five or six of the world’s largest brands. The beauty of this place helps them attract great talent, and they have an economic stake in ensuring its ecological future.

The other part of that is the sheer joy of being involved with Puget Sound. I have great memories of kayaking with staff and partners on Hood Canal, pulling up to pick oysters on a beach, and watching a black bear come down out of the woods to find its own supper. Or coming down the Sauk River on a 27-degree January day, counting eagles under a clear blue sky, and having to stop when we got to 300 because we just couldn’t keep counting.

Q: What are you proudest of in your time at the Conservancy?
A: We’ve taken the experience of doing our own on-the-ground restoration work, for example atFisher Slough and Port Susan Bay, and really used those as pilot projects to learn and share how to do restoration that benefits nature and people. From that experience, we’ve created a movement, a collection of groups changing how they work on rivers and floodplains around Puget Sound.

And the state Legislature has demonstrated its support and affirmation for this way of working by funding more and bigger restoration projects around Puget Sound. Today there are more than 10 projects underway on 1,700 acres around major rivers in Puget Sound, and more to come next year.

Q: What are you looking forward to in your new position? 
A: When you do conservation work, you are always thinking about how is it going to persist in the face of climate change. This is an opportunity to engage deeply with that challenge, in a state where support is strong for tackling the challenge, and to work for a leader, Gov. Inslee, who is a national leader on the issue and who wants to go further.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

DINNER AT THE TOP

By Carrie Krueger, Director of Marketing

Food and nature go hand in hand. Without nature, our plates are empty. This Earth Day, we’ve been celebrating how nature feeds us and examining what we need to do to protect nature so that we can keep enjoying its bounty.

In my family Easter is a day of celebration, friends and great foods. This year we decided to connect our spring feast to our love of nature by taking our Easter brunch up a local mountain. We joined forces with friends to create the ultimate movable feast. The result: Brunch with a view, and a new appreciation for how nature feeds us.

Let’s just admit our packs were pretty heavy. We weren’t content with the usual hiking fare- sandwiches, apples, granola bars. For our celebration we wanted a full, hot meal which meant carrying a camp stove, frying pan, a hefty fruit salad, a bin of fresh cooked blueberry muffins and most important all the fixings for breakfast burritos. Pre-cracking the eggs probably saved us a lot of grief! And pre-cooking sausage and veggies was also wise. But all these goodies, including condiments for the burritos, and the fixings for Easter mimosas had us pretty weighed down on the trip up.

Luckily we picked a peak that can reasonably be reached in 90 minutes. The very popular Poo Poo Point trail in Issaquah is a suburban delight – relentlessly up, overused on weekends, but also spectacularly beautiful with a view at the top that rewards every sweaty step. The location of this trail, in the heart of Seattle’s rapidly developing eastside, represents a classic intersection of human needs like housing and agriculture, with nearly pristine nature. On the trek up a fellow hiker pointed out an owl nesting in a large pine, and near the top, a turkey vulture circled.

The trail is also favored by paragliders who step off of the steep cliffs near the top, and into the sky, attached to enormous kites which keep them aloft. We paused to watch these bold adventurers launch into the blue. But alas, our brunch beaconed and we continued on.

The summit of Poo Poo point feels remote. But there are some communications towers, and oddly, a picnic bench, where we set up our elegant dining table. Eggs were scrambled, tortillas were warmed, a champagne bottle was popped and hot chocolate was topped with marshmallows. This was first class, all the way.

Other weary hikers wandered by, noticing our feast. We invited all to join, ready to share our bounty. The view from our perch was nothing short of spectacular: Forests, lakes, and mountains in the distance, but also farms, houses, roads and many reminders that we coexist with nature.

As burritos were inhaled and the dog begged for leftovers, we raised our mugs and glasses in a toast to the beautiful day, our remarkable feast and the fact that nature feeds us – on Easter, on Earth Day and all year.