Summer Summary Series: Aji John and Mt Rainier

Redux

10hrs, 20 sites, tea and sandwiches

By Aji John

Before I head out, I have a time clock ticking in my head; 5 elevations, 20 sites, 2 hrs per site, 4 stations per elevation, so that makes it ten hours; if we get there by 9am, and we can be done by 7pm, and get home before dark. Though the fun and excitement is tantalizing yet astutely deceptive, it is hard day of work, but in all humility, it works out at the end. I study microclimate (climate right above the ground; think meter level) in the forest understories. I got into this research because my permit to study microclimates in meadows higher up the elevations got rejected. As I drive out to Mt Rainier where my sites are, it is my company which makes it more fun. Without the help of friends, friends of friends, and lab folks, I cannot fathom even leaving home to embark on this field work. From lugging the stations (with rebars) to seemingly endless runs of changing batteries, it has always been a grueling, yet a charming camaraderie. This is my second year of going into the forest understories. The joy (and fear) of mountains still lingers deep.

Traversing to my field sites is always a bit challenging and something is always amiss when I get there. The faults mostly arise from the well-functioning forest’s underpinnings: stations are tended by overgrown fauna and fallen trees confuse my mental map. Navigational help is nothing but essential, and I have gotten better at it. Last year I spent 2+ hours finding a tree, a news worthy tidbit and sign of improvement. I always underestimate the forest floor, nonetheless. I have gotten trapped umpteen number of times in litter build up that reaches half a meter high (or humus). I am grateful for ferns, which have lessened the impact of a fall. Fallen trees have been the cause of multiple almost-sprained-ankles. I got stung by a bee (summer of 2019), almost slipped on snow (late summer of 2019), skidded down a steep gradient, and held a thorn laden branch of devils club. I would be remiss to say there weren’t benefits to working in the field. On the pleasant side, I have spotted two dozen varieties of mushrooms, eaten pound of huckleberries, harvested yummy chanterelles, wild raspberries and salmon berries. Mountains are fun, a bit intimidating sometimes, but I am reluctantly thinking of my next field run.