Last week we had the pleasure of hosting 12 students from Whitman College who are spending a month in Wallowa County studying the concept of "resilience" as it applies to communities and natural resources.
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| Communication trailer with satellite link and solar panels |
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| Student tents along the river |
The students spent the week in field trips with local residents. They learned about fisheries and Nez Perce history from Joe McCormack. Mike and I spent a day hiking and visiting with the students, sharing information on rangeland ecology and how our small family ranch works. At the end of the week they took a horseback ride to the Snake River with Mary and Nora Hawkins (Del Sol Adventures) and learned about outfitting and recreation in Wallowa County.
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| Studying plants up spring draw |
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| Field sketch |
It was wonderful to have the company and conversation and to take time to think big-picture and reflect on the changes in our community. The students are collecting their observations and at the end of the month will create a Wallowa County Almanac. I hope we can get together again while they are in the County and I can't wait to read what they write and see their drawings in the Almanac.
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| Found a rattlesnake on the river hike |
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| Mike answers questions above the cut-bank |
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| Best way to end the day, music and campfire |
From Sara at Magpie Ranch, home of Bunchgrass Beef
