This week at Starker Forests was brimming with exciting new experiences.
We kicked off the week by wrapping up a pre-harvest cruise at Alder Creek Tree Farm. Caroline and I teamed up to help complete the cruising for the unit. Once we finished, we returned to the office and joined Stephen to assist with some reforestation efforts.
Jamie Gassner
At the office, we loaded a trailer with trays of seedlings and transported them to the forest for planting. Stephen equipped each of us with our own tree planting bags and expertly guided us through the proper techniques for planting trees. I was surprised by how intricate the process was, and I gained a newfound respect for professional tree planters and the dedication they bring to their work.
During our lunch break, Caroline surprised us by showcasing one of her hidden talents: juggling! It was a delightful performance that kept the entire crew thoroughly entertained.
On Tuesday, Jace, Caroline and I ventured out to the Hoskins area to conduct some necessary stream surveys. We had three different stands to assess, which meant quite a bit of driving around. During one of our drives, with the window down, a grasshopper unexpectedly flew in right in front of me while I was driving. Jace and Caroline couldn’t help but laugh as I tried to maintain my composure and not lose it. We wrapped up the day with a leftover stocking survey for Stephen, providing a satisfying conclusion to our busy day.
On Wednesday, we journeyed further toward the coast to start work in a new pre-harvest unit alongside Reece and Lys. Caroline and I spent most of the day cruising with them, and later we assisted Jace and Daniel in laying out stream buffers. One of the highlights of the day was discovering an almost perfect circular indentation that a bird had created in an old snag (a standing dead tree).
On Thursday, we returned to the same pre-harvest unit, where Jace and I dedicated the entire day to completing the layout of a stream buffer. I focused on one side, flagging specific distances from the stream where harvesting or operation is prohibited, while Jace tackled the other side. The steep and brushy terrain made the work challenging, but it was incredibly rewarding to see everything come together at the end.
The highlight of my day was encountering a Pacific Giant Salamander crossing my path — my second one this summer!
On Friday, Caroline, Anthony and I made our way to the Vonsild Tree Farm to clear a road for an upcoming public tour. Initially, we anticipated finishing the job quickly, but upon arrival, we quickly realized it would take longer than expected. Despite this, we made solid progress throughout the day. Here’s a photo of Anthony, with rain clouds looming above as we spent part of the afternoon weed-eating in the rain — yet he still managed to have a great time!
