After a morning hiking Mt. Constitution, we spent the afternoon kayaking around the West Sound off the San Juan Islands. We kayaked accross the sound to what I *think* was the unfortunately named “Victim Island.”

Kayaking the West Sound, San Juan Islands, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148572/

Mount Constitution is the San Juan Island’s highest peak, though at a relatively meager 2,409 ft.

Hiking Mount Constitution, San Juan Islands, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148616/

We took a day trip out to the Conservancy’s Yellow Island Preserve, a tiny island in located in the middle of the Puget Sound. Through the island’s history, an absence of grazing has helped preserve an unusual diversity of native plants, including 50 species of wildflower and bald eagles.

Yellow Island Preserve, San Juan Islands, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148645/

San Juan Islands, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148681/

Part of orientation to The Nature Conservancy is a trip to an ecologically significant place, with a 4-day conservation immersion course. My trip is to the San Juan Islands in Washington’s Puget Sound. On our way out there, we stopped by at the Conservancy’s Port Susan Bay preserve, which is one of the finest estuarine habitat in the Puget Sound.

Port Susan Bay Preserve, Washington State
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148717/

My favorite hike in Maryland. A couple of miles in dense vegitation before it opens up in a series of farm pastures. It always seems to rain, but that always seems to make the hike even better.

Susquahannah State Park:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148762/

Played hookie with a coworker. Topped it of with queso at a cheap mexican restaraunt. Mmmmmm, golden goodness…

Catoctin Mountain Park:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/1148787/