by Nina Johnson

Today the group took a day off and headed to Orcas Island! After a short ferry ride over, we drove to Turtleback Mountain. As we hiked up, Riley, one of our science directors, gave us some background on the importance of preserving native plants in the Pacific Northwest. Specifically, he described his work with the Land Bank on Orcas Island. As we strolled, we noted the diversity of the plants, as well as the presence of native trees such as Garry Oaks, which land stewards and conservationists have been working hard to protect.

After Turtleback Mountain, we drove to Cascade Lake. Although the morning had been cloudy, the sun was shining when we arrived. We spent several hours swimming, paddle-boarding, and enjoying a change of scenery. Some people explored the lake on paddle boards and rafts, while others opted to sit on the dock, read, or fish. The water was warm, and everyone enjoyed a day off in the sun!

We then drove up Constitution Mountain for another scenic viewpoint. The beautiful weather allowed us to see the islands in the area, as well as catch a glimpse of Mt. Baker in the distance.

We then took the ferry back to San Juan Island. Once back at the dorms, the group reunited with Flora and Ansuya who had opted to stay back at Friday Harbor Labs for the day and work on their projects. Although we missed them at Orcas Island, we were happy to hear they had had a successful day of work. After a quick dinner, some people headed off to JP’s for trivia night and then caught the sunset with a view off the Friday Harbor docks.