It’s give-back time for Michael Dossett.
The former Pilchuck Audubon Society member moved to Oregon, but he’ll be in Everett on Friday to share his outdoors photographs.
“I’ve been interested in birds for as long as can remember, like in kindergarten or first grade. When I came to Pilchuck it was the right group of people at the right time to cultivate that interest in me,” Dossett said.
“They gave me the opportunity to see birds and expand my horizon, not just with birds but all aspects of natural world.”
At 16, Dossett had been involved with a group trying to stop development at a park. He had compiled a bird list and went to a city council meeting, where he met then-PAS president Darryl Thompson.
“He introduced himself and took me under his wing.”
Anyone who knew Thompson knew that it was a special wing.
Dossett’s interest in photography didn’t start until his graduation gift arrived — a 35mm single lens reflex camera.
“I absolutely loved taking pictures with it,” said Dossett, who has since graduated from the University of Washington (botany and molecular biology) and is working on his doctorate at Oregon State University (horticulture), specializing in genetics and plant breeding, specifically genetic diversity in black raspberries.
He’s also graduated to a 600mm telephoto lens that “probably cost more than my first two cars combined.”
For Dossett, photography and birding will be lifelong pleasures.
“I absolutely have so much fun; to be able to go out and capture what I see and be able look at them later and relive all those moments.”
He wants to share his photographs of Northwest birds and outdoors locations with others, and will do just that at the 7 p.m. Friday meeting of Pilchuck Audubon Society at Firefighters Hall, 2411 Hewitt Ave. in Everett. It’s open to the public.
Take a hike: If you need an excuse to take a hike, then go ahead and put on your boots, because today is the 16th National Trails Day. If you’re hiking with children, here are a few tips from Washington Trails Association:
Modify adult goals to match short legs and experience.
Pack patience and flexibility.
Pick trails that include lakes, ponds or waterfalls.
Brrrr. Children get colder quicker than adults, so bring extra clothes.
Look for discoveries. Bring a magnifying glass. Look for feathers on the ground, claw scratches on tree trunks, bird holes in dead trees, water striders on ponds, etc.
Call for rest stops before the kids ask; praise them for how well they’re doing.
Pick energy stops. “When we get to that big tree ahead we’ll have an energy stop.
Hike with a friend. Bring one of your child’s friends along.
Rotate leaders. When hiking with more than one child, make sure that everyone gets to lead and set the pace.
Remember the goals: Enjoy the outdoors, have fun and create a good experience for the whole family.
Destination Rainier: There hasn’t been snow this late at lower elevations in decades on Mount Rainier. Paradise, at 5,400 feet, took in about 900 inches of snow this winter, and as of a couple of weeks ago, 27 inches of snow were at Longmire.
Although it’s June, there’s still not a lot of bare ground. Some campgrounds normally open by Memorial Day are still closed.
Right now, expect 100 percent snow cover on all trails above 3,500 feet, and if you’re planning trips on the Wonderland Trail, expect many stretches of snow through July.
This is one destination that you must absolutely check conditions before you leave home, both from an anticipation- disappointment angle as well as safety. Go to the park’s Web site, www.nps.gov/mora or call 360-569-2211, ext. 2334.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
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