Cancelled: Opening to Nature Walk: Old Growth Meditation

Sitting with the Old Ones

• 1 - 2 mile
• Level
• Stepping over a few big logs

Join the sangha, led by Reizan Bob Penny, for a Zen experience in the Old Growth forest remnant off of Mount Baker Highway. This spot is the home to the oldest living beings of our local area. We make this visit annually to connect with the wisdom and peace of the grove.

This trip is slightly expanded from year's past. We will start this exploration of the North Fork area with an easy flat 1 or 2 mile meditation forest walk along the bank of the rushing North Fork. Then we will drive a little further and have a sack lunch by the crashing Nooksack Falls, the largest waterfall in our watershed. Finally, we will finish our trip with an easy short walk, meditation and ritual in the Old Growth grove. We'll return to Bellingham by about 4:00PM.

What to Bring: Bring lunch, rain gear if needed, good walking shoes or boots, and at least two liters of water.

Directions: Meet at Sansui-ji, 2509 Cedarwood in Bellingham or the Nugent's Corner Market in Deming. Carpooling is required, there is no extra parking at the trailhead. You will specify your transportation plan during registration.

Timing: Be ready to leave Sansui-ji at 9:00am or to be met by the group at 9:45am at Nugent's Corner. We hope to be back to Sansui-ji at about 4:00pm but hiking times vary.

Registration: While our day hikes are offered without charge, we do incur about $10 of program administration cost for each registration. There is the opportunity during registration to donate to cover these costs for your own registration or, additionally, to help another cover their registration expenses. Everyone is welcome, and no one will be refused attendance for lack of funds. As we do on the trail, we support each other.

Donations to the Leader: As with all of our events, teachers/leaders are not compensated for their time. You can include a donation to the hike leader during registration or at any time through our Donate to a Teacher page.

Questions? Contact Wilderness Dharma Program Coordinator Bob Penny at wilderness@redcedarzen.org and see our Wilderness Dharma Program page for an overview of this program.