My North Cascades Story - Counting Deer

Counting Deer

By Jennifer Korfiatis, Coordinator, North Central Washington Economic Development District

Though I live in Wenatchee with my six-year-old son, I'm a transplant from a sprawling metropolitan area where acres of concrete far outnumbered the acres of green spaces. And because we live in Wenatchee, my son and I are fortunate enough to venture to the North Cascades on a somewhat regular basis. Our visits are usually tied to an epic Nordic ski adventure, mountain bike race or winter triathlon, but we always make a weekend - and an adventure - of it.

Our favorite North Cascades activity? Deer counting. Though I'm 13 years removed from the urban jungle, I'm still completely speechless every time I am lucky enough to happen upon deer. Luckily, deer in the North Cascades are similar to pigeons in Gasworks Park; they're everywhere and, unlike pigeons, they are incredible.

My son enjoys the deer too. The most deer we've been able to count in a single day in the North Cascades is 208. We don our 'hickory eyes' and scour the scenery for any sign of movement, and when lucky enough to find one, we count it. Usually, we make a contest of it, and the winner is the one who has spotted the most deer in the day.

It's fun to share my fascination with wildlife with my boy, and it's even more rewarding to experience the North Cascades through the eyes of a six-year-old.

If anyone is interested in joining our deer counting fun, the one-day record stands at 208. Good luck!