san juan islands |

Recently, I had the opportunity to complete a two-week writing retreat as a visiting scholar at the Helen Riaboff Whiteley Center (HRWC) at the UW Friday Harbor Laboratories (FHL) on San Juan Island.

One of my favorite activities when I wasn’t writing or researching was to go tidepooling early in the morning along the shores of the Salish Sea any time there was a minus tide.

I was lucky enough to see a lot of unique critters while exploring different tidepooling hot spots across San Juan Island. Below is a short tidepooling guide that illustrates only a fraction of the incredible diversity of plants and animals I saw during my stay.

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Last summer, my partner (Raymond Krohn) and I were lucky enough to spend time as visiting scholars at the Helen Riaboff Whiteley Center (HRWC) at the Friday Harbor Laboratories (FHL) on San Juan Island. The center is administered by the University of Washington’s College of the Environment. Since its inception in 2000, it has hosted writers, artists, scientists, and other creatives from around the world.

For two weeks, we stayed in a picturesque cottage situated within the evergreen forests and rugged coastlines that are a hallmark of the San Juan Islands. Mornings were spent in quiet contemplation observing the small creatures in tidepools (tiny wonders!) or the occasional harbor seal and otter who sometimes swam close to shore.