2003 Trip Pictures

What a wonderful trip we had!  Thanks to ALL of my students for being so positive, helpful, and delightful!  You made the trip so enjoyable.  Thanks to Melinda for being our llama wrangler/camp cook extraordinaire!

Day 2: Investigating the causes of tree die-back by comparing separate forest plots. Students measured, identified, and evaluated EVERY tree in two 0.01 hectare plots, sampled understory plants, and graphed their data and wrote up their labs (by flashlight or firelight no less).  Students used their data to form a hypothesis of the cause of tree die-back in the area.

Day 3:  Studying the High Cascade volcanoes in the Mt Jefferson area.  We climbed Red Butte, a red cinder cone volcano (center picture), to get a most excellent view of Mt Jefferson, South Cinder Peak. Three Fingered Jack, North, Middle, and South Sister, Mt Washington, Hoodoo Butte, and Maxwell Butte.  We had incredible warm, clear weather which allowed us to see for miles and miles!

Day 4: Investigating the effects of a high-use stream crossing area.  We measured dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and sampled aquatic insects above and below the crossing.  We found this weird cocooned-like insect (in the spoon).  Brave students sunk into sediments up to 14" deep - even after knowing what insects lurked in that mud!  We might have had a little fun with mud too...

Camp chores included moving, feeding, and watering llamas a few times a day, washing dishes, cooking, carrying drinking water from a spring, and fire building and wood gathering!