Bryophytes and Lichens of the High Uinta Mountains, Utah

This full day field trip, sponsored by the American Bryological and Lichenological Society. Departing at 8:00 am, we will travel by bus to three localities in the Uinta Mountains east of Salt Lake City: Provo River Falls, Murdock Summit and Mirror Lake. The geology of the area consists entirely of Precambrian quartzite. Elevation at Provo Falls is 9400 ft; Murdock Summit 11200 ft; and Mirror Lake 10400 ft. The vegetation consists of lodgepole pine, subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce at Provo Falls and Mirror Lake, and alpine rock meadow at Murdock Summit. Most localities are within 500 meters of the parking area, but those who wish to hike to the alpine meadow at Murdock Summit should expect a rather strenuous 30-minute hike from the parking area. Bryologists can expect to see Aulacomnium, Climacium, Dichelyma, Drepanocladus, Fontinalis, Helodium, Hygrohypnum, Orthotrichum, Philonotis, Polytrichum, Sphagnum, Syntrichia and several others. Lichenologists will see mostly crustose Aspicilia, Dimelaena, Lecidea, Pleopsidium, Rhizocarpon, Sporastatia and Staurothele, and possibly squamulose Psora and Psoroma. Be prepared for all kinds of weather. If time permits, our return route will be Route 150 to Evanston WY—sagebrush country—where we can expect to see some desert mosses and vagrant lichens. We will return to Snowbird at 7:00 pm.

Basin and Range Flora

Submitted by: Ann Kelsey kelsey@umnh.utah.edu
This is an all day field trip with emphasis more on walking than driving. There will only be two van stops. The first stop for walking and botanizing will be at Big Spring (elev. 4,223ft.) in the West Desert of Utah, south of Timpie Springs Wildlife Management Area. This is a great halophyte spot. The temperatures will be hot in an area with little cover. The second stop will be a bit cooler in the Stansbury Mountains up South Willow Canyon. We will walk the Deseret Peak trail with no intention of making it to the top.The trail will start at around 6,000 ft.

Due to heat concerns of the first stop and hiking at elevations above 6,000 ft on the second stop the trip could be termed mildly strenuous.
Special personal gear would include a hat, walking stick, a good supply of water, personal snack/energy food items, jacket, sturdy hiking/walking footwear, sun screen and sun glasses.

Tour of Red Butte Garden and Cottam's Cove at the University of Utah

Submitted by: Ronald Bolander ron_bolander@blm.gov
This would be a great field trip for those who wanted to stay close to town. Red Butte is a beautiful garden and Cottom's Cove has a tremendous botanical history.

Ecology

Submitted by: Loreen Allphin loreen_woolstenhulme@byu.edu
The scenic central Wasatch mountains are a hotspot for plant endemism. The geology of the area is quite diverse, providing suitable habitat for several local and regional endemics. Many of these endemics are restricted in distribution to only a narrow portion of the central Wasatch Mountains. The extreme rarity of these species and their proximity to the highly populated Wasatch Front makes their conservation critically important. During this full day field trip, we will travel to various populations of local plant endemics of the central Wasatch Mountains near Salt Lake City, including Big Cottonwood and American Fork Canyons. Participants can expect to see and learn about the ecology and conservation biology of select endemic species within the genera Erigeron, “Tonestus”, Penstemon, Chlorocrambe, Jamesia, Dodecatheon, Physaria, Cystopteris, etc. In addition, they will have the opportunity to explore the substantial plant diversity of this region and the threats to its existence. All participants will be provided with a guide to the endemic plants of the central Wasatch Mountains. Although most localities will be near the road, some stops may require moderately strenuous walking in rocky habitats at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level. Temperatures can range from nearly 90 degrees F at the lowest elevations to the mid 60's high in the mountains.

All participants should bring comfortable hiking shoes, a hat, a jacket or sweater, a change of socks, and sunscreen.

Visit to the Stanley L Welsh Herbarium at Brigham Young University

Submitted by: Duane Atwood ron_bolander@blm.gov
This would be an exciting trip to the Stanley L Welsh Herbarium located on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. It is one of largest herberia in the entire intermountain west. It is located in the Monte L Bean Life Science Museum which is dedicated to the management of all living organisms. Dr. Atwood would take participants on a tour the herbarium and surrounding campus. Participants would be shown collection methods and how the herbarium maintains partnerships with other herbaria One particularly interesting campus site is the botanical garden with reprentative trees from the west coast to the east coast. Lunch on your own in campus cafeteria.

Flora of the Western Utah Deserts

Submitted by: Jason Alexander alexanja@uvu.edu
The Great Basin portion of western Utah was covered by Lake Bonneville, which first formed over 30,000 years ago. This field trip will explore some of the habitats (from saline lake playas to montane forests) that have formed since the retreat of the Pleistocene lakes. We will stop at a number of sites in Tooele County from the vicinity of the Great Salt Lake south to Rush Lake and Vernon. A hand lens will be useful for aid in identification of specimens seen on the trip. The van will leave leave at 9:30 am, return around 5:00 pm, and lunch will be provided. Temperatures could be in the high 90s with clear cunny skies, participants should bring sun block and head protection.

Catherine Pass Wildflower Hike

Submitted by: Lynn Bohs bohs@biology.utah.edu
This is an easy hike with some moderate elevation gain (800 feet). The trailhead elevation is at 10,220 feet and the round trip distance to Catherine Pass from Albion Basin and back is 2.1 mi. We will take it easy with plenty of time for botanizing, bird watching, and photography. This is one of the most beautiful spots in the Wasatch Mountains to see wildflowers. With luck, we may even see moose. If participants are feeling spunky, we can extend the hike to Sunset Peak or over Catherine Pass to the Twin Lakes area of Big Cottonwood Canyon, or we can amble through other parts of the beautiful Albion Basin. We will leave after lunch, spend about 3.5 hours on the trail, and return to Snowbird in time for happy hour.
Sturdy shoes are preferred, but the trail is mostly easy going. A hand lens is needed for botanizing; binoculars and photography equipment is optional. The trip leader will bring the Wasatch flora for keying plants. No collecting is allowed on this trip or in Albion Basin.

Botany Walk

Submitted by: Stephen Stern/Lynn Bohs stern@biology.utah.edu
Early morning strolls close to the conference center before the conference begins each morning to view the flora of the Wasatch Mountains. A very casual walk with time for photography, botanizing, birding, and hopefully a chance to see wildlife such as moose and pika. A species lists for the plants we will likely encounter will be provided.

Milford Flat Wildfire Rehabilitation and Stabilization

Submitted by: Verlin Smith/Ronald Bolander ron_bolander@blm.gov
On July 6, 2007, a lightning strike stated a wildfire just north of Milford, Utah. During the next two weeks, the fire burned over 360,000 acres of pinyon-juniper woodland, sage brush, and cheat grass habitat. Fire behavior was extreme in some areas. Following the fire, an extensive rehabilitation and stabilization effort costing several million dollars was undertaken. Both native and non-native seed was used. Different seeding procedures were used including drilling, chaining, broadcasting, etc. This field trip would examine several areas that were seeded and some that were not seeded. The relative success or lack thereof of the rehabilitation and stabilization will be discussed. The challenges of using native seed will be the focus of this trip.

Bring sunscreen and dark glasses, limited hiking...but not strenuous.

Tour of Nine Mile Canyon

Sunscreen, insect repellent, and dark glasses are recommended. There will be several stops to look at vegetation, cultural resources, etc. but no strenuous hiking is anticipated.

Alpine Scramble Loop Hike

Submitted by: John Sperry/Stephen Stern j.sperry@utah.edu
This strenuous all day loop hike departs directly from Cliff Lodge. A tram ride takes us up to Hidden Peak (bring your complementary tram ticket). From there we scramble up a narrow, exposed ridgeline to lofty Twin Peaks at 11,430 feet. The broad summits have interesting alpine tundra and fantastic views. We follow the ridgeline west and summit Red Top (11,300 ft) and Red Baldy (11,150 ft) with some more scrambling. We then drop steeply down boulder-strewn talus to lovely White Pine Lake near tree line. An easy 6 mile trail takes us through forested lower White Pine Canyon and back to the Cliff Lodge starting point. The total hike is 9.5 miles, and thanks to the tram is mostly downhill. Nevertheless, the route requires hands-and-knees scrambling with considerable exposure and steep ups and downs. Hikers must be nimble and in good shape.

Bring sturdy hiking shoes/boots, sunscreen and lipscreen, raingear, windbreaker, sunhat, sunglasses and a daypack. Bring 2 quarts of water per person. This is a very strenuous and long hike much of which is above 10,000 feet and off-trail. Hikers need to be nimble and unafraid of heights or exposure.

2009 Mycological Society of America Annual Foray

Submitted by: Donald G. Ruch druch@bsu.edu
The foray route planned for 2009 will take us into the Uintah mountain range of northern Utah. The Uintah mountains run east to west along the northern border of Utah and have the highest elevations within the state. Because of their high elevation, the Uintahs typically receive afternoon thundershowers in late summer that make them the most reliable spot for collecting fungi in an otherwise arid state. The planned route runs through a variety of plant communities at elevations ranging from about 4,500 ft to 10,000 ft including semiarid scrub oak, ponderosa pine, aspen, lodgepole pine, and spruce-fir forests. Duration: 7- 8 hours with 2 hours traveling time each way and a couple of collecting stops once we reach the higher elevations.

Each participant should bring any collecting supplies required for his/her collecting and storage of fungi. Due to the topography at the sites where we will be collecting, participants should be prepared for a stenuous walk.

Alpine Wildflowers

Submitted by: Leila M. Shultz l.shultz@usu.edu
Mt. Baldy is a rock scree alpine site located above the Snowbird Resort. A short tram ride takes you to the top of the mountain; from there, we will hike down a ski trail, then back up to an elevation above 11,000 ft. July is an ideal time to see the alpine flora in its full glory. You will see endemic species of Penstemon, Castilleja, Eriogonum, numerous cushion plants in the Brassicaceae and Caryophyllaceae families, and the rare Ivesia utahensis (Rosaceae). Be prepared for hiking elevation - narrow trail, some up and down - about a mile each way. Bring water and a jacket. A species list will be provided. Fee includes ticket for the tram.

Botany Walk

Submitted by: Stephen Stern/Lynn Bohs stern@biology.utah.edu
Early morning strolls close to the conference center before the conference begins each morning to view the flora of the Wasatch Mountains. A very casual walk with time for photography, botanizing, birding, and hopefully a chance to see wildlife such as moose and pika. A species lists for the plants we will likely encounter will be provided.

Lichens of Selected Sites in the High Uintas - Northeastern Utah

Submitted by: Larry St. Clair larry_stclair@byu.edu

This field trip will include 2.5 days of collecting lichens from selected sites in the Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah. We will collect from alpine tundra to local coniferous forests; from mid-elevation sandstone and quartzite outcrops to a quaking aspen woodland.

Some limited hiking will be involved. Personal collecting equipment and supplies required. Rain gear, sunscreen, and insect repellent are recommended. Vans will provide transportation from Snowbird to all collection sites and then to the Salt Lake area following the field trip. All food and drink will be provided.

We will depart from Snowbird at 7:00 am Thursday morning July 30th and return to Salt Lake City, Saturday, August 1st late afternoon or early evening.

Paleogene fossil floras of southwestern Wyoming

Submitted by: Steven Manchester steven@flmnh.ufl.ed
Peter Wilf pwilf@psu.edu
Fluvial and lacustrine deposits in SW Wyoming record an outstanding sequence of well preserved Paleocene and Eocene compression and impression floras that provide critical insights into floristic evolution and plant paleoecology in the Rocky Mountains during a time of significant environomental changes. Participants will collect fossil leaves, wood, and fruits from a time series of representative sites in the Fort Union, Wasatch, and Green River Formations to learn about floral composition and turnover, paleoclimate indicators in the floras, and the richly informative record of plant-insect feeding associations preserved in the leaves.The field trip will depart from the Snowbird hotel 7:30 am Thursday July 30, and return Saturday August 1, both to Salt Lake City Airport (3:00 pm), and Snowbird (4:00 pm).
Lodging on Thursday and Friday evenings will be at the dormitories of Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs Wyoming. Participants should be prepared for short hikes over rough terrain to reach the fossil localities.

Ferns of Zion National Park and the northern Mojave Desert

Submitted by: Michael Windham mdw26@duke.edu
This field trip will originate in Las Vegas, Nevada at 7AM on Friday morning July 31. During the 2.5 day duration of the trip, we will visit 1) desert riparian habitat in Pine Creek Canyon just W of Las Vegas, 2) typical Mojave Desert habitat in the Virgin River Gorge along I-15 between Las Vegas and St. George, Utah, and 3) diverse habitats in Zion National Park NW of St. George. Participants will see an eclectic assortment of 25+ ferns and lycophytes, including a diversity of xeric-adapted genera, several regional endemics (including Selaginella utahensis, S. leucobryoides and newly discovered species of Cheilanthes and Pentgramma) and isolated "desert oasis" populations of Woodwardia and Polystichum.

Transportation will be provided in the form of vans rented in Las Vegas. Motel rooms (double occupancy) will be provided in St. George, Utah for two nights (7/31 and 8/1). Breakfasts on 8/1 and 8/2 will be included in motel cost. Picnic-style lunches will be provided on all three field days (7/31, 8/1, and 8/2). Participants are responsible for the cost of dinners, pre- and post-trip lodging in Las Vegas, and travel costs to and from Las Vegas. Participants should be prepared for moderately strenuous hiking in locations where afternoon temperatures may exceed 100 degrees F. Sunscreen, protective hats, and packs (to carry water and snacks) are vital. Rain gear is recommended as July/August is monsoon season. Photography is encouraged but collecting of plant materials in parks and conservation areas is not permitted.

We will return to Las Vegas no later than 7PM Sunday August 2.