Sunday, August 5, 2012: 7:30 AM-5:00 PM
M.L. King Jr. Lobby, Oregon Convention Center
Official:
Ayzik I. Solomeshch
Trip Leader:
Todd Keeler-Wolf
This field trip will address effective methods of selecting vegetation sampling locations in a natural landscape. It accompanies the half day workshop on vegetation sample allocation offered on Saturday August 4 and is expected to be largely attended by participants of that workshop (Workshop #8040). We will travel by bus to the slopes of Mt. Hood. Participants will take a moderate 3.5 mile downhill walk from the subalpine parklands near Timberline lodge into the densely forested zone near White River, east of Trillium Lake. The trail traverses multiple vegetation types, from patches of whitebark pine on the edge of White River Canyon, through subalpine meadows and parklands with mountain hemlock and subalpine fir, down in to the silver fir zone, ultimately finishing in a patch of lodgepole pine on a pumice floodplain by the White River. We will visit some existing field sample plots and evaluate the efficiency of sample allocation techniques discussed in the prior day’s workshop. Hand-outs will summarize the information and sample allocation scenarios. Trip leaders are experienced in sample allocation and vegetation classification. Local experts on the flora and vegetation will accompany us. We will compare our observations of the diversity and settings of natural vegetation stands with the existing and proposed locations of samples based on different methods of sample allocations set up prior to the field trip. The objective will be to demonstrate the interaction of existing field data, GIS-based allocation, and follow-up opportunistic sampling to develop a representative landscape-level approach to sampling vegetation in a natural landscape. The bus will waiting for us at the White River parking area to take us back to the convention center.
In case of inclement weather, a non-hiking alternative will include 3 to 4 bus stops at Timberline Lodge(alpine/subalpine), Trillium Lake (Silver-fir / Western Hemlock) or Barlow Pass (Silver-fir / Western Hemlock and White River (Lodgepole pine), and Twin Lakes(Western hemlock/Douglas-fir forests.
Registration Fee: $75
Equipment and Attire: Hiking and weather conditions are expected to be comfortable and moderate. Dressing in layers and wearing conmfortable hiking boots is recommended. Bring a rain jacket or poncho. Insect repellant, dark glasses, hats and sunscreen are reccommended. Participants should be fit enough to endure a moderate downhill walk of approximately 3.5 miles. Frequent stops will be made with a longer one for lunch.
Itinerary: 1. 7:30 AM Leave Oregon Convention Center for Timberline Lodge parking area to arrive by 9:00 AM [27500 E Timberline Road, Timberline Lodge, OR (503) 272-3311]
2. 9:00 AM Walk downslope approximately 2.5 miles over a 3 hour period, stopping to view vegetation and sample locatons.
4. 12:00 PM Lunch at a beautiful and informative location approximately half-way down the hill.
5. 1:00-3:00 PM. Walk approximately 2.5 miles to parking area near Trillium Lake where bus will be waiting
6. 3:15-4:45 PM Return via same route to Oregon Convention Center, arriving before 5 PM.
