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This
early spring trip will take us into the heart of the country once
inhabited by pygmy rabbits. We will be looking for signs of
any remaining rabbit population as well as other rare plants and
animals. A few early wildflowers will be in bloom and you
may have a chance to see the increasingly rare sage grouse.
This trip is a continuation of our studies of the pygmy rabbit,
which has virtually disappeared from Washington State.
Nearly all of the last remaining rabbits are in captive breeding
programs. We will be evaluating habitat conditions and
hoping to discover a remaining wild population. This trip
may be a sobering reminder that extinction is forever.
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April
13-14 Wildflowers
and Birds
of Forgotten Sage Lands
Spring
will be well underway in the central Washington sage lands, and
you will be able to greet the new hiking season with an early
adventure to these beautiful, but often forgotten lands.
Sagebrush ecosystems are some of the most endangered in the
West, and host a surprising variety of species.
We’ll search for rare species of birds, mammals and
plants. Please join
us for one or both days.
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May 18-19 Search
for the Pygmy Rabbit
Part IIIThis mid spring trip will take us
once again into the heart of the country
once inhabited by pygmy rabbits. We will be looking for
signs of any remaining rabbit population as well as other rare
plants and animals. Wildflowers will be in full bloom
and you may have a chance to see the increasingly rare sage
grouse. This trip is a continuation of our studies of the
pygmy rabbit, which has virtually disappeared from Washington
State. Nearly all of the last remaining rabbits are in captive
breeding programs. We will be evaluating habitat conditions
and hoping to discover a remaining wild population. We will
survey new areas that appear to have potential habitat for this wonderful
creature. We will also be looking for the rare burrowing owl and the
increasingly rare black tailed and white tailed jackrabbits.
You can join us for one or both days.
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June 1-2 Forest to Desert: Vertical Migrations
Come out for an
early season overnight backpack as we explore the forests and
deserts of the Colockum Pass - Mid Columbia River area.
This is a vital wildlife corridor between the large,
unprotected highland roadless areas of Blewett Pass, and the lower
winter range of the Colockum Wildlife Area.
We’ll ponder the possibilities of state and federal
interagency cooperation when managing wildlands, and experience
some seldom seen country. Elk herds, bighorn sheep, rare
plants and vast expanses await you.
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June
15-16 Ecosystem Recovery from Wildfire
We will explore two of the
areas that burned in last summer's wildfires and experience first
hand how rapidly a landscape recovers from wildfire. We will
collect data on the recovery of plant and animal populations and
examine how the fire effected the landscape. We may also
have time to visit an area that burned 8 years ago and compare it
to the recently burned areas. Prepare to be surprised by
what you see in these burn areas. This is a chance to learn
about fire ecology from some experts.
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July
13-14 Ancient Forests and Rivers
We will explore some of the
most magnificent ancient forests left in Washington. We will also
observe some of the best remaining salmon habitat in western
Washington. The trip will take us into a large,
multiple-ownership roadless area east of Granite Falls. Expect to
see some big trees and lush forest understories. This is prime
habitat for spotted owls, marbled murrelets and other rare species
dependent on old forests. You can join us for one or both days.
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July
26-28
Explore the
Teanaway Wildlands
Exalt in high summer in the subalpine wildlands of the Teanaway
roadless area. The
Teanaway River basin contains one of the largest unprotected
roadless areas in Washington, and is adjacent to the Alpine Lakes
Wilderness. A haven
for many endangered species, we will explore the upper regions of
the Middle Fork of the Teanaway River, an area often overlooked
for the more popular hiking destinations in the nearby Enchantments.
This weekend backpack will allow us time to explore some
remote valleys and basins that have been known to harbor grizzly
bear, gray wolf, raptors and rare plants. |
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August
24-25 West Slope
Wild
We’ll explore one of the
larger unprotected roadless areas on the West Slope of the North
Cascades. Adjacent to
designated wilderness and North Cascades National Park, this area
is a critical buffer to the core wildlands of the North Cascades.
Expect to see some big trees and lush forest understories.
This is prime habitat for spotted owls, marbled murrelets and
other rare species dependent on old forests. You can join us for
one or both days. |
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