Catherine Creek-Coyote Wall Hike
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Join Kevin Head on a wonderful hike at wildflower viewing pace
through early meadows of grass widows. This hike is in the beautiful
environments of Catherine Creek area in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic
area. We will spend an hour in the morning exploring the blooming plants of the
lower Catherine Creek trails. This will allow us to see ten to twelve different
blooming flowers, including one endemic found only in the gorge. The afternoon
will be spent walking the Coyote Wall hikes through oak and wetlands areas where
we will feel the amazing strength of a building sun (hopefully) and witness the
beginnings of the spring wildflower display. There will be moderate elevation
gain. Bring walking shoes, lunch and flower guides. Twelve people are the
maximum number of people allowed on the trip and we will carpool from Olympia
starting at 7 a.m., getting back to Olympia around 10 p.m. Participants will go
to dinner in Hood River after the hikes. Sign up by phone call or email to Kevin
Head, 360.943.3752,
khead@ekit.com.
Glacial Heritage Preserve of Thurston County
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Join us to see the early flowers in the prairies in Thurston
County and get a one day jump on Native Plant Appreciation Week. We will see the
beginnings of a special place in south Thurston County. The early sightings
bring us to a blooming peak of Erythronium oregonum and Henderson’s Shooting
Stars, plus a host of other prairie plants. This hike is a three mile round trip
through prairie and oak habitats. We will meet in Olympia at 9 a.m. and carpool
to our hike. Bring a lunch and raingear, plus a sitting pad if you want. This
hike is open to the first twelve people to sign up. Sign up by phone call or
email to Kevin Head, 360.943.3752,
khead@ekit.com.
Bear Grass Prairies
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Come and join David Peter, Ecologist for the
USDA Forest Service, and Stan Graham, retired Fire Management Officer, Hood
Canal District, Olympic National Forest, for a field trip to the wonderful bear
grass prairies of western Washington. Those who were at the January Olympia
meeting of the South Sound Chapter heard David talk about fire in the western
Washington forests and got a brief introduction to the bear grass prairies. Now
is the opportunity to enjoy them up close.
The trip is open to the first 15 people who sign
up. We will meet at 9 am to car pool from Sanderson Field in Shelton. Sanderson
Field Airport is in Shelton just off highway 101 north of the Walmart. Watch for
the sign for a left turn going north. Park on the left a few hundred feet in, by
a remnant prairie with ample parking room.
Wear long pants, sturdy shoes, long sleeves and
rain gear if needed. Although the short hikes are over flat ground, there is
some thick brush to cross. Bring water and a sack lunch! This will be a full day
with several stops and short hikes off the road. Expect to return to Sanderson
about 4 pm. To register, contact Stan Graham at 360.426.0691.
Scatter Creek Prairie
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
To celebrate Native Plant Appreciation Week, come and
join Phyllis Sturges for a hike in Thurston County’s Scatter Creek Prairie.
Enjoy spring blooms in this wonderful area near Mima Mounds and Glacial Heritage
Preserve. This prairie has much to offer: beautiful stands of Garry oak, Scatter
Creek itself with its bird population, and of course many different and unusual
prairie flowers spread over a wide area. We will hike 2-3 miles. Meet at 10 am
in Olympia to carpool. Bring a lunch, water, and rain gear if needed. This hike
is open to the first fifteen people who sign up. Call or email: 360.438.5752,
or
psturges@comcast.net. For a list of native plants on the Scatter Creek
Prairie, visit the WNPS website
http://www.wnps.org/plant_lists/counties/thurston/thurston_county.html.
A Federation Forest Walk
Saturday, May 1, 2010
In spring, summer or fall, one of the most delightful places for
a plant person to visit is the Federation Forest State Park. Come celebrate
Native Plant Appreciation Week and join Bill Brookreson to do a spring walk
along the Fred Cleator Interpretive Trails. We will begin with an introduction
from park staff to Federation Forest. The two trails which start and end at the
interpretive center, will take us through virgin forests, wetlands, and meadows.
The trails, with a few diversions, will total about two miles of easy hiking.
The interpretive center has an outstanding display and a well signed native
garden. The trails also have excellent informational signage. The walk is
suitable for families. We have an excellent plant list for the more serious
botanists, and we will furnish cookies for all levels of botanist. We will
depart from the Park and Ride on South Tacoma Way, near the I-5 and SR 512
intersection, at 9 a.m. and car pool as much as possible. Federation Forest is
about a one hour ride. Those who would rather go singly may meet us at the
interpretive center about 10 a.m. The hike should take about two hours, and we
will have a picnic at the end before returning. Bring a picnic lunch, your plant
books, and clothing appropriate to the weather. To reserve a spot, contact Bill
Brookreson at
b.brookreson@comcast.net or 253.564.1137.
Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve
Saturday May 22, 2010
Join us with a hike into the amazing wildflower meadows of the
Columbia Hills NAP. Here we will see acres of meadows shimmering in the wind and
sun of the area. If the timing is right we will walk at wildflower viewing pace
along an old road up some 1000 feet alongside of some of the nicest meadows of
the Columbia River Gorge. We will meet in Olympia at 6 a.m. and carpool to the
hike. The drive is long, but with company it will be fine. The hike is about
four miles, two up and two back. Bring a lunch, wind gear, cameras and flower
guides. This hike is limited to the first twelve members to sign up. Sign up by
phone call or email to Kevin Head, 360.943.3752,
khead@ekit.com.
