Alaska Native Plant Society

Summer 2010 Field Trip List

Here comes summer! As well as a calendar full of field trips, there are numerous work parties scheduled for the summer for both native plant garden enhancement and non-native weed-pulling. Please try and attend at least one. These efforts are fun and very important in helping to protect our native plant population by eradicating invasive non-native plants.

All information listed below can downloaded as a pdf here. Always dress in layers and take some photos to share at our annual potluck the first Monday of October. Have a great summer!

Sunday, May 23 – Campbell Airstrip area wetlands
Leader: Marilyn Barker
Email: afmhb@uaa.alaska.edu
Meeting Time: 9:30am Time Allotted: 3-4 hours
Meeting Place: North Bivouac Trail Head. Contact the leader if you plan to attend.
Level of Difficulty: Easy Minimum Age: 8
Description of trip: Check for early blooming bog plants with retired UAA botany professor Marilyn Barker. Bring binoculars,
rubber boots and a snack. You might want bug spray!

Monday, May 24 - Photograph the illusive pollinator of Calypso bulbosa.
Leader: Marilyn Barker
Email: afmhb@uaa.alaska.edu
Meeting Time: TBA Time allotted: 1.5 hours
Description of trip: Bring cameras; the best photo will get published in a German Botanical Journal. Contact the leader for
location.

Wednesday, May 26 – Tragopogon eradication work party, Seward Highway
Leader: Verna Pratt Phone: 333- 8212
Meeting Time: 6:30pm Time Allotted: 3 hours
Meeting Place: Potter Section House parking lot (south end)
Driving Distance: 8 miles south of downtown Anchorage
Level of Difficulty: moderate

Minimum Age: adults only
Description of trip: We will continue to rid the Seward Highway of Tragopogon dubius, a non-native noxious weed. Many hands make light work. We will carpool to our destinations. Wildflowers are great here this time of year. This is an adult only trip as we will be working in a high traffic area. Wear rugged shoes (steep, uneven terrain), old clothes, gloves and bright colors if possible. Be repared for the weather. Most mature plants pull out but dandelion diggers are also useful. We have made great progress here.

Tuesday, June 1 AK Botanical Garden, Lowenfels Nature Trail
Leader: Verna Pratt
Email/Phone: verna@alaskakrafts.com, 333-8212
Meeting Time: 7:00pm Time Allotted: 2.5 hours
Meeting Place: Botanical Garden entrance
Level of Difficulty: easy Minimum Age: 6
Driving directions: Turn south on Campbell Airstrip Road from Tudor Road. Turn left at Botanical garden sign (after the fire station). Park in school parking lot.

Description of trip: This is a continuation of Sue Jensen’s project to rid the nature trail of dandelions. We have made great progress. Please come help us continue to remove those little babies before they get big. Wear sturdy shoes and come prepared for the weather.

Wednesday, June 2 – Symphony Lake
Leader: Marilyn Barker
Email: afmhb@uaa.alaska.edu
Time Allotted: all day
Meeting Time: Meet at Symphony Lake trail head on the south fork of Eagle River for an all day hike in the valley. Trail slowly
gains altitude.
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Description of trip: Bring lunch, dress in layers. Contact the leader if you plan to attend. Sturdy shoes and binoculars best.

Saturday, June 5 – Campbell Creek Science Center (CCSC) Leader: Luise Woelflein and CCSC Staff
Telephone: 267-1269 Email: lwoelfle@ak.blm.gov
Field Trip to: National Trails Day
Time Allotted: 4 hours Meeting Time: 8:30 am
Meeting Place: Campbell Creek Science Center
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Minimum Age: 18 unless accompanied by a parent Description of Trip: Here’s an opportunity to help us meet our obligation for reduced room rental fees for our monthly meetings at the Science Center. We’ll be getting the gardens ready for summer. There will be pizza for everyone at 12:30 pm when the work is done.
Special Instructions: Do you have native plants – especially native plants that butterflies enjoy? If yes, please bring them
to donate to the garden on this day and get them in the ground! Bring work gloves, hand tools, and knee pads if you have them.
The Science Center will also have work gloves and hand tools available.

Saturday, June 5 – Trapper Creek
Landowner: Gregory Kalal, DDS
Telephone: 907-339-1966, Fax 339-1966 email gkalal@gci.net
Meeting time: 11am
Driving Distance: Mile 114.8 of the Parks Highway, about 1.5 miles in on gravel road
Description: Mr. Kalal has 80 acres of land, some will be cleared this summer. He invites us to help ourselves to native plants –
raspberries and ferns. The land is mostly flat with a slough running through it. Please call ahead.

Wednesday, June 9 – Campbell Creek Science Center, Anchorage
Leaders: Luise Woelflein, and CCSC Staff
Telephone: 333-8212 or 267-1269
Email: verna@alaskakrafts.com or lwoelfle@ak.blm.gov
Time Allotted: 2 hours
Meeting Time: 10am – noon
Meeting Place: Campbell Creek Science Center, from Lake Otis
turn East on 68th, drive to end, go right onto Elmore and then
take the very first left (follow signs).
Level of Difficulty: Easy Minimum Age: 18
Description of Trip: This work effort goes towards meeting our obligation to the Science Center for monthly room use. Please try to help on one of these work parties this summer. This is a great community service and we’ve been working on these gardens since 2007. See June 5 trip description for more information (this is a repeat effort) Special Instructions: Bring work gloves, hand tools, and knee pads if you have them.

Wednesday, June 9 – Tragopogon eradication work party, Seward Highway
Leader: Verna Pratt
Phone: 333- 8212
Time Allotted: 3 hours
Meeting Time: 6:30pm
Meeting Place: Potter Section House parking lot (south end)
Driving Distance: south of downtown Anchorage – approx. 8 miles
Level of Difficulty: moderate
Minimum Age: adults only
Description of trip: Repeat of May 26 trip to eradicate nonnative weed.

Saturday, June 12 – Mount Healy, Mile 245.1 Parks Highway
Leader: Verna Pratt
Phone: 333- 8212 Fax: 333-4989
Time Allotted: All day
Meeting Time: 9am
Meeting Place: Trailhead – Antler Creek
Driving Distance:
Level of Difficulty: moderate
Minimum Age: 6
Description of trip: This is a joint trip with the Alaska Rock Garden Society. Verna will be staying at the Denali RV Park and
Motel, mile 245.1 Parks Highway. Going north on the Parks Highway this is 7.2 miles past the entrance to Denali National
Park. Enter the Denali RV Park entrance on the left side and turn left for the Antler Creek Trailhead.
Special Instructions: Call Verna by Thursday June 11 if you wish to carpool or are going and have space to take someone with
you. Reservations are not necessary, just be on time. Bring lunch, water and layered clothing. Be prepared for any type of
weather, there is a fantastic array of flowers here – rhododendrons, Douglasia, Eritrichium, Parrya, etc.

Wednesday, June 23 – Campbell Creek Science Center, Anchorage
Leaders: Verna Pratt and CCSC Staff
Telephone: 333-8212 or 267-1269
Email: verna@alaskakrafts.com or lwoelfle@ak.blm.gov
Time Allotted: 2 hours
Meeting Time: 7:00pm – 9pm
Meeting Place: Campbell Creek Science Center, from Lake Otis turn East on 68th, drive to end, go right onto Elmore and then
take the very first left (follow signs).
Level of Difficulty: Easy Minimum Age: 18
Description of Trip: This work effort goes towards meeting our obligation to the Science Center for monthly room use. Please try to help on one of these work parties this summer. This is a great community service and the gardens are much improved. There will be frozen treats (ice cream or popsicles) at the end of the work party.
Special Instructions: Bring work gloves, hand tools, and knee pads if you have them.

Saturday June 26, Nome Creek, in the White Mountains northeast of Fairbanks
Leader: Alan Batten
Telephone: 907-488-3205
Email: alanbatten@acsalaska.net
Time Allotted: All day
Meeting Time: 9:30 a.m. Meeting Place: Mt. Prindle Campground (at head of Nome Creek Road)
Driving Distance/Car Pooling, etc.: I plan to camp at the campground Friday night. Participants are encouraged to do the same, or if they prefer, to stay in Fairbanks and drive up Saturday morning. The campground is 68 miles northeast of Fairbanks. Allow at least 1.5 hours of travel time, 2 hours is probably more realistic. Take the Steese Highway north from the east side of Fairbanks. Don't forget to turn right onto the Steese at Fox, 10 miles north of Fairbanks. If you zone out and neglect to make this turn you will wind up at Prudhoe Bay. The Steese Highway is paved, but with lots of hills and curves. At 57 mile turn left onto US Creek Road. This is a gravel road with on-again off-again maintenance and is usually quite rough. Follow it over the drainage divide 7 miles to Nome Creek. At the Nome Creek Road junction turn right and go 4 miles to the Mt. Prindle Campground at the end of the road. This is a BLM campground and costs $6 per night. There are 13 campsites and they are available on a firstcome first-served basis. Firewood is not available, but I plan to bring some. For more information on the campground and the White Mountains in general see
http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/nlcs/white_mtns/campgrounds.html. I am planning to stay at this campground Saturday night
(after the field trip) as well, and leave for Sunday's field trip from here.

Reservations by: 23 June 2010.
Level of Difficulty: Moderate Minimum Age: 8
Trip Description: We will follow a narrow, somewhat informal, but good trail up the Nome Creek valley (starting just across Nome Creek from the campground). This will be through low birch open shrubland, occasional meadows. We may also strike up into alpine tundra on the ridge system on the southeast side of the valley. Special instructions: Bring sturdy hiking shoes, warm clothes (avoid cotton) including hat and gloves, and rain gear. Lunch, water, binoculars and mosquito repellent are also needed. Please call or email the leader ahead of time so he knows to expect you.

Sunday, June 27 – Wickersham Dome in the White Mountains, northwest of Fairbanks.
Leader: Alan Batten
Telephone: 907-488-3205
email: alanbatten@acsalaska.net
Meeting Time: 11:00 a.m.

Meeting Place: Washington Dome trailhead, on the uphill (north) side of the Elliott Highway at Snowshoe Pass, mile 28 (from Fox)
Time Allotted: All day
Driving Distance/Car Pooling, etc.: I plan to stay at the Mt. Prindle Campground off the Steese Highway after Saturday's field trip and make the drive to Wickersham Dome on Sunday morning. I expect driving time from the Mt. Prindle Campground to Wickersham Dome to be on the order of 2.5 hours. From Fairbanks I would expect the drive to take a little less than an hour. Coming from either direction, take the Elliott Highway northwest from Fox (Fox is 10 miles north of Fairbanks on the Steese Highway). The Elliott Highway is the road that goes to Livengood, Manley Hot Springs, and Prudhoe Bay so there may be signs to any or all of those places. The Elliott Highway is paved (at least as far as we are taking it), but there may be places where the pavement is all torn up and the road has lots of hills and curves. Mileposts on the Elliott Highway start from Fox and Snowshoe Pass is at 28 mile. It is not a true pass (not a watershed divide), but it is a high point on the road. There is a large paved turnout on the south side of the road for truckers to rest and check their brakes. The trailhead is up a short gravel road on the north side of the Pass. Two trails leave from this trailhead. We will be taking the Summit Trail, which is the more westerly one that heads north up ridges toward the summit of Wickersham Dome (not the one that heads downhill easterly to Lee's Cabin.
Reservations by: 23 June 2010.
Level of Difficulty: Moderate Minimum Age: 8
Trip Description: The trail goes through boreal forest, subalpine shrublands, and alpine tundra with occasional outcrops There are
several moderate ups and downs but it is never very steep. It is on ridges most of the time, but there are places where the trail can be wet.
Special instructions: Bring sturdy hiking shoes, warm clothes (avoid cotton) including hat and gloves, and rain gear. Lunch, water, binoculars and mosquito repellent are also needed. Please call or email the leader ahead of time so he knows to expect you.

Tuesday, June 29 Alaska Botanical Garden, Lowenfels Nature
Trail Leader: Verna Pratt Email/Phone: 333-8212
Meeting Time: 7:00pm Time Allotted: 2.5 hours
Meeting Place: Botanical Garden entrance
Level of Difficulty: easy Minimum Age: 6
Driving directions: Turn south on Campbell Airstrip Road from Tudor Road. Turn left at Botanical garden sign (after the fire
station). Park in school parking lot. Description of trip: This is a continuation of Sue Jensen’s project to rid the nature trail of dandelions. Please come help us continue to remove those little babies before they get big. Wear sturdy shoes and come prepared for the weather.

Saturday, July 3 – Gilpatrick’s Mountain
Leader: Joyce Weaver Johnson Phone: 278-9607
Email: johnsonjw@gci.net
Time Allotted: 8 hours
Meeting Time: 10 am Saturday
Meeting Place: Johnson cabin, Mile 42.5 Seward Highway

Driving Distance: approximately 87 miles from Anchorage. Allow 1-1/2-2 hours driving time. From Anchorage take the Seward Highway south. When you see Summit Lake Lodge (large, log-built restaurant and lodge) on your left about Mile 45.5, check your odometer and continue exactly 3.0 miles. When you see our low log cabin on your right, pull over and in. Find us at our larger, frame cabin just uphill from the log cabin.

Level of Difficulty: moderate Minimum Age: 8
Description of trip: Marilyn Barker will co-lead. We’ll climb up approximately 2,000-2,500 feet in elevation. This is prime time for the larger wildflowers and we’ll find Alpine “late bloomers.” Our probable turnaround is at “Birthday Point” at the low end of the Gilpatrick’s ridge.
Special Instructions: Bring sturdy hiking shoes, layers for the anticipated atmospheric conditions, hat and gloves, and raingear. Lunch, water and binoculars are also needed. Please call the leader ahead to let her know to expect you. You are welcome to arrange to overnight at the cabin so you can head into Seward for July 4th and Mount Marathon fun.

Wednesday, July 7 – Tragopogon eradication work party, Seward Highway
Leader: Verna Pratt Phone: 333- 8212
Meeting Time: 6:30pm Time Allotted: 3 hours
Meeting Place: Potter Section House parking lot (south end)
Driving Distance: south of downtown Anchorage – approx. 8 miles
Level of Difficulty: moderate

Minimum Age: adults only
Description of trip: Repeat of May 26 trip to eradicate nonnative weed.

Tuesday, July 13 – Thursday July 15 - Flowers on south end of
Resurrection Pass Trail
Leader: Dianne Toebe afdmt@uaa.alaska.edu 337-0328
Trip Description: Hike with backpack about 7 miles in from the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing to the Romig US Forest
Service cabin on Juneau Lake. Bring sleeping bag, sleeping pad, food, cooking gear etc. to spend the night in cabin. Wednesday, July 14: Pack up and hike about 5 miles to Swan Lake US Forest Service cabin. Leave backpacks in cabin and hike on up, about 3 miles, into Devil’s Pass area, looking at the flowers blooming. Hike back down to Swan Lake cabin and spend the night. Thursday, July 15: Hike back out 12 miles to Sterling Highway.
Limited to 4 people. Call/email me for possible car pooling and times.
Cost: $20 dollars ($10 dollars for each night in a cabin).
Editors note: I’ve done this trip before and Dianne has the timing just right for fields of wildflowers.

Wednesday, July 14 – Campbell Creek Science Center, Anchorage
Leaders: Verna Pratt and CCSC Staff
Telephone: 333-8212 or 267-1269
Email: verna@alaskakrafts.com or lwoelfle@ak.blm.gov
Time Allotted: 2 hours
Meeting Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Meeting Place: Campbell Creek Science Center, from Lake Otis turn East on 68th, drive to end, go right onto Elmore and then
take the very first left (follow signs).
Level of Difficulty: Easy Minimum Age: 18
Description of Trip: This work effort goes towards meeting our obligation to the Science Center for monthly room use. Please
try to help on one of these work parties this summer. This is a great community service and the gardens are much improved.
There will be frozen treats (ice cream or popcicles) at the end of the work party. Special Instructions: Bring work gloves, hand tools, and knee pads if you have them.

Tuesday, July 27 Alaska Botanical Garden, Lowenfels Nature
Trail Leader: Verna Pratt
Email/Phone: 333-8212
Time Allotted: 2.5 hours
Meeting Time: 7:00pm
Meeting Place: Botanical Garden entrance
Level of Difficulty: easy
Minimum Age: 6
Driving directions: Turn south on Campbell Airstrip Road from Tudor Road. Turn left at Botanical garden sign (after the fire station). Park in school parking lot.
Description of trip: This is a continuation of Sue Jensen’s project to rid the nature trail of dandelions. We have made great progress. Enjoy the nature trail and help keep it native.

Wednesday, July 28 – Campbell Creek Science Center, Anchorage
Leaders: Luise Woelflein, and CCSC Staff
Telephone: 333-8212 or 267-1269
Email: verna@alaskakrafts.com or lwoelfle@ak.blm.gov
Time Allotted: 2 hours
Meeting Time: 10am – noon
Meeting Place: Campbell Creek Science Center, from Lake Otis turn East on 68th, drive to end, go right onto Elmore and then take the very first left (follow signs).
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Minimum Age: 18
Description of Trip: This work effort goes towards meeting our obligation to the Science Center for monthly room use. See June 5 trip description for more information (this is a repeat effort)
Special Instructions: Bring work gloves, hand tools, and knee
pads if you have them. The Science Center will also have work
gloves and hand tools available.

Friday, July 30-Sunday, August 1 – Mendeltna and Copper Center
Leader: Joyce Weaver Johnson Phone: 278-9607
Email: johnsonjw@gci.net
Time Allotted: all day
Meeting Time: am
Meeting Place: Mendeltna Lodge. The Lodge offers excellent meals and a bar, cabins, RV parking, and camping. Call the Wimmers at 907-822- ; with questions or to make reservations.
Level of Difficulty: moderate
Minimum age: 8
Description of trip: Marilyn Barker will co-lead and Anjanette Steer will participate. This trip was inspired by our hosts, Mabel and Russ Wimmer, who are eager to learn more about the plants on the Lodge property and adjacent state lands. After arriving on Friday we’ll have an easy, flat hike nearby. On Saturday we plan to drive on out to the Copper Center area. Our hiking route and what we might expect to see remain “To Be Determined.”

Wednesday, August 11 – Campbell Creek Science Center, Anchorage
Leaders: Verna Pratt and CCSC Staff
Telephone: 333-8212 or 267-1269
Email: verna@alaskakrafts.com or lwoelfle@ak.blm.gov
Time Allotted: 2 hours
Meeting Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Meeting Place: Campbell Creek Science Center, from Lake Otis turn East on 68th, drive to end, go right onto Elmore and then take the very first left (follow signs).
Level of Difficulty: Easy Minimum Age: 18
Description of Trip: This work effort goes towards meeting our obligation to the Science Center for monthly room use. Please try to help on one of these work parties this summer. This is a great community service and the gardens are much improved. There will be frozen treats (ice cream or popcicles) at the end of the work party.
Special Instructions: Bring work gloves, hand tools, and knee pads if you have them.

Saturday, August 21 – Manitoba Mountain, Kenai Peninsula
Leader: Joyce Weaver Johnson Phone: 278-9607
Email: johnsonjw@gci.net
Time Allotted: all day
Meeting Time: am
Meeting Place: Contact the leader for details. Level of
Difficulty: moderate
Minimum age: 8

Wednesday, August 25 – Campbell Creek Science Center
Leader: Verna Pratt and CCSC Staff
Telephone: 333-8212 or 267-1269
Email: verna@alaskakrafts.com or lwoelfle@blm.gov
Time Allotted: 2 hours
Meeting Time: 10am to 12pm
Meeting Place: Campbell Creek Science Center
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Minimum Age: 18
Description of Trip: Each year the Alaska Native Plant Society receives a reduction in room rental fees for our meetings by contributing a certain number of volunteer hours to the Center. Come help us meet this obligation! There will be frozen treats (ice cream or popsicles) at the end of the work!

Special Instructions: Bring work gloves, hand tools, and knee pads if you have them. The Science Center will also have work gloves and hand tools available.

Wednesday, August 25 – Girdwood
Trip Description: Kate Mohatt will lead a fungi identification walk in Girdwood.

Email: kmohatt@fs.fed.us
Time: 6:30p-8:00pm Contact leader for meeting location.

Wednesday and Thursday, August 25 and 26 – Dale Clemens USFS Cabin, near Seward
Leader: Dianne Toebe

Contact information: afdmt@uaa.alaska.edu 337-0328
Trip Description: Wednesday, August 25: Meet at trailhead in Seward. Hike 3 to 6 miles up toward Lost Lake to the Dale Clemens US Forest Service cabin. Bring sleeping bad (no sleeping pad needed), food, cooking gear, etc. Spend Wednesday and Thursday nights at the cabin. Explore the meadows of wild flowers, including the Broad-leaf gentians which will be in bloom. Blueberries will be out near the trailhead parking area. Friday, August 27: Hike back out. Stop along the way to pick Blueberries and Salmon berries. Limit to 6 people. Call or email leader to secure a spot on the trip.

Cost: $14 ($7 per night for cabin rental).

Wednesday, September 8 – Campbell Creek Science Center
Leader: Verna Pratt and CCSC Staff
Telephone: 333-8212 or 267-1269
Email: verna@alaskakrafts.com or lwoelfle@blm.gov
Time Allotted: 2 hours
Meeting Time: 10am to 12pm
Meeting Place: Campbell Creek Science Center
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Minimum Age: 18
Description of Trip: Each year the Alaska Native Plant Society receives a reduction in room rental fees for our meetings by contributing a certain number of volunteer hours to the Center. Come help us meet this obligation! There will be frozen treats (ice cream or popsicles) at the end of the work!
Special Instructions: Bring work gloves, hand tools, and knee pads if you have them. The Science Center will also have work gloves
and hand tools available.

Saturday, September 25 – Campbell Creek Science Center,
National Public Lands Day
Leader: Luise Woelflein and CCSC Staff
Telephone: 267-1269
Email: lwoelfle@blm.gov
Time Allotted: 4 hours
Meeting Time: 8:30 am
Meeting Place: Campbell Creek Science Center, Anchorage
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Minimum Age: 18 unless accompanied by an adult Description of Trip: Come help with fall clean-up, trail projects, and revegetation efforts. We’ll be putting final touches on the gardens for the summer and getting them ready for winter. There will be pizza for everyone at 12:30 pm when the work is done. Wear boots, bring gloves, warm clothes, and rain gear.

Special Instructions: Bring work gloves and hand tools if you have them. The Science Center will also have work gloves and hand
tools available.

****************************************************************************************************************************************