Environmental Service Project
Environmental Service Project
Depart: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Return: Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
This trip is an environmental service project with the scientists who work for the research arm of the US Forest Service, for the forestry program at University of Washington, and Oregon State University. The majority of our time during the day will be spent in spectacular ancient forests, collecting data on the condition of these forests on study plots called "Research Natural Areas" (RNAs). This year, the study plots our group is working on will be in and around Mt. Rainier National Park.
Our work area will be an amazingly beautiful area that few people get to visit, due to the remoteness and lack of major trails into these research natural areas. It's about a 3.5 hour van ride from Lewis & Clark College to the area in the Southeastern part of Mt. Rainier National Park we’ll be camping, and using as our base of operations.
Some (but not all) of the hazards and dangers that are possible in this area follow. It’s standard practice with our program to try to inform you of these. If you have any questions, please call us at (503) 768-7116, or email us at OUTDOORS@LCLARK.EDU.
This service project will require some physical endurance and stamina due to the hiking involved. Because the project is in a remote area, advanced medical care will not be readily accessible. We will have several people with Wilderness First Responder training with us, along with our standard outdoor program first aid kit. We’ll be at elevations ranging from 1000 to 7000 feet during our sampling work.
Poison oak/ivy may be present in some areas, but is almost never seen in the forests where we'll be working. Yellow jackets, wasps, or hornets are very common at this time of the year, and people with the potential for severe reactions to stings need to carry anaphylaxis kits with them. Mosquitoes and flies can be plentiful or non-existent, depending on how cold the nights are and how dry the season has been. Usually the mosquitoes are not troublesome, but West Nile virus has been identified in the Pacific Northwest, so avoiding mosquito bites by using insect repellent and clothing to cover up bare skin is always a good idea. Ticks and rattlesnakes are not common, but could be present.
Bears and mountain lions may be found in the area we will be working, and while sometimes these animals will charge, they will generally avoid humans. Skunks and other animals in the area have been known to carry rabies and other diseases, so it’s important to keep a clean camp and not feed or try to pet wildlife. Cliffs and rock outcrops can be unstable and dangerous in places.
Fire danger is generally very high in the late summer, so always be careful with any fires. The area in which we’ll be working is fairly dry by late August and plenty of water needs to be carried with each person in the field. That being said, it's also possible to have very wet weather in late August, so you want to be prepared for both dry conditions and possibly very wet ones.
Due to the remoteness of the sites we will hike into, it is possible to get lost. We'll break into small groups and travel, in some cases, over steep terrain to the research plots, where we will take measurements on trees as well as logs that are on the ground (downed woody debris, the forest scientists call the latter). We plan to have walkie-talkies for communication, but their range is limited and can be hindered by the steepness of the terrain. The best insurance to avoid getting lost is to pay careful attention to the training we do on using a map and compass (and GPS in some cases), and master those skills. GPS units often do not work under thick tree cover, since the trees block satellite signals. We will have whistles for you to carry (great for signaling in case of an emergency) if you don't have one.
Because we'll be gathering research data in what is actually temperate rain forest, the vegetation can be very thick at times. In some cases we'll be climbing over downed logs and tunneling through brush. We’ll be in some areas of spectacular ancient forest, however, with Washington’s largest mountain (standing at 14,410 FT) looking down on you as you go about your day.
Working with the US Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Forest and Range experimental station is a great educational opportunity. However, the hours may be long, the hiking can be challenging, the weather can be wet and cold, or hot and sunny; and the access roads to drive to the area can be very rough. You want to be physically fit and interested in learning lots about ancient forests to sign up for this volunteer service project.
On our first day in the area, we will go through an orientation to the techniques and sampling methods. After that training, we will be heading into the forest. Using maps, compass, and possibly GPS, we will work in teams of between two to four people. At the study sites, we will record data on tree species, density, tree height, diameter, and general ecological condition. We may collect samples to bring back to base camp. For temperatures (Fahrenheit) during these days, expect mid 50’s-80’s degrees F. during the day and 40’s-50’s at night—though this could range higher or lower, depending on weather systems moving through.
In the evening, there will be time to relax, cook great meals, and get to know the other new students on the trip. We will be camping out during the entire trip, but will have access to showers at least once (most likely at the end of the trip). We’ll be sharing camp chores, including meal preparation and clean up. Sanitation and proper food handling techniques, including frequent hand washing, are very important in a camp setting, to prevent illness. We'll cover this information on our first few days in the field.
If you’re interested in contributing to the scientific understanding of a forest, want to learn what a forest scientist or ecologist does for a living, have a good sense of humor and are in good physical shape with a good work ethic, this is the trip for you! You’ll also make some great friends, share some good laughs, and see some incredible scenery. Have a great summer, and we’ll see you in August!
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(Four Pages)