Angelo Reserve, Mendocino Co.
River Crossing!
11 May 2016: WHOOTY WHOOTY WHOOOO
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CA: Santa Cruz- Mendocino Co: Angelo Coast Range Reserve: Fox Creek Lodge
Our day began in Santa Cruz, we started out strong as we only had one catastrophe to start out! Danielle’s seatbelt didn’t have a bottom strap, so rather than going for the rest of the trip without a belt, she opted to change cars. From then on, the day went rather smoothly! Mayra saw humpback whales spouting off Highway 1 & Santana-Pod purchased a secret Funky Friday item at the Dollar Store. But we finally arrived at the Angelo Coast Range Reserve and posted up in the field station. After a group meeting and a cargo van unloading, we all ran to the river. There, we found many river species including lampreys, caddisfly larvae and even a couple of snakes wrigglin’ around up in there. After we got our fill of the water nymph lifestyle, we returned to the ca
bin where the cook crew had prepared a lovely meal of spaghetti aglio e olio, which consisted of a garlic sauce pasta with apple-sausage and a dijon salad.
After filling our bellies, we assemble by a campfire to go over logistics and have the presentations from the Natural History Team (Hell’s Kitchen! Horns up high, ’til we die!). From there, Abby and Jack sang their fantastic Field Quarter Song a
nd several songs and stories followed. Many of the stories involved poop, strangely enough. People trickled to bed from there, until Gabriel and I were left tending the fire. Finally, we put out the fire and retired to our tents (or cars), eager to officially begin our trip to the Angelo Reserve.
12 May 2016: Walker Meadow Loop
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CA: Mendocino Co: Angelo Coast Range Reserve: Walker Meadow Loop
Today, we hiked the Walker Meadow Loop. But first, we began the day with a presentation by Emily about the management of old growth forests. It encompassed the ecology of old-growth forests, and the management issues surrounding prescribed burning and the lack of fires in forests today. Then, we began our hike, and began learning the trees of the reserve because we are going to have a quiz on them. We focused on the Douglas firs and oaks. We visited four meado
ws on our hike: Sprague Meadow, Lower Walker Meadow, Walker Meadow, and South Meadow. We also had two presentations by the river. Mayra talked to us about the Foothill Yellow-Legged frog and then we saw eggs, tadpoles, and the frog itself. Santana talked to us about lampreys, and later we saw half a dead lamprey, and a few live ones.
In the first meadow, we split into groups and spun the wheel about how the meadow got there, why it was a meadow, and what the meadow would look like in the future.
In the second meadow, we found a new calochortus, and most of the class did a group key of it Calochortus tolmiei. We continued the hike, visiting another meadow, and then eventually returning to South Meadow. Before dinner, a few of us took a dip in the river, keyed plants, and went birding for a few minutes.
Within the first minute of birding we saw a Western Tanager. It is such an exotic bird with its bright red and and a bright yellow body. People were stoked. We then had dinner, and after dinner had three presentations. Lupita talked about salmon, Morgan talked about salmon management, and Max talked about illegal marijuana grow operations. We ended the night with a campfire and s’mores!
13 May 2016: Forest Dynamics
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CA: Mendocino Co: Angelo Coast Range Reserve: Conger Trail
Funky Friday! Friday the 13th! Funky 13th! In the past two trips, funky friday has been full of plot twists and I guess today was also like that but slightly different. The day started out with Daniel and Carrie giving their presentations on mycorrhizae and the marbled murrelet, respectively. Afterwards, Ryan gave us a brief lecture and ended with an assignment for us to do on our hike up the Conger Trail, featuring forest dynamics. We could ask questions to get us to spin the wheel, questions like: Why are there dead trees? What could’ve happened to make a certain species of trees disappear/succeed? Are there any indications of fires? Where do we see this forest leading to?
We all got into the vans and cars, drove down to the start of the Conger Trail, and thus began the journey to spin our senses, our opinions, thoughts, and minds. All of us got into small groups of about 4-5 people and went on our way up the hill. My group and I noticed the decrease in trees when it got closer to the turning point and stumbled upon other groups, who were sharing what they had seen and noticed. Different groups started sharing their own observation and theories.
One of the most beautiful sights was when Karen and I saw the Corallorhiza maculata in the understory, in a wide canopy space, with the sunlight directly shining on it, next to this small Douglas fir! We both sat still and listened to the sound of the wind going through the trees leaves. Afterwards, most of the group kept walking up the Conger Trail while Danielle, Lily, Pachamama and I left to check out the Eel River, right next to Elder Creek. The water was really cold but the dip was needed. Our warm bodies touching
the cold water, nothing but story telling and laughter wrapping ourbodies… Pachamama described this time as goddess time and I couldn’t agree more. As soon as we headed back, Pod and I recreated
(semi-recreated) Wrestlemania! About an hour before dinner, I went down to the water hole and went in. The water caused this numbing effect, so numbing to the point where the only thoughts are whether to relax and go along with the river or get out. I laid still, on my back. Letting the river’s current flow through me, letting it know I don’t wish to disturb it. This moment was so profound, a profound moment of self realization: I am a water child.
The evening ended with an excellent dinner from the cook crew that was filled with warmth and warm veggies. We all gathered around the campfire, went through a couple of presentations, and topped it off with Nature Notes. Needless to say, it was a Funky 13th on a different level.
14 May 2016: Elder Creek
CA: Mendocino County: Angelo Coast Range Reserve: Elder Creek
Our spirits are high, our heads full of knowledge, and our hearts are full of love for this place. I asked around and it seems a consensus. If we already loved this place, check, if any of us were on the fence, Elder creek won us over.
Elder creek. Oh my! So much to say! The water was either crystal clear or majestic blue. We had some fantastic presentations on river ecology, and the EPT index. We found calypso orchids, keyed mushrooms, and caught a juvenile Pacific Giant Salamander. There were so many things crawling around in the water, as well. We found a megalopteran that earned its name very much, and found not a single diptera.
Upon our return, Phil the fish biologist offered to lead a night hike. The mission: find an adult Pacific Salamander, eyes were spotted on the hillside. Two students guided him to the target. Phil pounced, and Bam! Salamander. They brought the specimen back to base camp to share with the class, so everybody got a chance to see.
The day: c’est magnificent.
Author: Julian Perez
