Dear Idaho Keckers;
Congratulations on your selection as a researcher on the Idaho project! I look forward to working with you this summer. I hope this letter will give you a better idea of the logistics of our project.
We will be staying at The Mountain Manor Bed and Breakfast (PO Box 467, Albion, ID 83311; (208) 673-6642). The town of Albion is a very small agricultural community in a scenic valley on the northern end of the Albion Range. It is located about 12 miles south of Interstate 84 and about 30 miles north of the field area. The town of Albion has a small convenience store, two restaurants, and not much else. The nearby town of Burley (15 miles nortwest) has large shopping centers. We will be eating breakfast at the B&B and taking a sack lunch to the field. Dinners will be at the restaurant across the street from the Mountain Manor. Sleeping accommodations will consist of sleeping bags on cots and couches in the family room or in tents in the back yard (your choice).
Upon your arrival in Salt Lake City, you will be met by Professor Bob Carson and will drive the 3.5 hours north to Albion. The first week of the project will consist of orientation and field trips where you will have a chance to decide what type of project you would like to pursue.
The Albion Range is an island of alpine vegetation in a sea of sagebrush. The lower areas consist of sagebrush mixed with pinyon pine, mountain mahogany, and aspen. It is usually quite easy to navigate through this vegetation although the brush can get dense in some places. Prickly pear cactus is abundant but usually only grows a few inches to a foot high. I ususally wear shorts in the field but I also don’t mind getting scratched-up legs. Cheat grass seeds lodge in your socks and eventually make walking uncomfortable. I strongly recommend that you purchase some ankle gaitors if you are going to wear shorts. The upper slopes of the Albion range have forests of douglas fir and lodgepole pine interspersed with lush meadows. The highest points of the range (9,500’+), Cache Peak and Mt. Harrison, will still have plenty of snow when we arrive. You should bring appropriate gear for long hikes in deep snow (good boots, gaitors). Those folks working in the Independence lakes basin may have to slog several miles uphill in summer snow. The weather will usually be sunny with buildups of clouds in the afternoon and occasional thunderstorms. Temperatures in the field area will range from lows of 40-50 to highs of 75-85. The sun will be extremely intense. I cannot overemphasize this point. You will be working at a relatively high elevation, sometimes in snow, in an area with very clear skies, at the time of year when the sun is at its highest. Having said that, it is almost always very comfortable in the shade of the numerous large rocks and trees. You will need to take plenty of water into the field with you each day so make sure you bring containers that are appropriate for your needs.
The main hazards associated with conducting field work in the Albion Range are sun-related problems (sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration), thunderstorms, and falling from cliffs. We will never ask you to go anywhere where you will not feel comfortable. Please resist any peer pressure to climb higher on a rock than your common sense dictates. The spires of the Castle Rocks and City of Rocks constitute one of the finest rock climbing areas in North America. Many of the spires can only be ascended safely by means of ropes and technical climbing equipment. None of our projects will require these tools. However, I encourage you to bring climbing equipment for recreational purposes if you so desire. If you haven’t climbed but would like to learn, bring climbing shoes and a harness and I’ll be happy to “show you the ropes” on one of our days off. Other things to do on days off include fishing, hiking, and horseback riding. Below is a list of necessities.
Things that the project will provide:
2 rolls of film
a field notebook
Please bring the following items:
camera
Brunton Compass (borrow from your dept. if possible)
hand lens
rock hammer
6" transparent ruler
small protractor
sleeping bag (good to 35 degrees)
swim suit
mosquito repellant
sun protection (very important!)
field boots
pens, pencils, erasers
colored pencils
good rain gear
clothing for 35-85 degree temps.
water bottles
personal first aid kit
waterproof matches
clipboard for maps and images (I like the covered aluminum ones)
optional
binoculars
laptop computer
fishing gear
climbing gear
Finally, don't plan on having visitors during the field project. Also, don't plan on taking off (e.g. for a wedding, etc.). We will be very busy and we have barely enough time to get the work done. If you have more specific questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Cheers,
Kevin Pogue
pogue@whitman.edu
w 509 527-5955
h 509 525-2962