Shoup Bay trail

Shoup Bay trail

4:30pm-8:30pm

Average temperature was 63F, sunny, with calm winds

Alaska Violet- Viola langsdorfii

Stream Violet- Viola glabella

Chocolate Lily- Fritillaria biflora

Wild Iris- Iris missouriensis

Wild Geranium- Geranium maculatum

Shooting Star- Dodecatheon alpinum

Marsh Cinquefoil- Potentilla palustris

Meadow Barley- Hordeum brachyantherum

Arctic Rush- Juncus arcticus

Pin Cushion Lichen- Xanthoria polycarpa

Beach Greens- Arenaria peploides

Nori- Porphyra tenera

Smooth-leaf Saxifrage- Saxifraga integrifolia

Dulse- Palmaria palmata

False Hellebore- Veratrum viride

Ostrich Fern- Matteuccia struthiopteris

Red Elderberry- Sambucus racemosa

Stinging Nettles- Uritica dioica

Nagoonberry- Rubus arcticus

Spiked Woodrush- Luzula spicata

Arctic Dock- Rumex arcticus

Sitka Alder- Alnus sinuata

Watermelon Berry- Streptopus amplexifolius

Scoulers Willow- Salix scouleriana

The area that we stopped to observe had three paths. The False Hellebore was growing in large groups and there were groups of ferns between them. There were many Chocolate Lilies budding. There were still a lot of tall dead grasses from last summer that had been laid flat by the snow that piled on them during the winter. All of the green plants were sprouting through these dead grasses. The mountain closest to us was mostly green while the other mountains farther off still had a lot of snow towards the top.

Even thought there still aren't a lot of blooming flowers we are starting to see more than on the first few trips. One thing I am learning from this class is that in a small area there can be a lot of different environments that support different organisms. Today was a gorgeous day for a hike and it became even nicer as the temperature lowered a little and made walking more comfortable.