McCarthy Field Trip

1.       9/5/14, 2:45 PM, McCarthy

2.       Weather: Temperatures in the mid to low 50’s, high cloud coverage with rain constant. Wind varying

3.       Geological features: Chugach/Wrangell Mountains, Kennecott/Root Glaciers, glacial till.

4.       Plants:

·         Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)

·         White Spruce (Picea glauca)

·         Mistletoe (disambiguation)

·         Currant (Carissa spinarum)

·         Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)

·         Poplar (Populus balsamifera)

·         Freckled Pelt (Peltigera britannica) 

·         Shaggy Marsh Mushroom

·         Wild Roses (Rosa nutkana)

·         Dryas (Dryadoideae)

·         Soapberry (Sapindus)

·         Horsetail (Equisetum)

·         Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja)

·         Feather Leaf moss (Sphagnum)

·         Willow

·         Folios Lichen (Flavoparmelia caperata)

·         River Beauty (Chamerion latifolium)

·         Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus)

·         Bearberry/ Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

·         Pixie cup Lichen (Cladonia asahinae)

·         Indian Potatoes (Apios americana)

·         Cotton Grass (Eriophorum)

5.       Animals:

·         Ducks

·         Raven

·         Moose poop

·         Spider

·         Mosquito larvae

1.       9/6/14, 1:30, Root Trail

2.       Weather: Temperature in the mid 40’s to low 50’s with heavy cloud coverage. Rain showers scattered early with patches of sun in late afternoon.

3.       Geological features: Chugach/Wrangell Mountains, Kennecott/Root Glaciers, glacial till.

4.       Plants:

·         Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum)

·         Feather moss (Hypnaceae)

·         Frog Pelt Lichen (Peltigera neopolydactyla)

·         Sieve Cup Lichen (Cladonia multiphormis)

·         Artic Lupen (Lupinus arcticus)

·         Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)

·         Red Alder (Alnus rubra)

·         White Spruce (Picea glauca)

·         Wild Roses (Rosa nutkana)

·         Bearberry (Arctostaphylos)

·         Crow berry (Empetrum nigrum)

·         Spiney Puffball Mushroom (Lycoperdon echinatum)

·         Winter Pink Pyrola (Pyrola asarifolia)

·         Green Wintergreen (Pyrola chlorantha)

·         Prickly Saxifrage (Saxifraga tricuspidata)

·         Waterworm Lichen (Siphula ceratites)

·         Soapberry (Sapindus)

·         Rushes (Juncaceae)

·         Poplar (Populus balsamifera)

·         Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)

·         Sub-alpine fir (Abies lasicopara)

·         Horsetail (Equisetum)

·         Alder (Alnus)

·         Junipes (Cupressaceae)

·         Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)

·         Mistletoe (disambiguation)

·         Dryas (Dryadoideae)

1.       9/7/14, 9:10, Kennecott Trail

2.       Weather: Temperature in the mid to high 40’s with clouds and scattered sun breaks.

3.       Geological features: Chugach/Wrangell Mountains, Kennecott/Root Glaciers, glacial till.

4.       Plants:

·         Puff Ball Mushroom (Lycoperdon umbrinum)

·         Spiney Puffball Mushroom (Lycoperdon echinatum)

·         White Spruce (Picea glauca)

·         Freckled Pelt (Peltigera britannica) 

·         Dwarf dogwood (Cornus canadensis)

·         Black spruce (Picea mariana)

·         Currant (Carissa spinarum)

·         Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum)

·         Horsetail (Equisetum)

·         Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus)

·         Frog Pelt Lichen (Peltigera neopolydactyla)

·         Wild Roses (Rosa nutkana)

·         Lycopodium

·         Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium)

·         Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)

·         Green Wintergreen (Pyrola chlorantha)

·         Poplar (Populus balsamifera)

·         Slime mold (Dictyostelium discoideum)

·         Willow (Salix)

·         Black mushroom

·         Mistletoe (disambiguation)

5.       Animals

·         Squirrels

·         Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)

·         Birds nest

·         Beetle infestations 

·         Evidence of woodpecker

The trip to McCarthy and being able to see the glaciers and how much they shape the land was very cool. Coming from Washington I have seen how glaciers can form land, but seeing the glacier right next to where it just receded from really opened my eyes on how it actually looks like. Not to mention trying to comprehend the size of the glacier at its peak versus what’s left makes me feel smaller than a seed.