Salmon Berries

Salmon Berries


Salmon Berries are a raspberry shaped fruit that will drift between an orange to a lighter yellow, they have a bittersweet taste. These berries are known to be loved by hikers and various animals. They are also an important source of food for hummingbirds.
There scientific name is Rubus spectabilis and grow in the pacific northwest. The berries grow in bushes that are around six feet tall and six feet wide. The leaves are are fuzzy and three pointed, and the stems have thorns, that depending upon the time of the year will be dangerous to the hikers that are walking by. They have small pretty pink bell shaped flowers that bloom June and August. They grow in moist areas with full, or mild sunlight. Because of their love for moisture they are often found near rivers and oceans. Salmon berries have very high levels of vitamin C, more so than other types of berries. They are also very high in antioxidants, so they are very good for you. Natives used to not only eat the berries, but also the young shoots of the plant.

References:

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-salmonberries.htm
http://alaskatrekker.com/berrypicking.htm
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/nativeplants/Rubus_spectabilis.html

Correction

The Fern I said was a Parsley fern is in fact an Oak Fern-Gymnocarpium dryopteris. Please correct your lists

Duck Flats 5/12/2011

Duck Flats

Thursday May 12, 2011

5:30PM-8:30PM

56°F

Sunny with few clouds and light winds.

Plants:

Horsetail- Equisetum arvense

Cow Parsnip- Heracleum lanatum

Sitka Alder- Alnus sinuata

Fireweed- Chamerion angustifolium

Salmon berry –Rubus spectabilis

False Indian Corn- Veratrum viride

Willow – Salix sp. - (Possibly Barclay Willow because of the presence of the willow roses-Salix barlayi)

Pyrola- Pyrola americana

Stinging Nettles- Uritica dioica

Wild Celery- Angelica lucida

Yellow Skunk Cabbage- Lsyichiton americanas

Common Dandelion- Taraxacum officinale

Bedstraw- Galium boreale

Wild Iris- Iris setosa

Yarrow- Achillea millefolium

Shooting Star- Dodecatheon pulchellum

Rock Weed-Fucus vesiculous

Oak Fern-Gymnocarpium dryopteris

Ostrich Fern- Matteuccia struthiopteris

Goats Beard- Aruncus sylvester

Animals:

Porcupine- Erethizon dorsatum

Mallard- Anas platyrhynchos

Gadwall- Anas strepera

American Widgeon- Anas americana

Soft Shell Clam- Mya arenaria

Arctic Turn- Sterna paradisaea

White Wing Scoter- Melanitta fusca

Barnacles- Balanus spp.

Even though I have lived in Valdez this trip was my first opportunity to explore the duck flats. I can already tell that having evening field trips will be nice because the sun isn’t too high in the sky and it’s generally cooler at that kind of day. I’m excited to identify more organisms and the identifying process is a lot more interesting than I had expected it would be. This semester should be very interesting and I am looking forward to discovering things have always are always here but I never noticed.

Western Skunk Cabbage

The Western Skunk cabbage is also known as the Swamp Lantern its scientific name is the Lysichiton americanus.
The Western Skunk Cabbage is located in the Pacific Northwest from southern Alaska to central California it has been found as eastward as Montana.
The Western Skunk Cabbage is found in marshy swampy wet areas, and needs partial light and partial shade.


The skunk cabbage is in the Arum family. It can grow up to five feet tall and two feet wide. The flowers are yellow-green and have an outer spathe. The skunk cabbage gets its name from its unpleasant odor. The skunk cabbage uses this odor to get pollinated by flies and beetles. The skunk cabbage is very unique in that it can generate its own heat up to 35 degrees Celsius above the outside temperature. They also have contractile roots that pull the plant deeper and deeper into the mud or marsh. They develop massive root systems that go very deep. Because of these contractile roots many sources including Steve Schimmrich a professor in New York state, claim that the skunk cabbage could live for hundreds of years as long as the area around it stays wet. Generally speaking the skunk cabbage is the first to bloom in the spring some time from early march to mid April. The flower is not usually eaten by humans, it contains poisenous oxalate crystals that are pretty disruptive to the digestive tract. Many Native tribes used the flower and leaf to store salmon. The roots however are eaten regularly by a variety deer and bear. Historically the skunk cabbage been used to treat burns, arthritus, athsma and even to induce abortions. Today skunk cabbage extract is used to treat bronchitis.



References
http://hudsonvalleygeologist.blogspot.com/2011/04/skunk-cabbage.html
http://books.google.com/books?id=zz_mk5A2jSEC&pg=PA117&lpg=PA117&dq=western+skunk+cabbage+roots&source=bl&ots=T2zV3r1QJI&sig=gyIM4Ck9yynbeUTQ-k7DMMQXRlM&hl=en&ei=yBvPTfzxFYfAsAP4rb2_Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=western%20skunk%20cabbage%20roots&f=false
http://books.google.com/books?id=zz_mk5A2jSEC&pg=PA117&lpg=PA117&dq=western+skunk+cabbage+roots&source=bl&ots=T2zV3r1QJI&sig=gyIM4Ck9yynbeUTQ-k7DMMQXRlM&hl=en&ei=yBvPTfzxFYfAsAP4rb2_Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=western%20skunk%20cabbage%20roots&f=false
http://nature.ca/plnt/popups/pop0099_e.cfm
The above image is from this site

Duck Flats

Duck Flats

Time: 5:30- 9:30
Date: Thursday 12 May, 2011
Place: Bike Path and Duck flats
Temperature: 50's. Mostly 52
Climate: Bright sunny day. Little cloud cover, with a light breeze reaching 19 mph at times. Moon was out and waxing.

Plants:
Horsetail- Equisetum arvense
Fireweed- Epilobium angustifolium
Salmon Berries- Rubus spectabilis
False Indian Corn- Veratrum viride
Pyrola- Pyrola americana
Sitka Alder- Alunus viridis
Skunk Cabbage- Lysichition americanus
Common Dandy Lions- Taraxacum officinale
Bed Straw- Galium verum
Wild Irise- Iris missouriensis
Rockweed- Fucus vesiculosus
Parsley Ferns- Cryptogramma crispa
Ostrich Ferns- Matteuccia struthiopteris
Goats Beard- Aruncus dioicus
Shooting Star- Dodecatheon pulchellum



Animals:
Porcupine- Erethizon doratum
American Robin-Turdus migratorius
American Widgeon-Anas americana
White Wing Scooter- Melanitta fusca
Arctic Turn- Sterna paridisia Anas
Mallards- Anas platyrhynchos


I really enjoyed this first trip. It was a nice way to smoothly introduce us to the way that the trips will run, and it was a very comfortable place that we have all seen many many times. I had some trouble identifying the foul, but that was mostly because they were too far away to see properly. All in all I would say this was a very nice trip.

Duck Flats 3/12/2011

I had a wonderful time out on the Duck Flats we saw many interesting things. Below I will list some of the organisms that our class saw and identified.

Cow Parsnip- Heracleum lanatum
Fireweed- Chamerion angustifolioum
Salmon berry- Rubus spectabilis
Pussy Willow- Salix spp
Porcupine- Erethizon doratum
Wild Celery- Angelica lucida
Skunk Cabbage- Lysichiton americus
American Robin- Turdus migratorius
Shooting Star- Dodecatheon pulchellum
Gadwell Duck (male and female)-
Rockweed Kelp- Fucus spp.
Soft Shell Clams- Mya arenaria
Artic Turn- Sterna paridisia
White wing Scooter- Melanitta fusca

The Duck Flats Trip

Valdez, Ak
5/12/2011
5:30-9:30pm

Clear sky warm air with light breeze. The moon was half visible.

Creatures
Porcupine.
American Robin.
Herring Gull.
Mew Gull.
Mallard Ducks Male&Female.
Arctic tern.
Blue Mussels.
Soft-shelled clam (Shell only).
Caterpillar - Black Head, Brown Body.
Spider - Red Legs, Black Body.
Barnacles.
White Wing Scoter.

Plants
Horse tail (SP).
Fireweed.
Cow Parsnip.
Salmon Berries.
Willow (SP).
Parsley Fern.
Wild Celery.
Yellow Skunk Cabbage.
Common Dandelions.
Bed Straw.
Shooting Star.
Goats Beard.
Indian Corn.

It was a nice trip on a sunny day and being in a class thats focus is like this made me focus on the animals, bugs and plants that I would normally just walk by. Getting to walk out onto the duck flats was also something that I have kind of always wanted to do too, it was interesting to look at all the things we saw besides all the trash. It was fun and I am exited to go on our other trips to see what we might find.

Field Trip Summary

The Duck Flats

Thursday, May 12th, 2011, 5:30 pm-8:30 pm
Sunny, cloudless blue skies, cool breeze, and no precipitation.
Temperature: 52 degrees Wind Speed: 19 mph
Low tide; grassy, muddy flats with small water ways.

Plants:
Fire weed- Epilobium angustifolium
Cow parsnips- Heracleum maximum
Salmon berry- Rubus spectabilis
Sitka alder- Alnus viridis
Parsley Fern- Cryptogramma crispa
Ostrich Fern- Matteuccia struthiopteris
Skunk Cabbage- Lysichiton americanus
Common Dandelion- Taraxacum officinale
Rockweed- Fucus vesiculosus
False indian corn- Veratrum viride
Goats Beard- Aruncus dioicus

Animals:
Porcupine- Erethizon dorsatum
American robins- Turdus migratorius
Mallards (males & Females)- Anas platyrhynchos
Artic Turns- Sterna paradisaea
Gadwalls (males & females)- Anas strepera
American Wigeon (males & females)- Anas americana
Soft shell clams- Mya arenaria
Blue mussels- Mytilus edulis
White winged scoter- Melanitta deglandi
Mew Gulls- Larus canus


The day was absolutely perfect. Bright warm sunshine and a breeze to keep the bugs away. The duck flats were everything that I had expected. I have wanted for some time now to explore the flats and now I am very glad to have had the opportunity. I was able to see many plants and animals because of this field trip and I am confident to know that I can positively identify the organism well. I cannot wait to explore more of the Alaskan environments and become very knowledgeable about the wildlife.

After the Duck Flats trip

The tide was up on my way home last night-all those ducks we were trying to see were right by the road! There were 6 Dusky Canadian Geese in the flats right by Loop road. The Dusky is a subspecies of the Canada goose with a pretty restricted range and breed almost entirely in the Chugach.

Here's an interesting link about the Dusky Canada Goose

Summaries Of Our Trips

Mineral Creek
Time: 12:30 to 3:30
Date: Wednesday June 03, 2009
Place: Mineral Creek
Temperature: 60’s
Climate: Mostly sunny, some clouds with a light breeze

Plants seen on the trip:
Crowberries
Bush Cranberries
Bog Blueberries
Nagoonberries
Low Bush Cranberries
Dogwood Berries
Alaska Violet
Bog Rosemary
Corn Lilly
Chocolate Lilly
Red Alder
Canadian Dwarf Coronel
Fireweed
Willow Trees
Muskeg
Wild Iris
Geranium
Club Rush
High Bush berries
False Lilly of the Valley
Green Fake Hellebore
Peat Moss
Narcissus Flowered Anemone
Western Butter Cup
Sundew
Tufted Club rush
Cotton Grass

Insects and animals seen on the trip:
Moth
Bee
Spiders Lots of Mosquitoes
Flies
Robin
Magpie
Vole
Duck
Bird Tracks

Well I would have to say it was kind of fun. I don’t know much about what we seen or even where we were. I never did think that I would be sitting on the ground in a bog on a bunch of moss. I would have to say that was a first for me. And I’m sure there will be many times I will say that.

It was a very beautiful day to be out doors looking around at all the different things. I think that a lot of the plants and flowers we seen today was very beautiful I guess I never realized all the different things that was have living all around us.

I found the trip to be very educational an a very interesting experience, it was a wonderful day to be out an about. I also love that we found so many diff rent types of plants an wild flowers in one place..
i hope all the trips were this fun, but next time I'm going to wear more comfy clothing an bring more water... i really liked the feeling of the moss an the mud too ha ha...
i like sunk in the mud it was funny i thought i was going to fall but i loved it
Posted by fairchild,Amber

Today was a beautiful day to be out exploring. I had a lot of fun identifying the plants. The amount of life in the bog is fascinating. What bothered me was seeing trash left behind & tire tracks. Some people are so careless & stupid. I honestly don't understand how driving through a bog could be entertaining. Also how hard is it to dispose of trash properly?
I just looked up canine tracks & don't think we saw coyote tracks, unless it was a large coyote. I think it was a large dog, possibly wolf but I'm not sure if we have any wolves in the area.
The bird tracks may have been magpie, but I'm not sure. There was a magpie "hopping" around; there was also a robin.
I do wish we could have done more walking & spent more time looking around. I really enjoyed this field trip.
Posted by Michelle

All in all I think that we all enjoyed this trip. We all found some really plants and all had a really good time. Who ever would have though that we all would have fun and learn some things at the same time.

Worthington Glacier and Thompson Pass
Time: 1:00 to 4:00
Date: Wednesday June 2, 2009
Place: Worthington Glacier and Thompson Pass
Temperature: 40’s
Climate: Partly sunny, some clouds with a light breeze

Plants seen on the trip:
Crowberries
Blueberries
Chocolate Lilly
Alder
Fireweed
Willow Trees
Coastal Yellow Paintbrush
Golden Crown Sparrow
Snow Potential
Mount Avers
Lichen’s
Mountain Hair bell
Yellow Spotted Saxifrage
Mountain Heather
Glaucous Gentian
River Beauty
Pussy Toes
Moss Campion
Lessing’s Arnica
Wooly Lousewort
Alp Lilly
Bear berries
Labrador Tea
Narcissus Flowered Anemone
Purple Shooting Star
Arctic Bluegrass
Spike Trisetum
Insects and animals seen on the trip:
Bee
Spiders Lots of Mosquitoes
Flies
Lady Bug
Birds
Ground Squirrel


I couldn't believe that the glacier was so big an yet it was so small.
I enjoyed the hike to the glacier an the waking around.
I was surprised at how much plant life was at the glacier, an how Even thought there is new life it was so beautiful.
Posted by fairchild,Amber
It was beautiful day to go up to Worthington glacier & the pass. Our first stop was at Worthington Glacier. I was surprised by the number of seagulls around the area. There is a glacial lake, giving them a water source. Seagulls are also opportunistic when it comes to food, meaning that they will eat anything they find. There were tourist there & I'm sure the Seagulls were waiting for them to drop food or leave the dumpster open... The most surprising thing, for me was seeing how much the glacier has receded since the last time I was there. We walked toward the glacier to get a better look. There are a lot of cool rocks that have been deposited by the glacier. The rock is called schist & has a layered/flaky look. On our way back from the glacier, we spotted some grasses next to the alders & willows. I thought one grass was Alaskan Bentgrass, but did some research when I got home & I'm pretty sure it was actually Spike Trisetum. The other grass I was unable to identify is Artic Bluegrass. I reasearched it when I got home as well. As we were stopping along the pass an arctic ground squirrel ran in front of the car. Luckily we did not harm the squirrel. We also saw a Golden Crown Sparrow. Thompson pass is so beautiful, words can't describe how amazing the veiw is. We were at about 2678ft, so it was cool & windy. We identified three types of berries. There are some interesting lichen that live there as well. One of the lichens is black & looks like hair. There is an interesting varity of plant life on the pass. I'd have to say the berrries are my favorite & I'm looking foward to going berry picking, when they ripen.
Posted by Michelle

I think we all really liked this trip, because we got to walk on the glacier and that wa pretty cool. We all had fun and had a pretty good time all of seeing and finding all kinds of differnt things.

Boat Trip and Gold Creek Beach
Time: 10:40 to 1:30
Date: Monday July 20, 2009
Place:Boat Trip and Gold Creek Beach
Temperature: 50’s
Climate: Raining, very foggy, and very cold

Plants and animals seen on the trip:
Humpback Shrimp
Two Spot Shrimp
Irish Lords
Sea Lions
Seagulls
Blue Muscles
Fireweed
Clam Shells
Rock weed
Butter Clam
Wild Celery
False Pacific Jingle Shell
Artit Turn Feather
Musk Limpet
Lewis Moon
Salmon Telling
Beach Groundsel
Sea Otters
Beach Grass
Crab Leg
Clam
Tube Worm Shell
Limpets

I think this trip was the best one, yes I was a little scared at first but we all made alive. It was really cool to see the sea lions, and sea otters I have never seen anything like that before.Seeing that was the part that I liked the most, the next part would have to be when he span us around on the boat when we were standing on the very front part of it. Thank you for the trips it was fun and I would go on a boat again sometime I really did enjoy myself out there.

The boat we took was a trashy looking work boat. I was not impressed when the guy taking us out refused to let us wear life jackets. I also did not like it when he decided to play a prank & act like he was leaving us on the beach. That was not funny at all.The best part of this trip was watching the sea lions on a buoy. We also saw sea otters. They have the cutest little faces. With the exception of the guy who took us out, this was a good trip.
Posted by Michelle

Now Michelle and I both really liked this trip the best I think...well I know I did. It was really fun being on the boat and seeing the is out there in all that water. Seeing the sea lions and sea otters that was the first time we have ever seen anything like that before. I wish that we could have done more trips like that one.

Wagon Road trail summary.

7/1/09 12:30pm-3:30pm
Partly cloudy, 65 degrees & breezy.

Animals:
Moose Tracks & Scat
Bear markings on tree.
Bear Scat
Douglas Squirrel
Humans left sunglasses & a dryer sheet.
Mosquito
Fly
Moth
Lady Beetle
Tundra swans along the road.
Birds chirping.

Plants:
Northern Yarrow
Mountain Hairbell
Alder
Willow
Cottonwood
Devils Club
Pink Pyrola Wintergreen
Dogwood
Sitka Spruce
Lady Fern
Blueberry
Salmonberry
Broom Rate Ground Comb
Alpine Heuchera
Ostrage Fern
Stinging Nettle
Large Leaf Avens
Fire Weed
Meadow Rue
Horse Tail
Goats Beard
Wild Geranium
Monks Hood
Columbine
Sitka Burnet
Lichen
Baneberry
Watermelonberry

The wagon road was originally a pack trail that became part of Richardson Highway. Today it's a beautiful hiking trail. As we were walking through the first part of the trail we noticed a large d Sitka Spruce that dies and took the trees surrounding it down, when it fell. We walked over the trees & up a steep, narrow incline; it was nice & flat at the top.One of the fascinating things about the trees is they appear dead except for the tops of the tree. This is because there is very little light at the lower part of the woods. Many other plants flourish with only a small amount of light. We had a nice long hike along the beautiful & peaceful trail. This was an awesome trip because we got to see so many plants and signs of wildlife.

McCarthy And Kennicott summary.

7/17/09 – 7/19/09
It was beautiful with temperatures ranging from 65-75 degrees. It was very dry and smokey. There was a breeze at times but not any strong winds. There were wildfires burning in the area, producing all the smoke.


Plants:
White Spruce
Black Spruce
Aspen
Birch
Mistletoe
Fire Weed
Siberian Aster
Mountain Avens
Wild Rose
Northern Yarrow
Juniper
Soapberries
Strawberry Spinach
Bear Root
Willow
Indian Paint Brush
Kinnikinnick
Horse Tail
Bog Star
Bracted Bog Orchid
Lichen
Lupin
Orange Fungus
Bearberries
Elegant Jacobs Ladder
Twin Flower
Monks Hood
Lesser Pink Pyrola/ Wintergreen
Blueberries
Prickly Saxifrage
Trappers Tea
Crowberries
Juniper
Golden Rod
Beautiful Jacobs Ladder
Bluebells/Lungwort
Moss Heather
Saprophyte

Animals:
Aphids
Fly
Seagull
Canine/Wolf Tracks!
Spider
Fly
Small yellow insect.
Hawk with a white tail.
Magpie
Hare
Black Bear
Hare
Swallow
Bever Dens
Moose Scat
Loon
Douglas Squirrel
Raven
Dragon Fly
Leaf Miner

This was a very exhausting and draining trip for everyone. We enjoyed the beauty of the area, and it was nice to get out of Valdez & explore. Saturday morning, I was able to get good pictures of Mount Blackburn, which is the highest peak in the Wrangell Mountains. The old buildings in McCarthy and Kennicott were very interesting. I think everyone would have benefited if we had taken some time to relax, because on Sunday morning we were exhausted & ready to leave. The other people staying in the lodge did not help things. It’s sad when a dog has more sense than its owners. This was a great learning experience for all of us. I’m proud of my classmates for coming along and giving it their best shot.

Minreal Creek/Shoup Bay.

Time: 12:00-3:00
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Place: Mineral Creek Beach/ Shoup Bay Trail
Temperature: 50 to 55 dagrees
Climate: Mostly cloudy, Very breeze, some sun


plants
Chocolate Lilly
Rock Weed
Idotea
Sitka Valerian
Large Leaf Avens
Wild Geranium
Nagoonberry
Dogwood Bunchberry
Coastal Paintbrush
Sedge
Blue Flag
Tiny Mushroom
Dune Grass
Red Alder
Raspberry
Baby’s Breath
Beach Greens
Sea Lettuce
Lady Fern
Alaska Violet
Crow Parsnip
Wild Celery
Captive Valarian
Nagoon Berry
Corn Lilly
Wild Lilly Of The Valley
Elder Berry
Skunk Cabbage
Death Camas
Bog Candle
Sedge
Horse Tail
Red Fescue
Shooting Stars
Bracken Fern
Northern Yarrow
Beach Pea
Yellow Paintbrush
Cottonwood
Dandelions
A seed pod from an Iris.
Rockweed
Lichen
Dried Shelf Mushroom

Isopod:
Idotea
Decapod Crustacean:
Crab
Mollusc:
Snail
Blue Muscle (Bay Muscle)

Insects:
Bee
Mosquito
Gnats
Fly
Moth
Mites:
Spider Mite

animals
Vole running along the creek.
Tunnels, which are evidence of voles & mice.

(mechel)
This field trip came with a bonus; we got some exercise! We walked about 1 mile down Shoup Bay trail to the path which leads to the beach. Once on the beach, we walked out as far as we could to identify the organisms living in the water. We identified rockweed & few of the creatures that live around it, when the tide started coming in quickly. We explored the beach, turning over rocks & sticks to see if anything was living underneath. We found, a couple dead crabs, a shelf mushroom that had dried out & snail tracks. It was windy & cool on the beach so we headed back to the trail. As we walked up the trail the wind died down & you could feel the temperature rise.

We made couple stops along the trail to identify plants. We saw several “full grown” red alders. It’s amazing when you think about how the little sapling we saw in the bog last week grows into a big tree. As we were walking up the trail we stopped at the meadow, where we came across a few hikers & their dogs. They had two chows & a cocker spaniel with them. In the meadow I quickly identified red fescue, the years working for a lawn care company helped with that. I have to say, that I actually enjoy sitting on the ground identifying plants.

As we headed back toward the trail head, we stopped to identify a few more things & got a good look at a huge cottonwood tree, with lichens on it. I found this field trip to be very relaxing & hope everyone else did as well

(Jenica)
I was cold on this trip, I guess next time I will have dress warmer then I did. It was fun walking along the beach looking at all kids of different thing such as the list above says. We did see a lot of things on this trip, but a lot of it was something that we have already seen. But now it was all blooming which was pretty cool, because every flower we seen were beautiful. Next time I hope we see more new and better things.
(Me)
i enjoyed the trip eventhough it was cold an got sick from it. We Walked along the beach an saw alot of cool things that you wouldn't normaly notice.

Valdez Glacier, an 12 Mile summerier

12 Mile
Date: 6/15/2009
Time: 12:30p.m – 2- p.m
Temperature: About 65 It was a beautiful sunny day, with some clouds.


Plants we seen on our trip:
Sitka Alder
Black Cotton Wood
Sitka Spruce
Mountain Avens
Side bells Pyrola
Coastal Reindeer
Willow Tree
Elegant Goldenrod
River Beauty Plants we seen on our trip:
River Beauty
Sitka Alder
Willow Tree
Elegant Goldenrod
Dwarf Willow
Arctic Willow
Pea plants
animal skat, of wild an domain animals
Sitka spruce
bloom rape ground cone
mountain Adler
false pixy cup
side bells pyrola
orange mushroom
willow trees Atlas 3 kinds
elegant goldenrod
mountain sage wort
pink wintergreen
northern yarrow
Eskimo potato or called bear root


Birds/ Other thing just seen on our trip:
(2) Tundra Swans with babies
Eagle
Black Bear Cub (So very cute)
Convergent Lady Beetle
Moth
Bees
Fly
Again Tons of Mosquito
Poop (dog maybe)

Out at Valdez glacier
55 degrees,
slightly breezy
plants:
tones of water
Adler trees
willow tree
fire weed
dwarf willow
Eskimo potato
Arctic willow
purple beach pea
dwarf fire weed/ river beauty
single delight shy median
northern goldenrod
kill Deva
animals:
black bear,
animal diggings bear

(Jenica)
The different things that I had seen between the two places was for one at 12 mile there was rocks everywhere as there was at the Glacier as while. But there was no water there; to me it seemed as if all the wildflowers and trees were growing out of the rocks. Between both places there was the same wildflowers and trees, I didn’t see much deference there at all.

I would have to say that my all time favorite thing on this trip would have to be seeing the little baby cub. That was the very first time I have ever seen a bear it was so cute. But I guess we should have known that we might have seen a bear, because I did over hear you say that there were signs of bears. I just think that its crazy that there are bears just walking around like that and I got to see it for the first time ever. That’s so cool!some similarity's that i found were out at 12 mile it was much dryer an a lot of diff rent vegetation's like likens, an trees , but not a lot of wild flowers. The two places had alot of same plants, but it also has differences between the places.

(MY blog comments)
Some of the differences i noticed was the vegetation by the glacier was less but more wild an the trees grew more out there an at 12 mile, but were fairly younger than anywhere else.
It was also wonderful to notice the water.
Very peaceful, an it was quiet. The black bear was a cub only this year.
but out at 12 mile the ground was covered by moss an a thin Lear of dirt. It has a lot of gravel an rocks.

(Michel)
Yesterday was a beautiful day to be out. Our first stop was at a trail just off the road at 12 mile. The first thing I noticed was the canine feces that I almost stepped in. The feces were from both wild & domestic canines. The ground was dry & rocky, with a lot of lichens. There were also a lot of cottonwood, Sitka Alders, Sitka Spruce and Willow along the path. Did you know that Alaska has 27 different species of willow? Alaska also has 25 spices of mosquito. The mosquitoes were out in full force yesterday. Surprisingly I didn't get bit.

On the drive from 12 mile to Valdez Glacier we saw a Tundra Swan with fledglings in a pond. As we were arriving at the glacier I spotted a immature bald eagle flying over us. The water from the glacier is gray and cloudy. This is caused by glacial silt, which is formed as the glacier moves over rocks breaking them down. You could think of it as rock dust. We found the same plants growing near the glacier as at 12 mile. This is due to the similarities between the two areas. They both have very rocky, thin soil. The rocks were left by glaciers as the moved along the ground. It's amazing that so many plants thrive on rock! These are also moist areas and the plants we found do well in a moist environment. The plants we identified also like low to middle elevations, which is another reason we found the same plants at both places.

This was an enjoyable trip. The best part for me happened as we were leaving the glacier. As we drove past the shooting range one of my classmates spotted a black bear cub. We backed the van up to get a look at the cub. Staying in the van, we watched the cub for a moment as he/she tried to get into the dumpster. We did not see mama bear, but know she was close. Mother bears are extremely protective of their cubs, just because you don't see her with the cub does not mean she does not see you.

Dock point summerie

SEA Weed
mussel
Limpets
Mussels
Butter Clam
Amph Pods
Blue Mussels
Kelp Isopod
Nuttal’s Cockle
Northern Yero
Wild Celery
kelp
Beach Cinquefoil (Pacific Silver weed)
Alder Tree
Pink Yarrow
Beach pea
Goat’s beard
Fringe cup
Alder
A Rush
Dandelions
Rock Weed
Red berried Elder
Devils Club
Watermelon berry
Fire weed
Dogwood
Lady fern
Early blueberry
Wild Iris
Skunk cabbage
Blueberry
Feather moss
Tree moss
Alaska Spirea (Beauvera’s Spinraea)
Alaska Cotton
Corn Lily
Broom rape ground cone

Animals an orgasms an other things
Bear Bed
Bear prints
Fox prints
Eagle in tree with nest
Owl Feather
Pill Bug
Squirrel
Bear skat
Bog Hole
eagle in nest
large birds


Out of every ones blog i got that everyone enjoyed the trip. Everyone was looking under rocks an moving sea weed around to find things we found a shrimp an pill bugs. We Also had Some ripe Samoan Berry's, but the blue Berry's we not ripe yet.
the tide was coming in on the beach as we were out on it, but it was still fun, an really slippery, we saw a lot of plants an singhs of animals while we were out too,
i hope every one ejoyed it as much as me