Field Trips

May 26 The Red Rock area located north of Cold Springs and Hallelujah Junction on the Hwy 395 corridor. - Leaders Bill and Nancy Harnach

    On this trip we will be botanizing the area around the colorful rock and soil formations found in this area. We will be staying in the immediate area and may have to do a short hike to the formations since the fenced access gate to the area was closed as of a month ago. Bring a lunch, water, warm jacket, gloves and head gear, due to our ever changing spring weather. For the adventurous hikers that may wish to climb up the formations I would suggest appropriate hiking gear such as walking sticks and good boots etc.
    Those traveling from the Carson area should meet at the U.S. Forest Service Offices located at 1536 South Carson Street, in Carson City at 7:50am to car pool. Plan on heading to the McDonalds Restaurant located at 120 Lemon Drive in north Reno by 8:00am. Those traveling from Reno will meet at the Lemon Drive McDonalds at 9:00am to await the arrival of the southern contingent. We will leave the second meeting point at 9:15 hooking up with our leaders at Hallelujah Junction.
    For further information you can contact Nancy or Bill Harnach at 530-994-3464 or John Weiser at 775-331-4485, any time after 5:00pm.

June 2 no trip planned as this is the date for the plant sale at the Wilbur D. May Arboretum in Reno.

June 9 Trip to the Lake Basin area of Sierra County, CA - Leaders Bill and Nancy Harnach

    We will be stopping at several locations in the hope of finding, Erythronium, Claytonia and Penstemon in bloom. Two sights on our list are Fern Falls and Frazer Falls. The hikes should be easy and the roads paved for all but a short well maintained gravel section on the way to Frazer Falls. No requirement for high clearance vehicles.
    Those traveling from the Carson area should meet at the U.S. Forest Service Offices located at 1536 South Carson Street, in Carson City at 7:50am to car pool. Plan on heading to the McDonalds Restaurant located at 120 Lemon Drive in north Reno by 8:00am. Those traveling from Reno will meet at the Lemon Drive McDonalds at 9:00am to await the arrival of the southern contingent. We will leave the second meeting point at 9:15am going north on Hwy 395 to Hallelujah Junction then turn West on CA Hwy 70 for about thirty miles to the intersection of CA Hwy 70 and CA Hwy 89. The signs should read Blairsden-Graeagle. We will meet the Harnachs at the Park and Ride lot located just North of the intersection. Our hope is to be at the final meeting site at 10:00am.
    Bring plenty of water, lunch, hiking gear, sunscreen and insect repellent.
    For further information you can contact Nancy or Bill at 530-994-3464 or John Weiser at 775-331-4485. Any time after 5:00pm.

June 16 Ivesia survey in the Pinenut Mountains Polyctenium Survey in the Virgina Range

DUE TO RECENT FIRES THIS TRIP LOCATION HAS CHANGED.

    For this trip we will be working as volunteers for BLM,Carson District botanist Dean Tonenna helping him with a field survey of Polyctenium. Dean will not be present due to a prior commitment but he will have his interns give us guidance. We will meet at the parking lot for Little Washoe Lake (on Eastlake Blvd. near the northern junction with 395) at 9:00 am.  The road requires 4WD vehicles and there will be extra seats available in BLM vehicles.
    We will be looking for Polyctenium williamsii in small playas in the Virginia Range.  There will be some hiking to access the playas that are not near the road.
    Bring plenty of water, lunch, hiking gear, sunscreen and insect repellent.
    For further information you can contact John Weiser at 775-331-4485. Any time after 5:00pm.

June 23 Trip to Wilson Canyon to look at Eriogonum alexanderae - Leader John Weiser

    Wilson Canyon is a gorge cut by the west fork of the Walker River through a series of volcanic cliffs. The canyon is located 13 miles west of Yerington, along NV Route 208 in Lyon County. It is managed by the BLM. The main purpose of this trip is to find Eriogonum alexanderae habitat on the volcanic ash deposits of the area. We will also explore the riparian habitat along the river.
    The hikes will be short but rather steep on lose soils to see the Eriogonum. Roads are paved so there is no requirement for high clearance or four wheel drive vehicles.
    Since this is a long drive we will be leaving early. Reno members will meet at the Pink Scholar's at 8165 South Virginia Street at 7:00am, we will leave by 7:10am and meet the Carson City contingent at the Forest Service Offices located at 1536 South Carson Street at 8:00am. We will leave the Forest Service offices at 8:10am heading south on Hwy 395 for 30miles to Holbrook Junction. Then head east on 208 for about 23 miles to Wilson Canyon.
    There is a rest area with picnic tables and restrooms located on the river, very near or destination. We will be heading home no later than 2:00pm .
    Bring plenty of water, lunch, hiking gear, sunscreen and insect repellent. I highly suggest you bring walking sticks for the short hike up the slopes.
    For further information you can contact John Weiser at 775-331-4485. Any time after 5:00pm

June 30 Trip cancelled  A tentative trip to Washoe Lake has been discussed with the purpose of seeking out Sand lily-Leucocrinum montanum. This trip hinges upon how fast the spring runoff recedes from their habitat. There could be changes to this schedule. We will post any new information to the NVNPS web site as it becomes available.
    Leader Charlene Duncan
    For further information you can contact John Weiser at 775-331-4485. Any time after 5:00pm

Please note the change of date for the trip to Paige Meadows

July 1 Paige Meadows field trip - Leader Cheryl Beyer

    Paige Meadows is a popular hiking destination located a short distance to the west of Lake Tahoe.The sight we will be exploring is made up of a series of wet meadows considered to be an easy hike. To learn more about these meadows visit http://wildflowerhikes.com/ and look at the recommended hikes section.
    No high clearance or four wheel drive vehicles required. We will be on paved roads for the whole trip.
    Due to the site's location on the west side of the lake we will be traveling as two separate groups.
    For those traveling from Reno our first meeting site will be the Boomtown Casino parking lot at 8:00am departing at 8:10am. We will travel west on I-80 to Truckee then South on CA route 89 to West Lake Blvd.
    For those traveling from Carson our first meeting sight will be the Forest Service offices at 1536 Carson Street. Be there at 7:50am and depart at 8:00am travel west on US-50 to East Lake Blvd. Turn right and follow Lake Blvd around the lake to West Lake Blvd.
    Our final meeting place for both groups will be Tahoe House Bakery and Gourmet located at 625 West Lake Blvd. Cheryl will meet us there by 9:15am. We will depart by 9:30am taking a short drive to the meadows. Our plan is to be on site by 10:00am.
    Bring plenty of water, lunch, hiking gear, sunscreen and insect repellent.
    For further information you can contact John Weiser at 775-331-4485. Any time after 5:00pm

July 28 Trip to Carson Pass and Lake Winnemucca - Leader Elizabeth Bergstrom  This trip has  been moved up to July to catch the primrose in bloom.

    The purpose of this trip is to seek out the Sierra Primrose-Primula suffrutescens for those who missed it on last year’s excursion.   The trail from Carson Pass to Winnemucca Lake is approximately 4.5 miles round trip and gains 500 feet of elevation. There is a $5 day use fee for each vehicle at Carson Pass parking lot. Fee waived for Inter-agency Pass and El Dorado NF Annual Pass holders.

    From Reno meet at the Pink Scolari's at 8165 South Virginia Street at 7:50am. We will depart at 8:00am and to link up with the Carson area members at the Forest Service offices at 1536 Carson Street by 8:45am. Our goal is to be at the Carson Pass Visitors Center by 10:00am.
    For further information you can contact Elizabeth Bergstrom at 775-884-8154 or John Weiser at 775-331-4485. Any time after 5:00pm.

The Sonora Pass Trip has been postponed until next year.  A tentative over night trip to Sonora Pass. Several members are researching the possibility of a over night trip to Sonora Pass. There is no further information available at this time. An alternate day trip destination of Carson Pass / Winnemucca Lake may be inserted on this weekend should the preferred Sonora Pass trip not take place. Check the NVNPS web site as the date gets closer to see if this trip is finalized.
    For further information you can contact John Weiser at 775-331-4485. Any time after 5:00pm

August 4 Osgood Swamp trip - Leader Tom Schuster

    Osgood swamp is located near Echo Peak in Eldorado County, CA. This is a unique sphagnum bog habitat and contains an interesting assemblage of species. For further information check the web site listed below. http://biohere.com/natural_areas/california/El_Dorado_County/osgood_swamp.php
    From Reno – 395 south to Carson City, turn right onto Hwy 50 (over Spooner Summit) and head south toward South Lake Tahoe, in South Lake Tahoe turn left onto Hwy 50/Emerald Bay Road, go through Meyers and 0.5 miles later on the right is the very small trail head parking area for Osgood swamp. Travel time 1hr 45 min.
The trail is an easy  2-3 miles loop around a small lake on and fairly level ground partially shaded by forest. Waterproof boots are recommended for riparian plant identification close to the water’s edge.
    We will be getting an early start for this trip. Reno area people should plan on meeting at the Pink Scolari's at 8165 South Virginia Street by 6:30am. We will leave by 6:35am and meet the Carson City group at 7:15am at the Forest Service offices at 1536 Carson Street. We plan on leaving this final meeting spot by 7:20am. Tom our leader will meet us at this site.
    Parking at the Osgood Swamp site is limited so we will meet a group led by Will Richardson from the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science on the southern outskirts of Meyers at Chiapa Drive.  They will be accompanying us on this trip. The main purpose of this stop is to consolidate our transportation down to as few vehicles as possible. Chiapa Drive has wide shoulders and is close to our destination.  Look for Chiapa Drive on the north side of US Highway 50 opposite the Lake Tahoe KOA campground. A google map of the area. Due to the parking situation, please RSVP with Tom Schuster at tom-mail@sbcglobal.net or 690-2953. 

    Further information concerning this trip will be posted to the NVNPS web site prior to the trip date.
    Bring plenty of water, lunch, hiking gear, sunscreen and insect repellent.
    For further information you can contact Tom Schuster at 690-2953 or John Weiser at 775-331-4485. Any time after 5:00pm

Aug 11 Trip to the meadows on the upper slopes of Mount Rose - Leader Elizabeth Bergstrom

    This trip will explore some of the upper elevation meadow habitats on Mount Rose. We will access these meadows via the US Forest Service access road to Relay Peak. We plan to meet at the large Mount Rose trailhead, parking lot. This lot is on the west side of the Mount Rose Hwy summit. Be at the staging area by 9:00am at the latest, we will be leave shortly afterward. It is a short drive to the meadows through locked gates so be on time. Meet at the Starbucks in the Raley's parking lot on Mt. Rose Highway at 8:30 to carpool (1/4 mile west of the freeway.)  It is suggested that you carpool as much as possible before heading up to the pass, since the parking lot gets very congested on the weekends. High clearance vehicles preferred for the drive up the access road.
    Bring plenty of water, lunch, hiking gear, sunscreen and insect repellent.
    For further information you can contact Elizabeth Bergstrom at 775-884-8154 or John Weiser at 775-331-4485. Any time after 5:00pm.

Aug 18th Carson Pass trip has been moved to July 28th.

Aug 25th Trip to Big Meadows - Leader Janel Johnson

    Meet at 9:30am at the Big Meadows trail-head on Highway 89 about half way between Meyers and the junction with Hwy 88. Carpool from the Forest Service offices at 1536 Carson Street in Carson City at 8:30am or the Pink Scolari's at 8165 South Virginia Street in Reno at 8am.
    The first quarter mile of trail climbs about 300 feet with many big steps made of boulders. After that the trail levels out in the meadow and those who want a longer hike can continue up to Scott, Round, or Dardanelles Lakes.
    Bring plenty of water, lunch, hiking gear, sunscreen and insect repellent.
    For further information you can contact Janel Johnson at 775-684-2911 or John Weiser at 775-331-4485. Any time after 5:00pm

It is suggested that you check the web site before the dates of the trips to see if changes or updates have been posted.

May 14th. A volunteer planting event will be held at the Galena Creek Visitor Center on the Mt. Rose Highway.  This is a Forest Service sponsored event.  We will be putting out native perennials and shrubs grown by Washoe Nursery to provide landscaping.  Please call the Visitor Center at 775-849-4948 for further information and registration.  This will be a first part of the native plant landscaping planned for this area. 

May 15. Jack's Valley Wildlife Management Area.  Trip Leader: Elizabeth Bergstrom, 884-8154.

From Carson area: meet at IHOP (3883 S. Carson St.) for breakfast at 8:15, otherwise at 9:30. 

From Reno: for car-pool meet at pink Scolari's (S. Virginia St., Reno), for Carson IHOP breakfast, at 7:30, otherwise at 8:30. 

Final Meeting place: parking lot of the Jacks Valley Elementary School at 10:00. From Highway 395 south of Carson City turn west onto Jacks Valley Road (Target and Home Depot Shopping Center intersection) and proceed several miles to the elementary school. 

We will be looking for the Carson Valley monkeyflower, a minute yellow flowered annual which is currently being described.   This plant was formerly described as Mimulus montiodes and is limited to the foothills of Carson and Eagle Valleys with a disjunct occurrence in the Red Rock area outside of Reno.  Much of the habitat for this plant has been developed.  

In addition to the monkeyflower we will have a chance to see many more spring annuals. The fieldtrip will run until around noon so you will have some gardening time at home in the afternoon!

May 21. Sand Mountain.  Bring food, water, insect repellent, suntan lotion. Be prepared for any type of weather.   High clearance vehicles recommended.

First meeting place: 8:00 am, at the west side of the parking lot at the Legends Shopping Center, southwest of Scheels, nearest the Sparks Marina. Take the Sparks Blvd. exit from I-80, go north about ½ mile to East Lincoln Way and turn west, go around the first roundabout and follow the road to Scheels.

Second meeting place: 9:15 am at the McDonalds on the west side of Fallon.

From Carson vicinity: meet at Forest Service office, 1536 S.Carson St. (US 395) Carson City, to leave at 8:00.  Rendezvous with Reno group at 9:15 at Fallon McDonald's on US 50.

While there we will look for Penstemon acuminatus var. latebracteatus, Astragalus lentiginosus var. kennedyi and Castilleja angustifolia var. flavescens. This area was a stop on the Pony Express.

• July 24. Carson Pass (Alpine Co.) 
  The trail from Carson Pass to Winnemucca Lake is approximately 4.5
  miles round trip and gains 500 feet of elevation.  Bring a lunch and
  plenty of water.  There is a $5 day use fee for each vehicle at Carson
  Pass.  Fee waived for Interagency Pass and El Dorado NF Annual Pass
  holders.  Trip departure times are:  Pink Scolaris in Reno, 8:15am;
  Carson City Forest Service Office, 8:45am; Woodford's Station, 9:30am,
  Carson Pass, 10am.  Leaders: Elizabeth Bergstrom 775-884-8154, ebergstrom@fs.fed.us and Janel Johnson 775-684-2911, jdjohnson@state.nv.us
• July 17. Eriogonum Quest, Churchill Narrows (south of Fort Churchill) and other stops (Lyon Co.), Eriogonums visited during the Eriogonum Society Field Trips (June 12 and 13).  Breakfast at Denny's on North Carson Street at Hot Springs Rd, 8am, depart at 9am.  If coming from Reno leave from the Pink Scolaris on South Virginia at 7:30am for breakfast or 8:30am otherwise.  Leader John Weiser, 775-331-4485.
• July 10. Chapman Saddle (North of Yuba Pass, CA 49,
  Sierra County, CA.)  Meet at 10:00 am at Yuba Pass, CA on Highway 49,
  in parking area on south side of highway.  High clearance vehicles are
  not necessary.  For those traveling from Reno, meet at the McDonald’s
  on southwest corner of West McCarran and Mae Anne just north of
  Interstate 80 at 8:30 am.  For those coming from Carson City, meet at
  the Forest Service office, on Carson Street south of the mall at 8:30
  am.  Leaders Bill and Nancy Harnach, 530-994-3464.
• June 19. Spooner Lake State Park. 
  Meet at 9:00 am at the stone circle trail-head at Spooner Lake State
  Park.  Write "NNPS" on a card and place it on your dash in front of the
  steering wheel to waive park entry fee.  Carson City meeting place at
  IHOP (3883 S. Carson St, east side just south of Raley's) for breakfast
  at 7:30 am or 8:30 am for the field trip.  Reno rendezvous 8:00 am and
  the Pink Scolari's.  If coming for breakfast, leave by 7:00 am.
  Leader: Ann Pinzl, 883-0463.
  
• June 5. Little Valley.  Meet at the Bower's Mansion parking lot (on old 395 in Washoe Valley) at 10:00 am. If carpooling, plan to leave the Pink Scolari's in Reno by 9:35 am. From Carson City leave the SE corner of the Save Mart parking lot in north Carson City at College Parkway and N. Carson St. by 9:30 am. The road to Little Valley is typically in poor condition in the spring so 4WD vehicles are required. Leader: John Christopherson 775-684-2507, jchrist [at] forestry [dot] nv [dot] gov. Alternate contact: Janel Johnson 775-684-2911, jdjohnson [at] state [dot] nv [dot] us.
• May 29. Rosaschi Ranch/Masonic Mountain. 
  Final meeting place is Rosachi Ranch parking area on the East Walker
  River, Forest Road 28, near the Sonoma historical site. Departure
  times for carpool locations are: Reno Pink Scolari's, 8 am; Carson
  City Forest Service Office (1536 South Carson Street), 8:30am,
  Douglas High School (south end of parking lot) 8:50 am.  After a tour
  of the restoration activities, we will drive up the back road to
  Masonic Mountain to see locations of three rare plants: Phacelia
  monoensis, Astragalus oophorus var. lavinii, and Streptanthus
  oliganthus. The Masonic Mountain portion requires high clearance
  vehicles. Leader: Elizabeth Bergstrom 775-884-8154, ebergstrom@fs.fed.us. Alternate Contact: Janel Johnson 775-684-2911, jdjohnson@state.nv.us.
• May 22. Waterfall Fire Revegetation Study Area (Carson City). 
  Meet at 9:00 am at the Jack Davis Observatory, on Van Patten Ave., of
  the Western Nevada College in Carson City. From Reno take US 395 Exit
  43 (US 395 Bus.) - N. Carson St., at the second traffic light, College
  Parkway, turn right, turn right at stop sign, Ormsby St., it will curve
  left and you will be on Combs Canyon Road, go left on Murphy Dr., and
  right on Vanpallan. Reno rendezvous at 8:20 am from the Pink Scolari's.
  http:www.wnc.edu/waterfall/trail  Leaders Mike Sady (WNC) 775-445-4400 or Larry Taylor, 775-883-6016.
• May 15. Washoe Lake State Park. 
  Meet at 9:30 am at the parking lot inside the main entrance to the park
  on Eastlake Blvd. (across from Dead Man's Canyon). This is 3.3 miles
  NE from US 395 exit 44. Morning, scout Dead Man's Canyon, late arrivals
  join after lunch for exploration near the lake. Reno rendezvous 8:45,
  Pink Scolari's - Carson 9:00 am at Save Mart (see May 8th trip). Leader
  Ann Pinzl, 775-883-0463.
• Sunday, Earth Day, April 25. Spanish Springs (Washoe Co.)
  9:00 am - Meet at Walgreen's on the corner of Pyramid Lake Highway
  & Eagle Canyon Road. Leaders Connie Douglas, 775-425-1305, and
  Bonnie Larsen, 775-972-0583.
• April 17. McCarran Ranch/Lower Truckee River (Washoe/Storey Cos.)  Come join The Nature Conservancy for a day of willow planting on the banks of the Truckee River. NOTE: This has the potential to be muddy work so please bring solid shoes and wading boots or fishing waders if you have them. Following the event, we'll have snacks and beverages. Meet at 10:00 am at the 102 Ranch. Leader: Janel Johnson 775-684-2911