2011 Field Trips, Outings and Events

Redbud Chapter Field Trip Schedules

Spring/Summer Field Trips

All of our field trips are open to the public and are free of charge. Bring water, lunch/snack, hand lens, wildflower book, and sun protection and/or rain gear, as needed. Children are warmly welcomed, but please arm them with a whistle! No pets are allowed on any of our field trips. We suggest ride sharing, as parking space at most trailheads is limited. We also suggest that you contribute some money to the driver for gas -- perhaps $5 for less than 40 miles round-trip, and $10 for more than 40 miles round-trip... Unless stated otherwise, our trips are easy, as we usually travel very slowly and stop to view, identify, talk about, and enjoy each plant or fungus species. Most of our trips are led by more than one botanist.

For most of our trips we will meet at the Rood Center on Highway 49 in Nevada City, in front of the main building -- NOT at the library. We will then form car pools and drive to the trailhead. In many cases you can meet us at the trailhead if this is more convenient for you.

Our newly published book “Wildflowers of Nevada and Placer Counties, California” will be available for purchase at the meeting place before each field trip. Retail price is $29.95 plus tax; Redbud Chapter members (including brand new ones) are entitled to a 15% discount. We can accept cash and checks. This book will be very helpful on all of our field trips!

The field trip will be canceled if heavy rain (or snow) is predicted. If in doubt, call 530-265-4173 after 7AM on the morning of the trip for a recorded message.

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Donner Peak

July 26 (Tuesday)—8:30 AM at the Rood Center, 9:30 AM at the PCT trailhead off Highway 40

"This is to inform you that the wildflower hike on Tuesday might not make it to the top of Donner Peak. Roger will meet people at the trailhead and take people as far up as possible. We have reports of good wildflowers near the trailhead, but snow farther up."

The trail zigzags steeply up before leveling off at a wildflower-filled meadow. Then it wanders uphill to a saddle and the top of Donner Peak, with a grand view of Donner Lake and the Tahoe Basin. Even when the flowers are not blooming this is a beautiful hike. But during wildflower season it becomes a botanist’s paradise! Meet at the Rood Center in Nevada City. If Nevada City is out of the way for you, a secondary meeting place will be at the Trailhead: heading east on I-80, take the Soda Springs exit and go about 4 miles along old Highway 40 past Sugar Bowl and past the Mt. Judah parking area to the large building on the corner (0.2 miles west of Donner Pass). Then take the paved road by the building to the right (south), and drive to where the road makes a sharp right hand turn (approximately 0.1 mile). Park along the road. (On maps, this is called Lake Mary Road) Look out for “No Parking” signs and be careful not to block anyone’s driveway. The trailhead is at the Pacific Crest Trail sign, where the road made the sharp right hand turn. Bring lunch, and lots of water or a water filter! Leaders: Julie Carville and Roger McGehee

In Search of Summer Wildflowers

August 12 (Friday)—9:00 AM at the Rood Center, 10:00 AM at the Pacific Crest Trail parking area on the south side of I-80.

To find the trailhead, take the Boreal Ridge/Pacific Crest Trail exit off of I-80 and then drive east to the parking area. We will then walk to the Pacific Crest Trail and head north, hoping to find summer wildflowers, such as fireweed and asters, in full bloom.

More Field Trip Information . . .

All of our field trips are open to the public and are free of charge. Bring water, lunch/snack, hand lens, wildflower book, and sun protection and/or rain gear, as needed. Children are warmly welcomed, but please arm them with a whistle! No pets are allowed on any of our field trips. We suggest ride sharing, as parking space at most trail heads is limited. We also suggest that you contribute some money to the driver for gas—perhaps $5 for less than 40 miles round-trip, and $10 for more than 40 miles round-trip. Unless stated otherwise, our trips are easy. We travel slowly and stop to view, identify, talk about, and enjoy each plant species. Our trips are often led by more than one botanist.

For most of our trips we will meet at the Rood Center on Highway 49 in Nevada City, in front of the main building—NOT at the library. See map below. We will then form car pools and drive to the trail head. In many cases you can meet us at the trail head if this is more convenient for you.

Our book Wildflowers of Nevada and Placer Counties, California will be available for purchase at the meeting place before each field trip. Retail price is $29.95 plus tax; Redbud Chapter members (including brand new ones) are entitled to a 15% discount. We can accept cash and checks. This book is very helpful on all of our field trips!

For more information call Roger at 530-265-4173 or email him at rogm@SBCglobal.net. At 7:00 AM in the morning of the trip, you can call his answering machine for updates — especially if the weather looks “iffy.”

(If this info is stale, sometimes it helps to see the current newsletter (if it's not stale) for field trip information.)

Other Groups' Field Trips

You might find outings on the Independence Trail website.

The Sacramento Valley chapter of CNPS may have field trips.

Last updated
December 4, 2011