Hermit Lake: An Ecological Adventure June 6-7, 2009
American Toad
Interested in learning more about life on Mount Washington? Then set aside the weekend of June 6 and 7 for a unique exploration of the Hermit Lake area. Located about halfway up the mountain, at the base of Tuckerman Ravine, Hermit Lake is one of the few high-altitude bodies of water in the White Mountains. Join biologist Scott Smyers of Oxbow Associates, Friends of Wachusett Mountain, and the Cambridge Entomological Club, in a field trip (with an overnight at the Hermit Lake Shelter Area) to learn what lives in and around Hermit Lake. Scott is an expert in reptiles and amphibians, and is keen on finding out more about life in these little-known high mountain ponds. He'll enlist your help in monitoring signs of life in Hermit Lake, including live trapping and other activities. (The research work, the beginning phase of a long-term monitoring project, will be conducted under State and Federal permits.) Are you interested in the variety of life high in the White Mountains backcountry? Do you like getting involved in hands-on science? Are you prepared to hike halfway up Mount Washington on a rocky trail for such exploration? Then this workshop is for you!!
The workshop will involve activities on both Saturday and Sunday including Saturday evening and early Sunday morning.
The workshop – limited to 10 participants – will meet at the AMC Visitor Center at 9 AM Saturday morning. Meeting place is in the hiker's pack-up room, located in the lower level of the "Trading Post" (the main public building – the store and cafeteria are on the main level of this building).
After a brief orientation, we'll hike up to Hermit Lake. The hike is 2.4 miles long, and is moderately steep (by White Mountains standards), gaining almost 2000 feet in elevation, and is quite rough and rocky. Along the way, we'll stop on several occasions to discuss the ecological possibilities and constraints afforded by the mountain environment. We may also stop here and there to consider what types of living creatures we can find as the northern hardwood forest changes with elevation to the colder, wetter transition zone.
After arrival at Hermit Lake, we'll include surveying and trapping at Hermit Lake and accessory bodies of water, with informal educational sessions about the animals that live in this area, how they cope with a harsh environment, and their life cycles. There will also be free time for sight-seeing, bird-watching, relaxing, and exploring on your own. After a dinnertime break, there will be additional field sessions at dusk and after dark. Sunday dawn will see a field session for the early risers, and after breakfast there will be more field time before an early afternoon departure.
Garter Snake
Overnight: The workshop includes an overnight stay at the Hermit Lake Shelter area. The workshop fee includes the shelter overnight fee. Participants are responsible for bringing all their own food, cooking equipment (including a camping stove), and sleeping bag and pad. (Please note: Because of the heavy use of the area, the U.S. Forest Service allows no overnight stay other than at the shelter area.)
Preparation: Participants should be in good health and good physical condition, and ready and raring to hike the 2.4 miles uphill to Hermit Lake with full overnight packs (and back down to Pinkham Notch, too). Educational sessions will focus on biological and environmental science -- so participants should already be skilled in backcountry hiking, and be able to take care of themselves in possibly cold, wet, and windy weather.
You are also encouraged to read a short illustrated report about prior White Mountains field research on high-altitude pond ecology.
Clothing and Equipment: Participants should have appropriate clothing and equipment for cold, wet, and windy weather -- sometimes, early June on Mount Washington can have the taste of late winter!
Spring Peeper
Include: sturdy boots - socks - warm pants - shorts - several layers of shirts, jackets, etc. - good quality rain gear (jacket and pants) - warm hat - gloves. Have extras along for emergency back-up in case primary items get wet. Avoid cotton, which performs very poorly when wet -- synthetics (or wool) are recommended.
Because the field sessions will involve time in ponds and brooks, extra footgear, socks, pants, and gloves are recommended. While heavy, hipwaders, rubber boots, and rubber gloves can be considered.
Other items to pack include water (two quarts recommended), food (two lunches, dinner, breakfast, and snacks), flashlights (headlamps are vastly preferred), extra batteries, sunglasses, sunscreen, personal medications, and basic first aid kit. Participants should also include sleeping bag, pad, and cooking equipment, toiletries, etc . Campfires are STRICTLY PROHIBITED throughout the area, so if you wish a hot drink or hot food for meals, you must bring a stove and fuel.
Weather: While all participants must be prepared for cold, wet, and windy weather, the forecast of weather that would be a severe detriment to the research and educational goals of the trip would result in postponement to the following weekend. So, if heavy rain, bitter cold, or other such weather is in the forecast as June 6 approaches, we'll be in touch with participants regarding possible postponement.
Fee: To help support the scientific work of the Observatory and its partners, we are asking a fee of $75 per Observatory member (this includes the shelter overnight fee). Non-members can participate at a rate of $120, which includes a year.s benefits as a member of the Observatory. Payment can be made by check or credit card (MasterCard or VISA). Thank you for your support!
To register: To register: Register online for the Hermit Lake workshop
For more information: Please contact Peter Crane, Director of Programs, at 1 800 706-0432 x 203, pcrane@mountwashington.org
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