Post your campsite pics!

[rionapo]

Depending on which aspen grove you visited in Fish Lake, you may have seen Pando, who's 80,00 year old root system is thought to be the oldest living organism on the planet. According to Wikipedia, "Pando occupies 43 hectares (106 acres) and is estimated to weigh collectively 6,000,000 kilograms (6,600 short tons),[5] making it the heaviest known organism." Unfortunately, it's dying, probably due to a combination of cattle and deer browsing encourage by human desire for the two animals.

[LenS]

Finished a slide show with music of our snowshoeing trip to Michigans Upper Peninsula https://youtu.be/utnL3gqAQ3M

[wanderers]

rionapo, I had read somewhere that aspen were in trouble. It seems few people want the predators needed to keep the browsers in check.

We love New Mexico, by the way.


LenS, I'll watch that video as soon as leave this forum.

[Black95]

Originally Posted by LenS

Finished a slide show with music of our snowshoeing trip

Your video inspired me to post about our winter trip to Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We try to do this every year sometime during the months of Januray, February, or March. So far we have been able to each winter.


I don't think I needed to bring the camping chair recliners on the roof rack.



My back was acting up so I talked my wife into clearing the firepit!



A hot cup of fresh brewed camp coffee really hit the spot!



We had no need for our cooler!



We were not the only ones out enjoying the warmer winter weather! Usually you have to drive the wildlife loop to see them.

[LenS]

[QUOTE=Black95;269086]Your video inspired me to post about our winter trip to Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We try to do this every year sometime during the months of Januray, February, or March. So far we have been able to each winter.

Looks like you had a good time. We are planning to see Mt. Rushmore this spring/summer. Last time we were there was about 50 years ago. Got to see if the presidents look any older.

[Black95]

[QUOTE=LenS;269090]

Originally Posted by Black95

Looks like you had a good time. We are planning to see Mt. Rushmore this spring/summer. Last time we were there was about 50 years ago. Got to see if the presidents look any older.

I have attached a PDF file that I share with any of my science teaching friends and colleagues when they visit the Black Hills. Maybe it will help you plan a trip here.
BlackHills.pdf

[LenS]

[QUOTE=Black95;269094]

Originally Posted by LenS

I have attached a PDF file that I share with any of my science teaching friends and colleagues when they visit the Black Hills. Maybe it will help you plan a trip here.
Attachment 32141

Great. Thanks

[Craigk]

One of my favorite spots somewhere in British Columbia.

[rionapo]

Originally Posted by wanderers

rionapo, I had read somewhere that aspen were in trouble. It seems few people want the predators needed to keep the browsers in check.

We love New Mexico, by the way.

Aspen are dying throughout their range from a variety of causes but principally from fire suppression, which allows conifers to over take aspen forests, and grazing by domestic and wild animals that love shoots and will strip their bark. This is being compounded by warning temperatures that allow pests to survive winters and decreased moisture, which weakens the trees. (The climate change issue is affecting forests in general.) Here’s the Forest Service take on it. Pando is just an extreme example.

Glad you like NM. Don’t tell anybody.

[wanderers]

The North Rim at Grand Canyon NP seems to have had lot of aspen come up where there were some fires a few years ago. They looked pretty healthy there. I hope they can survive and thrive. A mountainside covered in aspen in the fall is an impressive sight. They look nice in the spring when they first begin to leaf out, too.
________
Roger