Biology 3B

Mojave Desert Field Trip

Meet at Parking Lot 1 at 7:30 AM near campus safety.  Look for van #82 and #83.  We'll load up the vans and leave shortly there afterwards.  Restrooms are located by campus safety.  We'll get overnight parking permits submitted tomorrow morning before we leave.

We'll stop for lunch in some where along I15 (maybe at Rainbow Basin or Zzyzx Desert Studies Center) for lunch or I40/Route 66 (Amboy Crater or we're we'll go fossil hunting for trilobites).  We'll have sandwiches, chips, fruit & drinks for all.  We'll then head through into the Mojave National Preserve and set up camp at MidHills Campground.

Your $30 will include: breakfast (Sat & Sun), lunch (Fri, Sat & Sun) and dinner (Fri & Sat).  Everyone is expected to help with the cooking and cleaning at some point during the trip.  Everyone will clean their own personal dishes.

Temperature range: low 50's to mid 90's in Essex CA.  It may be warmer in the valley when we're on the sand dunes (Kelso Dunes).  It'll be cool if we have the opportunity to go to Mitchell Caverns.

Critters to be aware of: rodents carrying diseases, rattlesnakes, scorpions & viscous plants (i.e. cacti).

Be a minimalist for this trip.  You can always bring some stuff, but if we can't fit it into the vehicles, you may have to leave it in your vehicle.  Don't forget your TP in a Ziploc baggie as we'll be in areas where the toilet facilities are minimal.  At the campground, DO NOT wash your body parts at the water spigot! 

The assignment for the trip is to keep a scientific journal that consists of the journal portion and species account AND to assist with basic campground needed (cooking & cleaning to name two).  We have plenty of small notebook journals.  You may be conducting a field experiment over the three days and will include that in your field notebook as well.