The Department of Biological Sciences of Boise State University to host second Idaho Botanical Foray in July 2009.

Join Dr. Jim Smith of the Department of Biological Sciences at Boise State University on the second Idaho Botanical Foray to Mt. Borah and vicinity July 9-13th. The adventure will begin the morning of July 10th and conclude the evening of July 12, 2009.  Mt. Borah is the highest peak in Idaho.  We are unlikely to make it to the summit, but will likely take one to several trips up the slopes and around the areas at the base of the mountain.

The purpose of the foray is to gain knowledge of the botanical diversity found on Mt. Borah and surrounding areas by making plant collections for research.

Participants will collect each day in groups of 5-6 people and press their collections that afternoon.  The pressed plants will be dried, identified and eventually incorporated into the main research collection with duplicates sent to nearby herbaria at other institutions.  All levels of expertise are welcome, from those that have been collecting plants for decades to those that are curious about native vegetation and simply wish to learn more.  Instructions on collecting and pressing will be given each morning before groups leave to their assigned collecting sites.

We will be staying at the Wildhorse campground.  The campground fees will be paid by BSU for all participants and the campground has water and toilets.  Participants will need to bring all necessary camping supplies and their own food (the campground is at ~7400 ft. in elevation so plan for cool evenings even in July.  Plan for a potluck gathering of all groups on Saturday evening.  Collecting supplies (plastic bags, presses, notebooks, pens, newspapers, maps) will be provided by BSU, but if anyone has their own clippers and diggers or GPS units it would be advisable to bring them.

This year we are also planning to share our specimens more broadly than last year.  Therefore if someone wishes to lead a group in the name of another Idaho institution with a plant collection other than BSU, we will ensure that one set from that collection will arrive at the institution of choice with no obligations on the part of the receiving herbarium.

Approximate daily schedule:

• 8:30-9:00 am - gather into groups, review collecting and pressing procedures, assign collecting localities for the day
• 9:00 am-3:00 pm - collect plants
• 3:00-6:00 pm - press

Although all arrivals are welcome it would be advisable to alert Jim Smith if you know you will be attending such that an approximate number of participants can be determined in advance.  

It is not necessary to stay all of the days.  People are welcome to come and go as their time permits.

Participants can expect to:

• increase knowledge of plant diversity in Idaho
• learn a lot of native plant species
• make a good plant collection
• have some fun!

Workshops are planned for the winter months to key out and identify the material collected during this trip.  Return to this website in September to find more about some of the first workshops to be held in October.

Directions:

PDF's of Google driving directions are posted as additional documents.  Please note that on these maps, the only way to get the Wildhorse Campground was to select June 22-29 as part of the name.  The foray will be July 9-13.

Boise - Mt. Borah [PDF]

Pocatello - Mt. Borah [PDF]

Mt. Borah - Moscow [PDF]