Friday, April 18 through Sunday, April 20
The Tule River is one of the seldom-explored rivers of the southern Sierra. With awesome beauty, it also features abundant wildflowers, oak woodlands, chaparral, and at higher elevations ponderosa pine/black oak forest. The area is home to many bulbs and such unusual plants as rose globe-tulip, Munz's iris, and twining brodiaea. Explore this Sierra gem with field botanist Glenn Keator for a fun and fascinating weekend.
ITINERARY:
Friday, April 18: Carpooling to Porterville afternoon/evening, as we have a full day on Saturday.
Saturday, April 19: We'll meet at the Best Western Motel in Porterville at 9 am sharp (be sure to eat breakfast before we meet). Today we'll spend the entire day going east on Hwy 190 into Tule River Canyon, perhaps with a side excursion up a side canyon for a 2 to 3 mile hike. Overnight in Porterville
Sunday, April 20: Meet at 8:30. In the morning, we'll car caravan a short ways east on Hwy. 190 to a side road through rolling hills and oak woodland for a look at foothill wildflowers. If the season proves good, we'll also drive to another wildflower hotspot such as Carrizo Plains before returning home
RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATIONS: Best Western Motel in Porterville (209)781-7411.
FOOD: Pack food for lunches in the field; we'll have breakfast and dinners in Porterville and Bakersfield.
BRING: Field notebook, daypack, and hand lens. Also be sure to bring layers and raingear (just in case) as well as sturdy walking shoes or boots.
ROUTE: Take Hwy. 5 south to the Hwy. 198 exit (to Lemoore and Visalia). Go all the way across the valley to Hwy. 99 and head south to Hwy. 137. Take Hwy. 137 east to where it comes into Hwy. 65 south and stay on Hwy. 65 into Porterville. The Best Western Motel is located on Hwy. 190 heading east from Porterville.
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Registration |
Register |
Schedule |
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Leader |
Glenn Keator
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Price |
members $190.00; nonmembers $220.00 |
More Info |
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