NMMS 2006 Foray - Field Trip Descriptions

Friday

Foray 1 - Pajarito Ski Area
  • Leader:
  • Elevation: 9000-10,000 ft.
  • Fir/Spruce/Aspen
  • Note: We will visit this area again on Saturday (Foray 11).
    1-a - Ski Hill - Moderate to Strenuous
  • Leader: Jonathan Caldwell
  • Walk up & down ski runs (steep); alternating grass slopes and thick woods.
    • 1-b - Quemazon Trail - Easy to Moderate
  • Leader: Terri Wallis
  • Walk along maintenance road with slight elevation changes. In other good years, this walk has produced 30+ species right along trail.
    • 1-c - Camp May - Moderate
  • Leader: Jonathan Caldwell
  • Look around Camp May and/or park at end of road and investigate the surrounding slopes. Special recognition for best Sparassis crispa specimen.

    • Foray 2 - Valles Caldera Preserve
  • 2 Trails open for hiking (and collecting).
    • 2-a Valle Grande Trail - 2 miles
  • Leader:
  • Link to Map
    • 2-b - Coyote Call Trail - 3 miles
  • Leader:
  • Link to Map

    • Foray 2.5 - American Spring Turnoff
  • This area is a good short stop to combine with other field trips heading west from Los Alamos.
  • Elevation: 8200 ft.
  • Vegetation mostly Ponderosa pine.
  • Turn north into the parking area just off NM 4 and walk around.
  • Frequently find Hypomyces lactifluorum and occasional Boletus barrowsii.
  • Near parking area are remnants of hay bales used for re-seed and erosion control after Cerro Grande burn. Check these for interesting specimens.
  • South side of NM 4 is Bandelier property. DO NOT pick on National Monument!

    • Foray 3 - FR 376 South - mostly car hopping
  • Leader:
  • Elevation around 8500 ft.
  • Vegetation primarily Ponderosa with some Aspen stands.
  • About 4 miles west of La Cueva, turn south on 376.
  • After a couple of miles, head east on FR 604.
  • Healthy stands of Aspen for those who must have Leccinum, and a nice drainage micro-habitat along first stretch of FR 604.

    • Foray 4 - FR 144 North - mostly car hopping
  • Leader:
  • Elevation around 8700 ft.
  • Vegetation mixed conifer: transition from Pp to fir/spruce.
  • About 6 miles west of La Cueva, turn north on 144. (Watch for Boletus barrowsii along road as you top Fenton Hill.)
  • This area offers a variety of habitats and usually yields numerous species.
  • Typically lots of Coprinus comatus along road--Remember to save picking them for the trip back.

    • Foray 5 - Telephone Canyon - Easy walking with probable stops along way.
  • Leader: Reeds
  • This area is a good distance from Los Alamos and may not be practical for a field trip.
  • Elevation: 8300 ft.
  • Vegetation mixed conifer.
  • East west drainage offers north- and south-facing slopes in close proximity.
  • Has yielded a nice assortment of species in past.

    Foray 6 - Other Forest Roads south of NM 4 - car hopping

  • Leader:
  • A lot of territory south of NM 4 is accessible on various Forest Roads. Perhaps someone who knows and wants to visit some of this area will opt to lead a group.

    Foray 7 - Santa Clara Peak - car hopping

  • Leader: Barbara Marigold
  • This area is a good distance from Los Alamos and may not be practical for a field trip. It will require as early a start as possible.
  • Elevation: 6000-11,000 ft.
  • FR 144 heading west from Espaņola travels through Piņon and Ponderosa habitats and tops out in wonderful fir/spruce forests. Highest elevation of any of the listed field trips.
  • Due to the distance and the number of stops, participants may have difficulty getting back by dinner--but probably not.
  • Note: Some Tricholoma magnivelare (Armillaria ponderosa) would be nice at Saturday's Mushroom Tasting.

    Saturday

    Foray 10 - Mycophagy Foray
  • Leader:
  • Probably plenty of edibles will return from Friday's field trips. However, a group may go out and return early with choice, clean specimens for the Mushroom Tasting.
  • Destination(s) up to leader(s).

    Foray 11 - Pajarito Ski Area

  • Leader: Kristi Beguin
  • Elevation: 9200-10,000+ feet.
  • Vegetation fir-spruce on north-facing slopes.
  • The ski lifts will begin running at 10:00. Cost per person is $5.
  • Allows forayers to visit higher elevations without a long drive or a strenuous uphill hike.

    Foray 12 - Independent Excursions

  • Some folks will probably want to head out on their own--either to return to some of Friday's sites or to visit somewhere not listed.
  • Please inform Field Trip Coordinator (David Wallis) of proposed destinations and other details: who's going, which vehicles, etc.
  • Also, please get as much data as possible on collected specimens: location (including elevation), habitat, etc.
    www.mycowest.org/foray/fnm~6/fnm~6-ft.htm
    dmw . 2006-08-25