RSVP for this trip here.

BACKGROUND
Join us in monitoring a handful of springs located in the cooler high country of the Catalina mountains! This is an overnight camping trip. Due to the sensitive nature of springs, dogs are not allowed.

TRIP SCHEDULE

Friday, June 12, 4:00 – 7:00 pm: Meet SIA staff at the campsite. If individuals are interested in caravanning, they can meet SIA staff at The Historic Y no later than 2pm.
Saturday, June 13, 8:00 am:  Early breakfast with a quick refresher on use of spring assessment equipment. Then split up into teams and work through the day, returning to camp around 5pm.
Sunday, June 14, 8:00 am: Continue assessment work through the afternoon, then pack up and head home.  We will try and be back to Tucson around 5pm.

THE WORK

Spring assessments require at least a bit of hiking. Some springs are located in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness off of hiking trails at the highest elevations of the mountains. Please plan to hike as much as 3-4 miles in one day.  For spring assessments, we are looking for volunteers with tracking skills, plant identification skills, invertebrate identification skills, and strong hikers, but volunteers do not need to have prior training to participate.

WHAT TO BRING

• All tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, stoves, etc. that you might bring on any normal car camping trip.
• Larger backpacks in which to carry shared springs assessment gear are a plus.  NOTE: Expect cold nighttime temperatures
• Several gallons of water per person plus all the food you’ll need for a minimum of five meals out, plus snacks.
• Sturdy footwear (ex. hiking boots, sandals) plus clothing for wet and cold weather, binoculars, field guides, etc.
• Transportation to and from the camp area to the work site will be provided by SIA
• Volunteer Agreement/Waiver – This only needs to be filled out once per calendar year and staff will have extras on hand.

This site will not have potable water, so each participant should bring their own for drinking and washing (good idea to bring more than you think you will need).

PROVIDED BY SIA

Tools, basic camp kitchen set-up including stove, extra water, cameras, GPS, data sheets, maps.

CAMP LOCATION & DIRECTIONS

Take the General Hitchcock Highway up towards Mt. Lemmon past Rose Canyon Lake and just past the Palisades Visitor Center you’ll take a right onto the Mt. Bigelow road.  This is opposite the turn for the Whitetail group camp area. Follow the road back until you get to the junction with the observatory ahead.  Look for the first of our green wooden SIA signs here!  We will likely have you take a hairpin turn to the right and then be down this road .5 mile or so, but there’s always a possibility that we’ll be down the road to the left.  In any case, we’ll point you in the right direction and will put up at least one more sign to show you the way.

Carpooling is encouraged:  SIA will have 1-2 spots in our vehicle for volunteers to tag along.  Contact Louise to make arrangements.