Best Laid Plans

Going into this fieldtrip I was pretty much prepared to handle any situation that Southern California could throw at us, including earthquakes, fires and altitude sickness .... but I never thought I would have to deal with rain in July. After spending Thursday morning catching up on specimen processing and data management, each team proceeded to a USFS Ranger Station compound on different sides of the mountain. Team Orange went to Keenwild and Team Blue drove down from James Reserve to Vista Grande. After checking in with the Captain at the latter site, Team Blue geared up and made it five minutes from the vehicle before it started to drizzle. After retreating to the Suburban for about ten minutes, the rain stopped and we got out and proceeded down the mountain for about 30 minutes of collecting before we heard serious thunder from across the valley to the west. That's our clue to finish up and, as we were closing the press, Julie (Team Orange) called over the radio that they had experienced the same thing. So, realizing that halfway between our respective positions was the town of Idyllwild and a very good sno-cone shop, we met there to make the most of our bad field day.

Upon returning to the James Reserve, the rain opened up and drenched our research station, serving only to spike the humidity rather than provide temperature relief. Besides our disappointment regarding a foreshortened field day, we were worried that the weekly Thursday music concert in town (a SCAP tradition) would also be rained out. But everything went off on time, a Dixieland band provided the music, we provided the dancing, and everyone had a great time. Becca Fenwick and Taylor Jeffrey (the James Reserve's Director and Steward) joined us in the fun. The Lumber Mill Restaurant had our snadwiches ready and Katie and I went to the Shell station to get drinks for everyone. All that was left to do was to figure out how to keep Julie occupied with dance partners all night. We all took turns. They should have saved their energy. The weekend overnight on the mountain was just around the corner.