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Post by Satra on Mar 17, 2011 1:17:16 GMT -5
So I'm taking a field biology class where we actually go to nature-y sites and get hands-on experience to learn field techniques and so on! It's a great class and this weekend I get to go camping! Because of that I will have no internet access from Friday until Sunday afternoon (And including Thursday for packing the last of everything, but I may lurk then anyway).
And then I have two exams in the week following, so I'll likely be scarce. But after that, I have Spring Break! So yeah. There we go.
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Post by Kitty on Mar 17, 2011 1:18:49 GMT -5
Oh wow, that sounds absolutely fantastic! The camping bit, not the exams bit. Have tons of fun =3
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Post by Lucca on Mar 17, 2011 7:18:11 GMT -5
Aw, awesome! Those were always my favorite classes. Have fun! ^^
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Post by Harpsdesire on Mar 17, 2011 8:28:59 GMT -5
That sounds like more fun than what I will be doing! ^_^
Although this sunday is FREE RITA's day, for those who live in the general MD-ish area. And me-- foray to the single Rita's in my state is a newly-forged Harps spring ritual!
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Post by Satra on Mar 20, 2011 13:38:26 GMT -5
I HAVE RETURNED TO THE LAND OF THE DRY
Yes. Dry. You guys will NOT BELIEVE how much it rained. For those of you with the misconception that it doesn't rain and snow in California, YOU ARE MISTAKEN. It rained to the point where my ability to take pictures for you guys was hindered. I have a few, though and will be posted when I get the chance.
Day 1: Arrive at the state park at 9 am to set up camp. We do so. It is a little cold, a little rainy, but altogether not bad. We are excited as the camp site is gorgeous and the park wasn't open for ANYONE except us researchers so we got it all to ourselves!
By noon we experienced torrential rain. I had water-resistant gear, but not waterproof and ended up completely soaked. While my fleece vest kept my core dry, I could feel water running down my legs as I moved. My upper thigh never felt a rain drop, but it was so wet the water traveled up my pants and even got my underwear wet. Also, when we returned to our tents, 3 of the 4 tents had flooded (including mine). The professor was nice enough to offer the use of a little cottage on her property. The person who didn't get flooded stayed, the others went home, I got the cottage to myself. Mwahaha.
We set the mammal traps around 6 pm (after I had a chance to dry off and warm up).
Day 2: Return to the park by 6:30 am to check the traps, record whatever we caught and release the little rodents. We come to find all this white stuff all over the road. My goodness, what was it? For those of you who live in snowy areas and said "It's snow, you silly Californian?" were WRONG. It was quarter-inch hail.
It wasn't raining at first when we got there (and according to the weather report Saturday was supposed to be our least rainy day. But pretty much as soon as we got out of the cars and on the field, it started raining.
We had a 9% successful trapping on the first go (100 trap were set in total). There were a lot of sprung traps with no live (or dead) specimens inside, probably due to the hail. Only one critter was dead, and the professor thinks she may have just crawled into the hole to die of old age. Took a break, came back in the evening to set the traps again. Not wanting to go home, I now had to share my space with three other people. Not too bad, as I liked them.
We cooked in the main house with the professor in a potluck feast. Pulled chicken marinaded in Jack Daniels. Finally, an actual use for Jack Daniels!
Day 3: We weren't supposed to get rain until 9a, but pretty much as soon as we got there (6:30a) it started raining. 6% capture this time (which is actually pretty good as most hope for a 1-4%) and another dead mousey (ironically, caught in the same trap as the dead one from yesterday. Except this one was a juvenile and and got caught in the door. Considering there was a live one inside the trap, we think he was following his little friend and got caught when the one ahead stepped on the trigger.)
We were unable to do a vegetation survey due to rain all three days.
So, two and a half days and 3.5 inches of rain later, I am home and unpacking all of my things. Even still, it wasn't as miserable as I made it out to seem. :3 Pictures will be soon-ish.
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Post by Lucca on Mar 21, 2011 7:05:08 GMT -5
WOW Satra. XD That sounds like half the times my family and I has tried to camp, lol. More often than not it would rain the whole time.
Still, at least you got some good data!
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Post by Kitty on Mar 21, 2011 12:16:55 GMT -5
So you're who's to blame for the very abrupt end of high 80's -90's and the sudden appearance of cold, wet and windy over here. XD
Good to hear you had a good time despite being soaked to your undies.
And glad to see the wilderness didn't om nom nom you too. So very cool you guys had that campsite to yourselves!
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Lauryn de Vampyre
Six of Spades
Muse of the Dead
We all go a little MAD sometimes...
Posts: 1,204
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Post by Lauryn de Vampyre on Mar 21, 2011 14:43:46 GMT -5
Wow, you did SO MUCH BETTER than I would have in that situation! It sounds like you kept your head up despite Mother Nature trying to say F You!
I'm glad you had a partially good time, but even more glad that you're back!
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Post by Harpsdesire on Mar 21, 2011 14:45:41 GMT -5
Glad you didn't drown in all that rain!
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