Each Fresh Peak Teaches Something
An Eco-Adventure in the Mountains
February 15, 2024
By Emily Heller
Pictured above: Pacific Tree Frog
Photos: Eden Chadwick
Eco Adventures are not your typical environmental science class. They are classes where students can go on professor-led expeditions in the great outdoors. These adventures encourage students to learn more about the natural world while being out in nature.
On February 2, 2024, the Winter Ecology Eco Adventure took place at Parsnip Lakes and Hyatt Lake (a 45-minute drive from SOU). It was led by Dr. Karen Mager, a professor in the Environmental Science department.
Prior to the students’ departure, there were 2 classes in which the students had to attend in preparation for the venture. The Winter Ecology Eco Adventure was offered in two distinct levels: ES 430 and 230. Students who enrolled in ES 430 were asked to present about a specific species of their choice (one such student, Eden Chadwick, had a talk about the Pacific fisher). In these classes, the students reviewed what gear they needed for the adventure.
Students of both levels learned about winter ecology in Southern Oregon. The students learned how to identify trees, how to measure snow depth, adaptations of different species, and they learned about overwintering.
“Each fresh peak ascended teaches something.”
– Sir Martin Convay
So, bright and early at 8:30 in the morning of February 2, the Eco Adventure class of 16 students embarked on their journey to Parsnip Lakes.
As they drove up into the mountains, the old familiar deciduous trees of the valley disappeared and were replaced with groups of mixed conifers. The higher elevations introduced blankets of white snow covering the earth. Snow would fall during the entirety of their trip. The temperature averaged at 33°F, about ten degrees colder compared to the temperature of the valley that day.
Once at Parsnip Lakes, the silhouette of a small black-tail deer, stark against the white backdrop of the horizon, appeared before the students. The silhouette slowly approached nearer to the group, showing not a hint of hesitation.
It wasn’t long before the deer’s snout followed the students’ pockets, eagerly trying to find some food. The friendly deer would follow the group for two hours before it gave up on its mission of finding food and disappeared into the forest.
Concerned for the well-being of the deer, a student reached out to a staff member of the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife – Matt Vargas. They wanted to know if the deer was potentially sick, and if they could do anything to help them. Vargas suggested that the deer was probably just very habituated, and was just looking for some grub.
While the students were at Parsnip Lakes, they identified certain trees and measured the depth of snow. They also learned more about insect overwintering, and learned about the different mushroom species in the area, including the false turkey tail mushroom.
Pictured Above: Hyatt Lake
The group then journeyed to Hyatt Lake, where they continued to identify organisms and trees of the area. The group saw that the snow was noticeably thicker than the snow at Parsnip Lakes.
At about 5:00 PM that day, the students started to head back to SOU campus. They had gotten a lot of knowledge about winter ecology in the mountains, and many were glad that they got to experience that knowledge first-hand.
Learn more about SOU’s Environmental Science, Policy, & Sustainability Programs:
Environmental Science, Policy, & Sustainability | ESP&S Programs Offered
