UTAH Expedition 2013
Tuesday July 2nd
Flight to Utah – travel day
Depart Philadelphia Int’l Airport
Flight time approx 4:45
Arrive Las Vegas Int’l Airport 10:26 am PDT
Collect luggage, Collect cars
Lunch in airport area; Plan to leave LAS in cars 12 noon – 1 pm
Drive to Tropic, Utah, arr Bryce Country Cabins
( approx 4 hr 40 min). Acquire enroute any necessary additional gear in Cedar City. TIME CHANGE + 1 hour in Utah
Night 1
Arrive and settle into 6 cabins, unpack gear for four day stay
Eat dinner at Bryce Country Cabins
First night collecting at Shakespeare Mine, Henderson Canyon 25 mins east of Tropic, 6800 feet on SW facing slopes in canyon on Kaiparowits sandstones
Sunset: 8:54 pm MDT
Moonrise 2:12 am MDT
Wednesday July 3
Tropic, UT
Breakfast at cabins
Process field collected insects from previous evening
Day collecting, botanizing, and geological reconnaissance in GSENM
Picnic lunch in the field. Possible day for a Bryce Canyon NP visit or full time in National Monument.
Late afternoon, return to Tropic / Bryce Country Cabins to eat dinner at cabins and load night gear
Night 2
Collecting at Canaan Mountain road at 7500 feet. Excellent location to set up two stations, one at approx 7200 feet on approach road at right curve 37.598932,-111.856956, second site at 7700 feet at junciton of two roads: 37.599094,-111.848462
Sunset: 8:53 pm MDT
Moonrise 2:49 am MDT
Thursday July 4
Tropic, UT
Sleep in morning – catch up rest and specimen processing, update all field notes
Day collecting, botanizing, and geo reconnaissance in GSENM
lunch at Cabins if we get a late start after late night. Alternative possible day for a Bryce Canyon NP visit
Night 3
Drive is 45 minutes from Bryce Country cabins to Bull Run Gorge Collecting site on Skutumpah Road at 6100 feet, Squaw Creek / Bull run on Carmel Formation limestone, 37.472031,-112.110335
Sunset: 8:53 pm MDT
Moonrise 3:30 am MDT
Friday July 5th
Tropic, UT
Process Field collected insects
Day plans – continued exploration of local habitats and formations
Night 4 – Dinner in the field at Dry Creek Picnic area, Pine Lake Campground. Drive time 40 minutes from Bryce Country Cabins.
Collecting East of Pine Lake Recreation Area on FR 132 towards Barney Top at 8700 feet
Saturday July 6th
Tropic to Grover, UT
Process Field collected insects
Pack gear and vehicles – Cabin checkout is 10 am.
Depart approx 11 am – 12 noon
Drive to Grover, UT, Uncle Earls cabins – drive time = 2 hours
Collecting in nearby habitat of Fishlake National Forest, drive time 10 mins to higher elevations or or to access 6800 feet lower elevations, descend below Lower Bowns Reservoir to Pleasant Creek Flats or Tantalus Flats (approx 40 mins).
Sunday July 7th
Grover, UT
Process Field collected insects
Pack gear and vehicles
Remain Grover, UT, Uncle Earls cabins – drive time = 2 hours
Collecting in nearby habitat of Fishlake National Forest, drive time 10 mins to higher elevation, or to access 6800 feet lower elevations, descend below Lower Bowns Reservoir to Pleasant Creek Flats or Tantalus Flats (approx 40 mins)
Monday July 8th
Grover to Cedar Canyon (adjacent to Cedar Breaks National Monument)
Process Field collected insects
Pack gear and vehicles, est departure 11 -12 noon
Drive to Cedar Canyon, UT, SUU Mountain Center – drive time = 3.5 hours
Need all bedding, all cookware, all serving utensils at this site.
Collecting in surrounding ranch habitat or nearby Dixie National Forest, drive time 10 mins
Tuesday July 9th
Cedar Canyon to Las Vegas
Process Field collected insects. Hang out with group in amazing location.
Late departure 2 or 3 pm for Las Vegas, NV
Pack gear and vehicles
Drive to Las Vegas, drive time approx 3 hours.
Check in La Quinta Las Vegas Airport South.
Celebratory dinner out at awesome nearby restaurant.
FedEx shipping of gear and specimens back to Phila.
Wednesday July 10th
Flight to Philadelphia
Breakfast at La Quinta
11 am check out and head to airport with bags.
2:30 Las Vegas Int’l USAir dep for PHL
return to Philadelphia airport scheduled arrival 10:04 pm