As the only Bureau of Land Management designated wilderness in Washington, Juniper Dunes boasts spectacular sand dunes accessible only during the months of Spring. The wind-deposited bedforms vary from tiny ripples to 100-foot-high dunes to miles-long draas. Transverse, parabolic, and poorly developed longitudinal dunes can all be found - and where the wind has eroded them, their internal stratification can be seen. Together, we will learn how the wind makes so many sizes and shapes of eolian landforms while we hike up, down, across, and between dunes. Along the way, we'll see flowers in bloom, a forest of juniper trees, and perhaps even some wildlife.
Students will carpool to secondary locations. All students must sign a field trip liability waiver before the start of class in order to attend. Upon enrollment, a link to the waiver will be included in the order confirmation email.
Required Materials: boots; clothes for all weather (rain, sun, hot, and cold); sun protection; backpack; sack lunch; snacks; 2 liters of water in reusable containers.
Suggested Materials: hand lens; camera; $5 of gas money (for your carpool driver).
Hike is of subjective difficulty – while some have ranked it easy, others have found it up to twice as strenuous as its length (2 miles) would suggest. Will be slow, but largely on sand, and will include gentle ascents and steep descents of about 100 feet. Note that there will be no restroom facilities, no outhouses, and little cover, so prepare accordingly.
Arrive a little early! The group will meet in the Main Bldg. D Rm 104. We will depart at 8:00am.