Western Expeditions is in the Backcountry

By Anne Izard on July 01, 2016

Western Expeditioners departed yesterday for 8 days in the backcountry. Their plan is to circumnavigate the town of Silverton, while exploring varying elevations of 9,500 to 13,000 feet. Along the way, they will be surveying for Pika, a climate change indicator species that lives in high alpine tundra.

Previously this week, the expeditioners worked with our partner, Mountain Studies Institute, learning about pika and how to conduct surveys. They also were introduced to high alpine wetlands, known as fens, and conducted some fen restoration.

The group gained some acclimatization experience by doing day hikes to areas like the Old Hundred Boarding House on Galena Mountain.

The boarding house rest above 12,000 feet and used to house miners in the early 1900’s. Here is a great website with more details on this incredible place: http://www.sanjuancountyhistoricalsociety.org/old-hundred-boarding-house.html

On Thursday, the day before they left for their epic hiking trip, the group ventured to Ouray, the neighboring town to Silverton. They spent the afternoon playing in the hot springs and seeking the joy.

Steve and I can honestly say we are severely jealous of this group. Silverton is absolutely beautiful in the summer and these young folks are living’ it up in all its beauty.

Anne Izard

Anne has worked at Green River over the years at summer camp, expeditions, and the school programs as a counselor, expedition leader, mentor, and program director. Anne’s related camp experiences include working as a counselor and program assistant at Camp Ton-A-Wandah in North Carolina, an expedition leader for Wilderness Ventures and an environmental educator and expedition leader for the Teton Science School. Prior to returning home to GRP, Anne was the Director of Education for the Mountain Studies Institute in Silverton, Colorado. Anne and her husband, Steve, are both actively engaged in the American Camp Association, The Association of Environmental Education, and The North Carolina Youth Camp Association. When Anne is not working, she can be found trail running, paddling, cycling, or backcountry skiing with her husband Steve, their sons, Phen and Hawkins,daughter, Alida,and golden retriever, Irie Bird!