Course Will Be Offered For the Last Time In 2010
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Lizard Head Peak
But
where is home? Surely not the walled-in prison of the cities, under that low
ceiling of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides and acid rain-the leaky malaise
of an overdeveloped, overcrowded, self-destroying civilization where most people
are compelled to serve their time and please the wardens if they can. For many,
for more and more of us, the out-of-doors is our true ancestral estate. For a
mere five thousand years we have grubbed in the soil and laid brick upon brick
to build the cities; but for a million years before that we lived the leisurely,
free, and adventurous life of hunters and gatherers, warriors and tamers of
horses. How can we pluck that deep root of feeling from the racial
consciousness?
Impossible.
Edward Abbey-- from
Down
the River
SSC
493 3
Credit hours
Department 716-645-2245
E-mail: jcallen@buffalo.edu
Nothing like the Rockies-thanks to Tim, Wendy and all the students! 2010 is our last trip and a reunion for all
who have gone before. Hope to see you then. JA
(Tim Freeman Photo)
PHOTOS OF WIND RIVER TRIPS FROM 2001, 2003, 2008 & 2010
Course Description
The nature of this course is to integrate the academic
study of unique western ecosystems by total immersion in those systems.
This is done by
backpacking
deep into wilderness area,
taking only what you can carry on your back, and subjugating yourself to the
wilderness condition by experiencing it in a zero-impact, recreational fashion.
The
outdoor component of this course is physically strenuous, very rigorous and at
high altitudes.
Wilderness Orientation
***No one returns untouched by the sheer power of the wilderness experience; the strength of a wilderness experience, as with all sound outdoor educational pursuits, lies in the blending of recreation, social interaction, and academic and inspirational learning. Curiosity, wonder, and appreciation become major stimulants for learning, while the lessons are played out in the ever-changing form and patterns of the cosmos.
***Premiums are placed on working together, getting one another through the
journey and on the students’ transformation into a team player who can
eventually bring their newfound empathy back with them into the daily demands of
civilization. Personal attributes,
such as self-reliance, cooperation, self-motivation and perseverance are
encouraged. All are virtues
necessary to fulfilling the role as a citizen of the world.
***The aim of this program is to encourage broad and thorough exposure to and
appreciation for the nature of diverse and complex ecosystems; and to
provide
integrated programs that are
foundations for unique professions. Fieldwork
will integrate class work, with dynamic and active class discussions.
***The
purpose of the outdoor action portion of this course is to develop a capacity
for leadership, to build character, to heighten sensitivity to the beauty of
nature, to challenge one’s endurance with
rigorous exercise and to encourage teamwork and build trust in one’s fellow
students through wilderness experience.
Topics Covered
-Wolf Recovery Project-in 2010, students will be participating with the reintroduction project of wolves in Yellowstone National Park for the first portion of the trip
-outdoor physical fitness-in order to carry a heavy pack at the high altitude conditions required in the Rocky Mountains, there will be classes on aerobics, weight training and other fitness exercises to increase one's physical strength and stamina
-wilderness areas in the US-nature of wilderness, locations of
wilderness areas in the US, qualities of wild lands
-back country cooking/equipment-use of stove, building fires (as a
survival tool only), pack food, cooking in the outdoors, menu selections,
backpacking foods, outdoor nutrition
-outdoor equipment/utilization-learning to set up tents, how to
use/select a sleeping bag, utilizing other outdoor equipment, choosing the
correct boot, equipment care
-wilderness manners/outdoor ethics- exploring the dominant
paradigms and alternative paradigms of society, respect for natural systems,
living the environmental lifestyle, human responsibilities to the environment
-outdoor safety-basic outdoor safety as it relates to high
altitude,
very rugged terrain
-national parks/forests-nature of national parks and forests in
the US and the wilderness qualities of
-natural history of
Wind River
Range-will be explored from a
natural, geologic, cultural and historical perspective; bird and mammal
identification, alpine ecology and vegetation will be studied
-readings of the environmental movement-selected readings from
authors who have influenced the environmental movement/prose and poetry writing
related to the environment
Outdoor Component
-areas to be visited:
Yellowstone NP,
Bridger
and Shoshone Wilderness Areas,
Wind River
Range, Wyoming
-backpacking-backpacking is the basic
component of this course; being able to carry only what you need for an extended
trip (10-14 days) into the wilderness is essential to maintain the roadless,
natural qualities of an area
Costs
-student fees will include additional activity fee of $200.
A non-refundable deposit of $50 is required to hold your place
on this trip
-student will provide own outdoor equipment, food & transportation
-competence in subject matter and it's application to real life situations
-a breadth of knowledge beyond their major areas of study
-integration of the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual aspects of the wilderness experience
-sensitivity to and understanding of one’s own and other cultures
-commitment to responsible participation in the natural environment and
human community
-slide-tape,
power point
or video presentation of trip for educational purposes and
sharing-multi-media presentation
Educational self-motivation is a must-"classes" in the field are not formal-students should be jumping at the chance to learn
Tentative Itinerary at a Glance
* Non-Refundable Deposit Sept 2009-April 2010
*
*
*
* Pre-excursion classes: Exact dates in early June
Location: TBA
Approximate Dates: THE TRIP
August 1-4 Yellowstone National Park, Wolf Recovery Project-meet at campground (TBA) and participate in wolf observations, data collection and anything else the researchers deem necessary. Transportation from Buffalo to YNP, Lander and return is the responsibility of the student(s).
August 5 Meet at Safeway Store in the center of Lander, Wyoming between 12-3 pm. Get food and supplies; drive to Dickinson Park campground
August 6-14 On the trail; backpacking portion of trip
August 15 Debriefing and departure
Post-excursion class:
TBA
Required Reading
A selected reading list of scientific literature will be sent out electronically-these should be read BEFORE arriving in Yellowstone.
Books
may be purchased at Talking Leaves Bookstore, Main Street, Buffalo
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
AND Prairie Soul by Jeff Lockwood
Field Guides
Field Guides may be shared between students (you don't have to buy them all but you must use them)
Field guides for birds and mammals-preferably Sibley’s Field Guide to Eastern Birds & Peterson’s Field Guide to Mammals
and
Peterson's
Field Guide to Rocky Mountain
Wildflowers
or
Handbook of Rocky Mountain Plants by Ruth Nelson
(The authority!)
Optional books pertinent to the area:
Climbing and Hiking Wind River Mountains
by Joe Kelsey 
National
A
List of Equipment for Backpacking Trip
The
following list is in no way totally complete for individuals with experience
backpacking; it will however, give you something to work from and basis for your
own experiences. Believe it or not,
all of these items will fit in a backpack (5000
+ cu.
in)
and will weigh approximately 60-65 lbs.
Backpack-
either an external frame or internal frame is sufficient; it must be large
enough to support a 10-14 day excursion (usually >5000
cu. In.)
Backpacking tent- this item may be shared by a tent
mate but it
should be lightweight and waterproof
Sleeping bag-
if your sleeping bag has the Little Mermaid on it, don’t bring it; sleeping
bag should be rated at approximately 20o
F and dependable and stuffable
Lightweight stove-
a 1 burner backpacking stove may be shared by 2 or 3 people; MSR, Coleman and
Svea make good ones-gas is preferable to butane-don’t forget extra fuel
Cooking pots-
a cooking kit may also be shared by your immediate group but it must also be
lightweight; include forks, spoons, knife, cups, scrubber etc
Dr. Bonners’ Peppermint soap- this is what you’ll use to clean everything; it’s universally
biodegradable and virtually benign in the environment
Toilet tissue-
obvious but put it in a zip lock bag to keep it dry and after use, another bag
to take it out of the wilderness
Hiking boots-
you MUST insure that these are
broken in
and waterproofed before you come on this trip
Pocket knife-
Swiss Army knives are best but personal preference is allowed
Camera-
obvious
Binoculars-REQUIRED
for bird and mammal study
Sunglasses/sunscreen-
high altitudes are hard on eyes/ high altitudes are hard on skin
Bug Repellent- mosquitoes rule-"deet” repellents work best
Toilet items-
generally a toothbrush, washcloth, small towel is all you really need
Journal-
required for the course; don’t forget pencils
Water purification device/method- a pump filter is preferable or
iodine
tablets; this may be shared with
others-you can also drink off the glaciers or boil your water if you are
suspicious of its cleanliness
Water jug-
1 quart-plastic
Personal first aid kit- your own supply of band aids, moleskin etc-I will have a more complete
kit but you should bring your own small kit
Compass-
obvious
Small day pack-
since we will be setting up base camp and doing day hikes, bring a small pack to
pack lunch and incidentals
Clothing-
see list-keep them light weight and to a functional minimum-cotton items are
less desirable since they retain water and dry slowly
Food-
see list; we will buy food in Wyoming but you may want to get some of your
backpacking food prior to leaving Buffalo-be creative
Headlamp/flashlight/extra batteries-obvious
Mountaineering Ice Axe or trekking poles-dependent on snow conditions
Money-so you don't have to call home
Optional items
Strongly Suggested: lightweight fishing gear-if you fish, it helps reduce your food items and hence reduces the weight of your pack-plus, you may have never caught and consumed a "wild" trout before. 2008 Non-Resident Wyoming Fishing License is required for $92 yearly or $14/day.
No alcohol, tobacco, dope, drugs, guns, spears, brass knuckles, Mace,
fireworks on trip-period
Cell phones and walkpersons/radios-great for the trip/not allowed while backpacking
For
emergencies, safety and travel reasons, two-way radios
will be provided
Cosmetics/hair dryers etc- you’ll stink but so will all of us-bears love the smell-they’re heavy to carry-there’s no place to use them
Extensive and heavy clothing- keep your clothing to a minimum
Food Suggestions and Accessories (for a 12 day trip)
Pasta
dried fruit
pancake flour/syrup or honey in a tube
Quick rice
jerky
spice kit
Bagels/tortillas
GORP
hard salami
Peanut butter/jelly in a tube hard cheese
Squeeze Parkay
granola bars/Power bars
Onion
tea/coffee/instant cocoa
Garlic cloves
powdered drinks/Gatorade
Zip lock bags
instant oatmeal
Backpacking foods/dehydrated foods soy sauce/hot sauce
Recommended Clothing List
This is a recommended list; it is a very short one.
You may wish to modify this for your own preferences.
Remember: keep it functional
and light. Room in your pack is at
a premium.
Shorts-2 pairs
bandana
Socks-3 pairs
hats-1 billed, 1 stocking
Long underwear-polypropylene sandals/tennies
Rain jacket/pants underwear?-3 pairs
Fleece jacket-doubles as pillow
T shirts, fleece pants, outdoor tights
Explanation
Shorts- comfortable and unrestrictive to hike in-bring 2 pair
Rainwear- this is essential gear; it keeps you dry and warm- if you can
afford Gore-Tex, it makes a
Hats- a billed cap of some variety and a stocking cap are necessary
Socks- appropriate socks will make a tremendous difference in you foot
enjoyment level-polypropylene
Polypropylene long underwear- this item is an insulation item and may be
used externally too-avoid
Sandals/tennies- water crossings are common in the Wind River Range,
water sandals are good
Fleece Jacket- it can be sunny but cool and windy
at 11,000ft
Handkerchief- good for sweat, snot, spills, washrag and potholder
PHOTOS OF WIND RIVER TRIPS FROM 2001, 2003 & 2008
SSC 493 ECOLOGY OF UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTS-YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - 2012
SSC 441 WILDLIFE AND WILDLANDS MANAGEMENT
FORMS E-Mail: Joseph C. Allen, Instructor
THE WILDLANDS PROJECT & THE WILD EARTH JOURNAL EDWARD ABBEY
Billy's Lake-Photo by Aaron Rimmer
Outhouse Productions@