For four days, we worked, played, and sweated together. Took lots of pictures, messed around with dirt and rocks and plants. Learned a lot about the biology, geology, and ecology of Eastern Oregon. And made a few new friends.
 

Day One

We gathered in the upper parking lot at PCC Sylvania one drizzly Thursday morning, waiting for the vans that we would spend so much time in. Soon we would be on the road, heading up the Columbia River Gorge, one of the most beautiful scenic areas in Oregon.

We saw a lot of contrasts on the field trip. It was raining in Portland when we left, sunny up the Gorge on the other side of the Cascades, and snowing east of Bend!

This, however, would be what we mostly saw: 
Lots and lots of open road, sagebrush on the side.

Once we got close to the field station there were all sorts of birds to look at. So much as to be a dangerous distraction.  Here's Lynn behind the driver's wheel, looking at birds. Note the position of the van vs. the middle of the road!

                             Fortunately, we were almost there:

Our home for the next few days.
 

We unpacked, got settled in, had a brief meeting, and went off to dinner in the field station cafeteria:

It's amazing how long the day seems when you spend it in a van. Here's the end of Day One:

On to Day Two. 

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