The Watershed at leaf out

Spring at last! The transition happened so quickly that there wasn't any time to slowly watch the hills green up - in two days we went from brown to brilliant green. At least we didn't have to wait long after a very cold April and May.

Before:

After (1 week later):

Flickers displaying/courtship

Porcupine!!

A bell mushroom-fungus

Taking the autosamplers out required driving our ATVs on the roughest, muddiest trails, some still with lots of ice. It was a harrowing experience that pictures cannot do justice

Iceberg remains at the confluence of streams. There was an incredible amount of silty mud left behind after the flood abated.

In the birch forest

We were clearing a fallen tree from our path when I noticed the heart-shaped stain on the wood! Even trees have feelings?

The burn area as we were leaving the watershed at 10 pm

The Chatanika in the evening. It was a loooong field day, but we got most things set up and ready to run for the summer field season!