Field trip with Larry Ballard and Liz Gaspar

Sunday, April 26, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00pm.
Advance registration required at synature@west.net or 693-5683.
Participation is limited to 20
Members free/ nonmembers $20

Join trip leaders Larry Ballard and Liz Gaspar for another Aliso Loop post-fire exploration, now two years after the White Fire of May 2013. We will look for the presence and/or absence of plant and animal species and evidence of succession between 2014 and 2015. The flora of the Aliso Loop Trail area includes just under 300 plant species; for our first trip, in April 2014, over half of them were present. Early season rainfall and mild winter temperatures have boosted growth in early 2015, holding promise of wildflower abundance and variety. The trail is 3.5 miles with elevation gain of 1400 feet. For the first half of the hike we’ll have many stops and close examination of the flora, the second half will cater to whim, interest, and personal walking pace.

Bring a hat, sun protection, water, sack lunch, and good sturdy shoes, such as hiking boots. Trip hiking poles are recommended as some sections of the trail are moderately steep.

Larry Ballard has an interest in all aspects of the region’s natural history, and has led many natural history trips for our organization as well as for other groups and institutions in Santa Barbara County.

Liz Gaspar has worked for many years as a park naturalist at Cachuma Lake. She earned her master’s degree from UCSB, where she studied native grasses.

Photos courtesy John Evarts.