Preceding the fall quarter of the 1998-1999 academic year the soil science graduate group planned and executed a trip to the Modoc Plateau.  The excursion took place September 24th through the 27th and, therefore, preceded coursework for the new academic year.  The brief timeline of the excursion was designed to allow all graduate students in the group to attend with minimal time away from laboratory and field research obligations.  This brief timeline also necessitated condensed travel times.

Transportation was facilitated via university rented vans.  Although we were shoehorned into the vans, we all enjoyed the trip immensely.

Good fortune had the geology graduate group taking a field excursion at the same time and we were fortunate enough to consolidate our groups while visiting Lassen National Park.  Visit the National Park Service virtual site to explore Lassen National Park further. Bumpass Hell overview of boardwalk. The Lassen Park stop included a quick lunch and then a walk to Bumpass Hell for discussions on geothermal activity in the area.

Along the path to Bumpass hell it was quite evident that at this elevation it was spring time.

 Lupin Fabaceae Lupinus sp?Mountain Heather Ericaceae Phyllodoce breweri

 Bush Chinquapin Fagaceae Chrysophylla sempervirensBush Chinquapin Fagaceae Chrysophylla sempervirens with the three nuts showing inside the spiney bur like involucre.

On the way out of the Park the group stopped at he Site photographed on 22 May 1915 by B.F. Loomis from the position known today as "hot rock."  Loomis's pictures and a discussion of the Geologic events are available at View from in front of "Hot Rock"http://barsoom.msss.com/earth/lassen/lassen2.html .

View from in front of "Hot Rock" Darkened to show mountian in distance














While the geology group wandered off to tap on rocks the soils group got busy with excavating a soil pit for investigation.  Jeff Warner??B.J. Okin

Jan Carey, Rebecca Neumann, Jeff Warner & B.J. Okin

Both groups braved the rain long enough for a group photo.

At sites where excavation pits were investigated, some soil chemistry was preformed.  D.G. McGahan & B.J. Okin
















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Refferences

Loomis BF (1926) Pictorial history of the Lassen volcano. Loomis Museum Assoc., 1-96

http://barsoom.msss.com/earth/lassen/lassen2.html