finatic's Journal

So, I'm thinking about trying to put together an informal iNat outing to Southeast Arizona in August 2017, a real true iNat-athon! I'm thinking about a week with the trip starting and ending in Tucson so that air travel is fairly easy. Right now this is just a thought, but if enough people are interested I will move forward with finalizing dates and a rough timeline.

August is monsoon season in southeast Arizona and it is a 2nd spring in many cases. It is high season for for almost all the fauna and flora. It is the perfect time to visit for birds, plants, insects, herps....
My prior August Observations from Arizona can give you some insight into what we may find.

I would like to hit three different sky islands; Chiricahuas, Hauchucas and Santa Ritas. Each range has endemic plants and animals that obviously can't be found elsewhere. On a trip like this I would like to alternate between majority day outings and majority night outings, but doing a bit of both each day.

@jaykeller and I have done trips out to the area quite a few times and know the area a fair degree. I would guess that we average over 700 species on summer outing so there is plenty to find and see for everyone.

I don't like camping and plan to stay in a hotel each time I sleep, which in the past has often been 6am - noonish. But, if you're into camping there are campgrounds in each of the mountain ranges. As for travel and hotels, hopefully we can use this forum for ways that people joining can connect and work things out to carpool and share rooms.

Those of you who have been to this area know of how wonderful it is. Please post a comment about your experiences there to help convince those who haven't been to make the trip.

Who's interested in joining? I know that I'm missing some people who may be interested, so please feel free to tag them.

@greglasley @pileated @gcwarbler @gyrrlfalcon @jimjohnson @borisb @kueda @loarie @sambiology @charlie @silversea_starsong @cedric_lee @maractwin @muir @matthew_salkiewicz
@biohexx1 @erikfunk @dpom @ryanandrews @screws @treegrow @mchlfx @mhedin @rachelshoop @rwaayers @dkavanaugh @d_kluza @kevinhintsa @hughmcguinness @mlodinow
@herptracker @john8 @kschnei @zabbey grnleaf @gbentall @berkshirenaturalist robberfly

The Light and Smith Manual. Intertidal invertebrates from Central California to Oregon is considered a top resource and must have for those who live in that region. But the fauna in Southern California is different. Is anyone aware of anything that is considered of equal or close quality for Southern California?

@gbentall @kueda @tiyumq @susanhewitt @pliffgrieff @rebeccafay @anudibranchmom @loarie

If you're planning on attending the iNat-athon and need to share hotel rooms or transportation please feel free to connect with other through this journal post. Add a comment and say what you need and/or if you're willing share anything.

Set the calendars as the dates that we will be having an unofficial iNaturalist gathering are now set, what I'm calling an iNat-athon Join us for some or all of the days!

I hope to keep this journal entry free from most comments and only have important information and the itinerary. Please continue to post comments to the original post at http://www.inaturalist.org/posts/7999-southeast-arizona-august-2017

We will begin Sunday, August 20th and end Saturday, August 26th in Tucson. I'll soon post links to a few of the hotels that are near each other and close to the airport so that everyone can choose which hotel they wish to use.

I've started another journal where you can post if you are looking to share a ride or room with someone else who is coming on the adventure. Please post away what you need and hopefully someone will reply. You can work out the exact details offline if you wish.
http://www.inaturalist.org/journal/finatic/8120-inat-athon-august-20-27-2017-ride-and-room-sharing

I'm very excited about this outing and getting to meet so many people who I've corresponded with on iNaturalist over the past few years.

Itinerary

This is a rough itinerary. Due to weather and wildfires the routes and exact locations may change. But these are the days that we plan on being in each of the mountain ranges. We will have at least one night of blacklighting in each range and which night will depend on the weather.

Saturday 8/19
Arrive in Tucson. We will try to meet in the evening and make a run to a store to stock up on water, snacks and other needs.
I recommend getting a hotel room near the airport so that everyone is on the same side of town.
I'll be staying at the Quality Inn & Suites Airport North
5251 S. Julian Drive, Tucson, AZ, 85706, US
https://goo.gl/Ni3bac

Sunday 8/20
For those interested, we will meet at Quality Inn & Suites Airport North
5251 S. Julian Drive, Tucson, AZ, 85706, US at 7am and then leave as a caravan.
Head to the Chiricahua Mountains, making stops along the way.
Hotels either in Portal, AZ or Wilcox, AZ
Multiple campgrounds in the Chiricahua Mountains
https://goo.gl/4XdSxx
I'll be staying at the Portal Peak Lodge
2358 S Rock House Rd, Portal, AZ 85632
http://portalpeaklodge.com/

Monday 8/21
Chiricahua Mountains

Tuesday 8/22
Head to the Huachuca Mountains stopping along the way when we see something that catches out eye.
We will be helping out on a bioblitz at Coronado National Monument that is being coordinated in part by @skyislandalliance.
Hotels in Sierra Vista
Multiple campgrounds in Carr Canyon
https://goo.gl/Enthi9
I'll be staying at QUALITY INN SIERRA VISTA
1631 South Highway 92, Sierra Vista, AZ, 85635, US
https://goo.gl/1cLpB6

Wednesday 8/23
Huachuca Mountains
We will being ending the day in Carr Canyon. The morning activities are still unplanned but may include visits to one or more of the hummingbird hotspots. We do not plan on going onto Fort Huachuca.

Thursday 8/24
Head to Madera Canyon. We'll make stops along the way, possibilities include Patagonia, Pena Lake
Hotels in Green Valley or Tucson (lower priced, further away)
Multiple campgrounds in Madera Canyon
https://goo.gl/otB3Kc
For the rest of the trip I'll be staying at the Comfort Suites Airport Tucson
6935 S. Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ, 85756, US
https://goo.gl/zBHhFS

Friday 8/25
Madera Canyon
We may visit one or more of the other nearby canyons for part of the day but will end the day with blacklights hung in Madera Canyon.

Saturday 8/26
Mt Lemmon
For those who can stay late, we'll spend the day and end it with blacklighting until too tired to go on.

Sunday 8/27
Head home.

What to bring

Cameras, Batteries and Memory cards
Any other way that want to record your observations for iNaturalist. There are lots of bats so bring along ultrasound recording equipment if you have it.

UV Light and way to charge it. I have one but the more we can have hanging the better with multiple people in a group. The AC and DC Night Collecting Lights at BioQuip are ideal for this as they can be plugged into a portable battery or a vehicle 12-volt DC system.
https://www.bioquip.com/Search/WebCatalog.asp?category=2900&prodtype=1
This is the battery that I use:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Schumacher-Electric-1-200-Amp-Car-Battery-Jump-Starter/50223897

Flashlights and batteries
Always have a backup in case your main one stops working.

Clothing
Be prepared for sunny hot/warm days, cool nights and rain at any time. We will do our best to avoid the rain and especially the cool nights.

Food and Drinks
The days in the Chiricahua Mountains will be the most difficult. There really isn't a place to buy food and drink there except at the Portal Lodge. We will be making a trip to the store the evening of the 19th so that those who desire can purchase supplies.
While in other locations there are plenty of stores and restaurants when not in the mountains.