Field Trip

Mount St. Helens – A living laboratory for science and communication - May 13, 2005

The field trip is to Mount St. Helens in southwestern Washington, with stops at overlooks and visitor centers operated by private, state, and federal groups. Twenty-five years ago,Mount St. Helens erupted with a fury out of a 123-year dormancy. Science and management organizations quickly took on new challenges, with the curious public fully part of the undertakings. Today Mount St. Helens is managed for a wide variety of values, including research, recreation, timber production, and education. Presentations by the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and forest industry will highlight the importance of science and communication, working in harmony, to meet the array of management objectives on both public and private lands. You also will hear an up-to-the minute report of the latest science findings associated with the earthquakes, explosions, and dome building currently happening on the mountain.

Field Trip Objectives

1. Learn about the variety of ways that interpreters, managers, and scientists are linking science information to management at Mount St. Helens through communication in order to achieve wise use of natural resources, public enjoyment, public safety, and additional science findings.

2. Learn about the biology, geology, and hydrology of Mount St. Helens.

3. Enjoy the day and engage in collegial interactions in a beautiful setting.

This field trip is part of the International Conference on Transfer of Forest Science Knowledge and Technology. This conference, directed by several Pacific Northwest agencies and universities, presents knowledge and technology transfer theories, methods, and case studies toward improving the ability of forest science organizations to understand how to successfully influence the adoption of innovations they generate. Theories, methods, and case studies about innovations generated from forest science organizations throughout the world are showcased at the conference. Participants include scientists, research managers, communications and technology transfer specialists, and extension service educators and specialists.

Draft Field Trip Itinerary (very approximate times)

Field trip participants will depart from Edgefield at 7:30 a.m. and return approximately 6:30 p.m. You will travel by bus on paved roads up the slope of Mount St. Helens, ending at Johnston Ridge Visitor Center (conditions permitting), and then retrace the route back to point of origin. Box lunches will be provided.


7:00 A.M. Gather for departure from McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale

7:15 A.M. Departure
(Want to see if bus has a public-address system and if so, how to acquire a tape that describes the route as we travel up the mountain.)

10:00 A.M. Arrive at Johnston Ridge Visitor Center operated by Gifford Pinchot National Forest

10:15 A.M. Participate in Interpreter’s Tour

10:45 A.M. View Message from the Mountain (movie) at Johnston Ridge (check and see if feasible to watch movie in advance of field trip at McMenamins. Could give us some additional time at Johnston Ridge, but Kristine says it is awesome from Johnston Ridge when they open the curtain at end of movie. Movie is 16 minutes)

11:00 A.M. Questions and Answers about interpretation program with Gifford Pinchot National Forest Interpretive staff, Kristine Cochrane (Director of Coldwater and Johnston Ridge Visitor Centers) or Todd Cullings (works with Kristine)

11:15 A.M. Depart for Coldwater Ridge Visitor’s Center

11:30 A.M. Coldwater Ridge Atrium (need to flex this time and location depending on what Forest Service interpreters are doing) Role of science and communication in understanding the biology and recovery of Mt. St. Helens, Charlie Crisafulli, Pacific Northwest Research Station, U.S. Forest Service

12:30 P.M. Depart for Coldwater Lake Picnic Area for Lunch (keep Charlie with us if possible for additional discussions)

1:15 P.M. Castle Lake Overlook - Role of science and communication in understanding the geology and hydrology of Mt. St. Helens and managing for public safety
USGS Carolyn Driedger and USGS Geologist or Hydrologist

2:15 P.M. Depart for Forest Learning Center (double check travel time)

2:45 P.M. Weyerhaeuser Forest Learning Center. Return of the working forest at Mt. St. Helens and communicating about high-yield forestry versus natural regeneration, Dick Ford, Director, Forest Learning Center

3:15 P.M. Depart to site of Weyerhauser commercial thinning

4:15 P.M. Discuss Weyerhaeuser’s commercial thinning communication program and incorporation of stream study in evolution of Washington State Forest Practice Rules

5:00 P.M. Depart for Portland

6:30 P.M. Done