This Meetup is for DAY 1 of a two day event. If you wish to participate on DAY 2, please signup again via Meetup.

Be the first person to document some of the living organisms at Gold Butte National Monument (GBNM) ! Even though GBNM has been a monument for more than 8 years, there are still many areas that have not been surveyed to confirm what species of organisms actually live there.

Join the Friends of Gold Butte for the second bioblitz at Gold Butte National Monument. Help document the organisms and contribute to the body of scientific data that will promote the understanding of the local ecology and the changing environment.

We will meet at the main parking area at WHITNEY POCKET at 8:30 AM for sign in and a safety briefing. Participants will be formed into small teams and guided by an experienced Volunteer Leader. The teams will be given a specific path to hike and document all species you see. Hiking distances will vary depending on the strength of the group. Some may go a one flat mile round trip, while another may go 6 miles with elevation changes. The number and quality of the data collected is the focus of this event so a thorough 1 mile collection is just as important as a 6 miler.

At 3:30 PM, the event concludes for the day. Participants are asked to download their observations prior to leaving. A cell phone signal is usually available at First Rock. Participants may choose to stay and camp for the night, but all logistical requirements must be met by the participants. FoGB is not able to assume any evening/camping responsibilities during this bioblitz. Please check out with the event host or your team leader that you are leaving so that we may collect your observations and account for you.

The phone app we will use to collect the data is called iNaturalist. Participants must download the free app and create a free user profile prior to the event. A class is scheduled for 27 March at Hafen Park. Please sign up via MEETUP. There are also numerous videos on using iNaturalist on Youtube. you can download the app at:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.inaturalist.android&hl=en_US

or:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/inaturalist/id421397028

Travelling to the trailheads will be mostly on gravel roads. Although 4×4 high clearance is recommend, many sites may be reached by a AWD high clearance vehicle.

Please wear sturdy shoes, breathable clothes, and a hat. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, water, lunch, and snacks. There are no stores or facilities in Gold Butte; be prepared to pee in the bushes. We practice Leave No Trace ethics so be prepared to carry out everything you bring in.
If you register for this hike and find you are unable to attend, please be courteous and remove yourself from the “going” list. If you are unable to do this, please email or call to let us know, so someone from the waitlist is able to attend. When signing up, please provide your phone number and please confirm that you have downloaded iNaturalist on your phone.
Gold Butte National Monument is primitive and has no services of any kind. Event participants must bring and carry their own water, food, sunscreen, basic first-aid items, any medications (e.g., EpiPen or asthma inhalers, etc.) a participant may need, and any other supplies they may want or need while participating in the event. Participants must wear appropriate footwear for the event (for example, for trash-clean-up events, sturdy, closed-toe shoes or boots would be appropriate). Participants are strongly encouraged to wear broad-brimmed hats and dress in weather-appropriate clothing when participating outdoors. Participants are reminded to be plant and animal aware at all times. Finally, if the event necessitates, participants are strongly encouraged to provide their medical information (pre-existing conditions, medications, etc.) and their Emergency Contact information (name and phone number) on a card or piece of paper in a sealed envelope with their name on the outside. The volunteer organizer will collect and hold the envelopes during the event and return them, unopened, at the conclusion of the event if they are not needed; and the assumption of risk statement found at In-person Assumption of Risk