Register Online - CANCELLED

DATES: 2 Hikes: April 27 and May 04, 2019

TIME: 8:00am - End Time TBD

FEE: $100

LOCATION: San Luis Obispo Campus Room 4730

INSTRUCTOR: Steve Schubert

QUESTIONS: Contact instructor at s_schub1@msn.com or (805) 440-9390.

4/27/19: West Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area, Santa Lucia Mountains - Hike begins at the Botanical Area sign, Los Padres National Forest; road access off of Hwy. 101 north bound on the left (west side) near Cuesta Pass summit     Emphasis: Coast Range geology, Franciscan and serpentine rock formations, Chaparral and Sargent Cypress (Closed-Cone Coniferous) Forest plant communities, fire ecology, native plant and wildflower identification, birding and wildlife sightings, wildlife tracking.
Meeting location and time: Cuesta College campus, SLO 8:00am 
One-hour classroom meeting and lecture followed by van field trip and nature interpretation guided hike
Distance: approximately 4 miles out-and back, 4 to 5 hours moderately difficult rating
More information at: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/Pacific_Southwest/CuestaRidge/

and http://www.hikemasters.com/2010/04/west-cuesta-ridge-los-padres-national.html 

5/04/19: East Cuesta Ridge, Santa Lucia Mountains 
Hike begins at pullout near Cuesta Pass summit; access off Hwy. 101 north bound on the right (east side)
Emphasis: Coast Range geology, Monterey Shale rock formation, Chaparral and Knobcone Pine (Closed-cone Coniferous) Forest plant communities, fire ecology, native plant and wildflower identification; birding and wildlife sightings, wildlife tracking 
Distance: approximately 8 miles out-and-back, 6 to 7 hours strenuous rating
More information at: https://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGW334-015

Meeting location and time: Cuesta College campus, SLO 8:00 a.m.   Van field trip and nature interpretation guided hike 
 
Suggested references: 
Geology - ‘Geology of San Luis Obispo County’ by Dr. David Chipping (available as a pdf copy at http://cnpsslo.org/shop/the-geology-of-san-luis-obispo-county/ ) 
Wildflowers and Native Plants – ‘Wildflowers of San Luis Obispo, California’ produced by the City of San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (available at http://cnpsslo.org/shop/wildflowers-of-san-luis-obispo/ ); also, assorted wildflower field guides
Bird watching - San Luis Obispo County Bird Checklist by Morro Coast Audubon Society (available as pdf file online at http://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/p/mcas-slo-county-bird-checklists-birds.html ); also, assorted birding field guides i.e., National Geographic and Peterson field guides, free birding apps for smart phones and tablets i.e., Merlin Bird ID App. and Audubon Bird Guide App.   
Note: printed references are for sale locally at the Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History gift shop and Wild Birds Unlimited store in San Luis Obispo