BOTANY BC 2004

held in the picturesque community of Atlin, BC

July 5-July 8, 2004

Agenda (Download a printable copy here)

Monday July 5 (Day 1)

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Registration, Greeting and Social

(meet at the Atlin Recreation Centre - beer and wine available by donation – light snacks)

8:00 p.m. Botanizing with Tibetan nomads – Evelyn Hamilton

8:30 p.m. - ? Social Event - BOTANY BC past and future

Tuesday July 6 (Day 2)

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast (Atlin Recreation Centre)

8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Talks (Atlin Recreation Centre)

1. The flora of Atlin (the results of Carol Latimer’s 6-year crusade)

2. Tracking the Wild Shrubbery – the role of NatureServe in plant conservation - Jenifer Penny and Bruce Bennett

3. How to Get a Plant to Move : An overview to listing and delisting species at risk in Canada – David Fraser

11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Afternoon excursions (lunch provided)

Note: The same excursions are offered on July 6 & 7. Choose one for each day.

1. Monarch Mountain hike and alkaline flats

2. Warm springs, wetlands, sage slopes and alkaline flats.

3. Alpine hike on Ruby Mountain with Atlin Adventures - $20/person

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner (Atlin Recreation Centre)

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Evening talks (in the historic Globe Theatre)

1. History of Atlin – Atlin Historical Society

2. Plants (and Animals) and the First Ancient Glacier Body from the Americas – Dr. Jim Dickson, University of Edinburgh

Evening Social: bring musical instruments

Wednesday July 7 (Day 3)

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast (Atlin Recreation Centre)

8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Talks

1. Natural Regions of Atlin: What a complex place - Shawn Francis

2. The Beringian Connection – Bruce Bennett

3. Some Troubles with Ferns: More Questions than Answers – Adolf Ceska

11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Afternoon excursions (pick one) (lunch provided)

1. Monarch Mountain hike and alkaline flats

2. Warm springs, wetlands, sage slopes and alkaline flats.

3. Alpine hike on Ruby Mountain with Atlin Adventures - $20/person

6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Dinner on board the historic Motor Vessel - MV Tarahne

6:00 – Sitting 1 (50 p. max.)

7:30 – Sitting 2 (50 p. max.)

8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Evening talks (Recreation Centre) (concurrent with dinner)

6:00 – Contemporary Botanical Painting – Pamela Stagg

7:30 – Botany through the camera lens: Flora of Monarch Mountain – Gernot Dick

9:00 – 9:45 Good-byes and voting on location for BOTANY BC 2005! – Recreation Centre

Thursday July 8 (Day 4)

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast at the Atlin Recreation Centre

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Leave Atlin (box lunches available by request)

Excursions: (optional) (9:00 – 5:00)

If there is enough interest, we may be able to book a bus for the White Mountain and Tagish Loop excursions (extra costs may be involved if bus rental is required). The Takhini Salt Flats – Kluane National Park excursion will require your own transportation or a ride with a friend.

1. Hike up White Mountain (4 hour return hike, 6 km return, elevation gain 2300 ft)

Located 85 km north of Atlin on the east side of the Atlin Road (approximately 8 km south of Jake’s Corner), this mountain offers a moderate hike, including a 2-hour continuous climb. White Mountain gets its name from the limestone that makes it such a prominent landmark. The trail provides access to a beautiful limestone plateau where the possibilities for extended wilderness hikes are endless. The south-facing slope is full of calciphiles reaching their farthest point north here and the alpine meadows are open and loaded with alpine flora unique to the north.

2. Tagish Loop – Carcross Dunes

A driving tour of some of the driest areas of southern Yukon, including Crag Lake and the Tagish Narrows. We will have lunch at historic Carcross (made famous by Farley Mowat’s Never Cry Wolf which was filmed there). From there we will hike into the famous Carcross Dunes (checklist of plants provided) and view unique endemics including Lupinus kuschei and Carex sabulosa. If time permits there will be a short stop at Emerald Lake which is a marl lake before continuing on to Whitehorse.

3. Takhini Salt Flats – Kluane National Park (the group may want to leave before 9 am)

Be prepared for a full day here. It will take 2 ½ hours to drive to the Takhini Salt Flats (checklist of plants provided), west of Whitehorse. These salt flats contain species that were isolated for thousands of years and that are rare in Yukon and unknown in Alaska. This is one place where undescribed species may be found. Another hour and 15 minutes beyond the flats will take you into scenic Haines Junction for a lunch stop. Local botanists will meet the group at the Kluane Visitor Centre. A further 45-minute drive down the highway towards Alaska takes you to the shores of beautiful Kluane Lake and the famous Sheep Mountain viewing station. Here we will look at unique plant communities and species, including Aster yukonensis, Artemisia rupestris and other saline-loving plants. Make sure to bring your camera for the scenic views. Camping is available in Kluane Park or at Congdon Creek or hotels are available in Haines Junction.

CONFERENCE FEES

Due to limited accommodation in Atlin, we will limit this conference to 100 attendees. To secure your place, register early. As an extra incentive, there is a discount for registering prior to June 1, 2004.

Registration fee: $100 (prior to June 1, 2004)

$130 (after June 1, 2004)

Fee includes hall rental, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners (including dinner on the M.V. Tarahne)

OTHER COSTS

• Optional bagged lunch July 8^th $10
• Transportation from Whitehorse to Atlin on Atlin Express - $30 each way
• Air fare round trip from Vancouver to Whitehorse on Air North $495 total including taxes etc.

-- you need to provide the following booking number -> Convention Code: SJZT7BEB).

(for every 20 people who book flights with Air North, we can get 1 free seat)

Air fare round trip from Fairbanks on Air North (July 4^th and July 8^th or 11^th) $550 total