Wildflower Hike with Karen Vail

About the Naturalist, Karen Vail received her B.S. in Horticulture, with a concentration in Botany from Colorado State University, and earned her Master's Degree in Gardening from the Royal Horticultural Society in England. She rode the "big yellow bus" for a year on Audubon Expedition Insistute during her first year towards a Master's in Environmental Education finishing up in New England. Karen taught Botany at the local college and began to lead summer wildflower hikes. Karen has published two books, "For the Joy of Wildflowers: Colorado Creations," and "Yampa Valley Visions: Photography and Writing of a Yampa Valley Naturalist." She has co-published a video/DVD, "A Season of Wildflowers: The Rocky Mountains," and the book, "Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Southern Rockies."

Important details: AGES 18+

Wildflowers are unpredictable and we select/scout our program location about 1-2 weeks before the program to best capture the stunning diversity the Yampa Valley has to offer. 

-Meeting time/location and destination will be emailed and confirmed with you by the program director, if you would like more information or have questions give Lexi Stine a call at (970) 871-9151 

General information to help with planning:

• TRANSPORTATION:
  • We do not plan to utilize our shuttle this summer, participants should expect to need transportation.
  • Often we will meet at our office (925 Weiss Drive) or the Stockbridge Transit Center (1505 Lincoln Ave) and caravan out to the location this helps alleviate wayfinding to trailheads. Both of these locations are on the free city bus route.
  • Although we usually encourage carpooling for the environment with the ongoing pandemic carpooling comes with risks and must to agreed to by all persons in a vehicle- masks during transit are strongly advised if carpooling. Carpooling is not a guarantee- due to varying comfort levels or a county regulation that could be in place.
• DRIVETIME: usually about 30 minutes with the exception of visiting the Flat Tops Wilderness which is about a 1.5-hour drive; you will be able to receive a refund if the destination selected is too far of a drive once the program director informs you of the confirmed location.
• DURATION AND DIFFICULTY OF HIKE: usually about 3-5 hours of a gentle pace with many opportunities to stop and learn, terrain is typically easy to moderately strenuous.

What to wear: Dress for the weather (current and future) and dress in layers! Many people like to wear long pants/sleeves to protect yourself from the sun, dirt, and things that might make you itchy (mosquitos, etc.). Avoid cotton when you’re able and go with a synthetic material or wool. Also remember to wear sturdy hiking shoes, good socks, a cool sun hat, and sunscreen!

What to bring in your day pack: 2 Water bottles, snacks, sunscreen, extra layers (long sleeve shirt, fleece) and also bring your waterproof jacket- weather changes quickly, make sure to come for cooler/wet weather

If you have additional questions or need more information, please email lexi@yampatika.org or call the office at (970) 871-9151

REFUNDS-

If you are registered and feel ill, have been placed under quarantine or have any reason to believe you have been in contact with covid-19:

• Please call before the program starts & leave a voicemail to let us know- do not attend the program, we will issue a full refund.
• If you do not call and do not show up we will not issue a refund.

Non-illness related REFUND POLICY