The 2002 Herbarium Foray took place in the Wallowa - Whitman National Forest of east central Oregon between July 18-22. Twenty-two people made the 8-hour journey from Seattle to camp and collect plants. Evening thunderstorms made for wet camping the first two nights, but did not dampen the participants' enthusiasm.  Working in groups of three to five, we collected from a diversity of habitats that ranged from the rim of Hell's Canyon to the alpine reaches of the Wallowas. Over 70 species alone were flowering in our campground. Collecting groups hiked, drove, or took a gondola to reach destinations that included Bonney Lake Basin, Hurricane Creek drainage, Lostine River drainage, Duck Creek Research Natural Area, Summit Creek Pass, Hell's Canyon, and Mount Howard.  Collectors arriving back to the campsite late in the day received welcomed assistance putting their specimens into the drying presses under either fading daylight or flashlight.  Somewhere between 600-700 numbers were collected and are waiting identification during the evening work parties this fall and winter.

Cindy Spurgeon and Sharon Rodman coordinated the annual Saturday Night Spaghetti Dinner. In keeping with tradition, the meal included a dessert competition which this year offered a nut torte, home-made cherry pie, brownies, chocolate cake, home-baked cookies, and an assortment of fruits. An overall tie was declared.                                                                    (Hurricane Creek)

Fortunately for those of us who needed seconds and thirds to make up our mind in declaring a winner, a full day of collecting on Sunday gave us the opportunity to work off our indecisive ways. Pico was the only canine to make the Foray this year, though this turned out well for him around meal times.  Uncharacteristically, the University vans had no flat tires during the entire trip

2002 Herbarium Foray Participants: Dick Olmstead, Don Knoke, Jessie Johanson, Joe Johanson, Sara Tjossem, Shahid Naeem, Mark Egger, Sharon Rodman, Peter Zika, Ben Legler, Cindy Spurgeon, Richard Robohm, Sarah Gage, Ken Davis, Tracy Fuentes, Katie Glew, Judy Harpel, David Tank, Robert Goff, Suzanne Bagshaw, Dale Blum, and David Giblin. Photos courtesy of Sara Tjossem.