Snow Ecology

What types of communities exist on, within, and beneath the snow pack? What does it take to not only survive, but to thrive in snow-covered environments? We will explore these questions from a variety of perspectives: macroscopic to microscopic, external to internal, research to experience. The major topics will be snow science, ecology, and outdoor leadership.

We will examine the microbial ecology of the snowpack, the ecology of snow-covered ecosystems and the amazing adaptations of various life forms to cold habitats. We’ll also study how snow changes over time and use this information to assess avalanche hazards, both through terrain analysis and field studies. Our studies of outdoor leadership will range from logistics to group process; from calculating the amount of calories and food needed for an expedition; to resolving conflicts in groups. Students will also learn winter travel and camping skills and then combine all of these skills with field investigations of snow-covered ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest.

There will be a significant field component to this class, regardless of weather. Students must provide their own winter camping gear and winter safety gear (avalanche shovel, transceiver, and probe). Winter travel means (snowshoes or skis) will also be needed. A limited amount of winter camping gear and snowshoes is available for rent on campus. There will be a multi-day field trip that will be scheduled after the snowpack develops (think snow!).