ANNOUNCING:


The Sixteenth Annual

Spring Outing,

Botanical Excursion,

Foray, Retreat, and Escape to the Environment!


**** SO BE FREE 16 ****


Wednesday-Saturday, 23-26th March, 2011

Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains near Quincy, California


Coordinator: Colin Dillingham


Founded in 1996, SO BE FREE is an annual series of West Coast forays started by the Bryolab at UC Berkeley, but open to all botanists. The main focus is on bryophytes, but we also encourage experts on other groups to come along and smell the liverworts. We welcome specialists and generalists, professionals and amateurs, master bryologists and rank beginners. SO BE FREE is held each spring, somewhere in the Western US, associated with spring break at universities. The tradition is to have a four-day, three-night schedule with communal meals, in inexpensive and remote locations. Evening slide shows and informal talks are presented as well as keying sessions with microscopes. In addition to seeing interesting wild areas and learning new plants, important goals for SO BE FREE include keeping West Coast bryologists (and friends) in touch with each other and teaching beginners. For glimpses of the past outings, consult the SO BE FREE web site: http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/bryolab/Field_Trips.html Here is a link to a movie about SO BE FREE 15 by Lena Coleman from Cal State Northridge: http://gallery.me.com/lenacoleman#100059


LOCATION THIS YEAR:

The 2011 SO BE FREE will be held in the lower elevations of the northern Sierra Nevada. The area offers great sites for montane coniferous, mixed coniferous-hardwood forests, canyon oak forests, rocky outcrops, chaparral, all in the steep North Fork of the Feather River canyon. There will be flat trails and roadside areas to visit for easy access. We will also visit west slope of the Sierra foothill oak woodlands. Bryophyte diversity will span from California's spring ephemerals, bryophytes of springs, streamlets and rivers to the great diversity found on rocky outcrops. There is one known location for Mielichhoferia elongata and Scopelophila ligulata (only California location) upriver from the resort.

Beginning bryologists are welcome, and we are planning some special activities for beginners, as well as serious fieldtrips that will be exciting for the hard-core.

We will be based at Belden Town Resort in the North Fork of the Feather River Canyon, west of Quincy, California. Sacramento airport is 113 miles south of Belden (2 hours and 20 minutes). The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail crosses the North Fork Feather River at the Belden bridge and goes right through Belden Town Resort. Access to these trails, as well as the Indian Creek and Yellow Creek trails are directly from the resort.

Belden is at 2,200 ft elevation, and has rustic cabins, a restaurant/dining hall with a beautiful view of the Feather River (http://www.beldentown.com), a full bar only a few feet from the microscope tables (they even rent kegs at Belden Town) and also with bryophytes right on the grounds. Belden Resort will be providing eight meals starting with dinner on Wednesday night and going through breakfast on Saturday morning. Belden is completely surrounded by Plumas National Forest. For lodging, we have several options: (1) Belden Resort (where our headquarters, meals and microscope room will be) has 10 cabins and trailers with 1-2 bedrooms each with a bathroom, intended for 2-6 people per cabin or trailer ($82-$218 per cabin), with linens provided. Tent camping (free for students and $20/night others) and RV camping are available at the Belden Resort; (2) You may engage your own lodging near Belden at (a) The Pine Aire Resort, 10 minutes upriver, which has a group of 7 cabins (Probably nicer accommodations than the more rustic cabins at Belden Resort: $75/night one room, $95/night two rooms, 530-283-1730) http://www.pineaireresortmotel.com/ ; (b) Caribou Crossroads Cabin, 2 miles upriver, 1 cabin; $95/night http://www.cariboucrossroads.com/accommodations.html or (c) Tobin Resort, 7 cabins, $50 – 70 night and a Dorm for $15-$35 night. http://www.tobinresort.com/ Quincy has many options, and is 30 minutes upriver (for more details see Lodging List starting on next page).


Registration details are below. Registrations and deposits are due by 31 January 2011 (and housing will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis). Registration and housing at Belden Town Resort is being handled by Colin Dillingham. Colin has reserved the resort with his personal credit card, so please pay the full balance by check by 31 January, if possible (if you are interested in paying by credit card please inform Colin). If you do not register by 31 January, then an additional $50 late fee will be charged, if we are still able to accommodate you at all. Please fill out the following registration form and return by paper mail. Further details will be sent to those who register.

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 SO BE FREE 16 23-26 MARCH, 2011  Sierra Nevada near Belden, CA

 Name: ____________________________

 Date: _____________________________

 Address: __________________________   

 _________________________________

 _________________________________

 Phone No: _________________

 email: ____________________ 

Names of others in your party: _______________________________________

People you would like to room with who are paying separately: __________________________


Room and board (facility fee and copying fees included):

  

[  ] Bed at Belden Town Resort, most rooms shared with another person, but cabins vary; linens included: approximately $250 for 3 nights, 8 meals. Cabins are all unique, so each cabin has its own price and beds/rooms, call Colin for more details/options. Check website http://www.BeldenTown.com and determine which fits best for your closest group of friends, or let Colin figure it out. Colin can reduce price for those willing to sleep in living rooms on pull out beds or couples sharing beds.


[  ] Camp in your personal tent at Belden Town, $60/3 nights and $100 for meals/facility fee = total $160

[  ] Student Rate, $175 includes 3 nights in Milo Trailer and food or $100 if you camp in your own tent (free); fee includes meals/facility fees. There are only 8 beds available, but the trailer can “sleep 10” according to manager, which includes sharing rooms and floor space with camping pads/sleeping bags.


[  ] Meals and facility fees only; you're on your own with offsite lodging: $100 for 8 meals, facility fee, copying fees; or $50 for one day.


We really encourage everyone to eat with the group, as this is part of the magic of SO BE FREE. But if you insist:

[  ] Rate for those in need; camp in your own tent = free; meals on your own. Facility fees only; $35 for 3 days. 

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Checks should be made out to Colin Dillingham and sent to:

Colin Dillingham 400 First Street Quincy, CA 95971

email: dillingham7@digitalpath.net  phone 1-530-283-7881 work hours, 1-530-283-1133 evenings and weekends; cell 530-394-8129


Lodging in Belden Area

Note – it is a slow time of year in Belden/Feather River Canyon, many proprietors do not always answer their phones in Jan and Feb, but will return messages.


Belden Town Resort – Headquarters for SoBeFree

(530) 283-9662
10 cabins and trailers, 1-2 bedrooms each (or 3 if you include living room with fold out bed). Meals and microscope rooms will be here.
Average rates: $85 to $210/night. Tent spaces and RV hookups available.

http://www.BeldenTown.com


Pine Aire Resort – 10 minutes upriver from Belden, Best Overflow option

(530) 283-1730

7 cabins (Probably nicer accommodations than the more rustic cabins at Belden Resort: $75/night one room, $95/night two rooms)

http://www.pineaireresortmotel.com/


Caribou Crossroads Cabin – 2 miles upriver from Belden – great overflow option, but only 1 cabin available.

530-283-1384

1 cabin; $95/night

http://www.cariboucrossroads.com/accommodations.html


Tobin Resort – 10 minutes downriver, good overflow option.

530-283-2906

7 cabins, $50 – 70 night and a Dorm for $15-$35 night.

http://www.tobinresort.com/



Lodging in Quincy Area (30 minutes upriver from Belden)


Ada’s Place,

(530) 283-1954, 562 Jackson Street, Quincy
4 cottages. One sunny one bedroom cottage with a private yard. Two studios with private garden. One rustic cedar cottage with loft & fireplace. All with full kitchens. Open all year, 1 block from Historic downtown Quincy. 
Average rates: $100 to $145/night, Business rate is $ 84. No government rate.

http://www.adasplace.com/


Quincy Courtyard Suites

(530) 283-1401
432 Main Street, Quincy
4 Luxury downtown suites. kitchens, laundry, open all year, minimum stay, no pets, kitchens, TV's, fireplace, laundry facility, restaurant downstairs, wine bar, credit cards ok.
Average rates: $109 to $175/night, No business or government rates.

http://www.quincycourtyardsuites.com/


The Feather Bed B&B

(800) 696-8624 
542 Jackson Street, Quincy 
Choose a guest room upstairs in the main house or a private guest house. Private baths - some with claw foot tubs - are located in each room. Delicious and abundant country breakfast.
7 rooms, non-smoking, open all year
Average rates: $120 to $175/night

http://www.featherbed-inn.com/


The Sporting Inn B&B

(877) 710-4300 (530) 283-4300
505 Main Street, Quincy
Eight rooms upstairs in downtown Quincy. Three suites with kitchens and baths. Five old fashioned, hotel-type studios.  Country breakfast included. Southwest decor. Off property private parking for your boat or RV
Non-smoking, open all year,  small pets accepted

Average rates: $85 to $160/night
http://www.thesportinginn.com/


Gold Pan Lodge
(800) 804-6541, (530) 283-3686
200 Crescent Street, Quincy
60 rooms, open all year, pets OK
Continental breakfast, dvd players w/movies, phones in rooms, credit cards ok.
Average rates: $69 to $136/night


Lariat Lodge
(800) 999-7199, (530) 283-1000 
2370 E. Main Street, Quincy 
20 rooms, pool, TV, phones, credit cards ok, open all year
Average rates: $56 to $95night


Pine Hill Motel

(530) 283-1670 (866) 342-2891
Highway 70, Quincy 
11 uniquely decorated units. Some with kitchens, open all year, ask about pets, phones in rooms, picnic area, credit cards ok, internet.
Average rates: $75 to $85/night


Ranchito Motel
(530) 283-2265 
2020 E. Main Street, Quincy 
30 rooms, some kitchens, open all year, TV's, phones in room, open all year, picnic area, credit cards ok.
Average rates: $69 to $106/night


Spanish Creek Motel
(530) 283-1200 
233 Crescent Street, Quincy 
28 rooms, open all year, pets OK, TV's, phones in room, picnic area, credit cards, accessible
Average rates: $65 to $95/night