Forest Society Annual Meeting Field Trips 2019

Members and guests explore Lakes Region destinations

Dave Anderson | October 3, 2019
Tags:
Wildlife

Too bad about the weather eh? Forest Society members and guests enjoyed the summit view of the Belknap Range from the Morse Preserve on Pine Mountain in Alton

Enjoy photos from our 2019 Annual Meeting. Members and guest enjoyed summit views from Pine Mountain to a pontoon ride with the Forest Society's new President, Jack Savage.

Bear Island pontoon boat. Photo S Junkin

The pontoon boat tour arrives at Rattlesnake Island on Lake Winnipesaukee. The boat was captained by new Forest Society President, Jack Savage. Guest enjoyed a ride around Bear Island where the Forest Society's 154 acre Bear Island Forest Reservation protects the interior forests of this second largest island on the lake which is 3 miles in length with about 8.5 miles of shoreline.

The visit to Bear Island included a tour of a historic summer chapel maintained by the Bear Island residents association. The non-demoninational church was established in 1927, built around a then 25-year-old observation tower.

Mushroom foray at Gunstock. Photo C Deegan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mycologist, Rick VandePoll led a tour to collect and identify the mushrooms in forests surrounding the Gunstock Recreation Area, site of the Forest Society's 118th Annual Meeting.

 

Rick VanderPoll leads fungi foray. Photo C Deegan

 

 

 

 

Rick shares information about "Beech drops" a saprophyte, a plant with no chlorophyll which grows in dense shade beneath a canopy of American beech trees by tapping into the root to obtain sugars.

Honey mushroom. Photo CD

 

 

 

 

 

 

A "honey mushroom" amallaria arborea, a common mushroom that parasitizes otherwise healthy trees.  Some people eat this mushroom while others have an adverse reaction.  There are much safer - and more delicious mushrooms but this autumn has had a slow start due to the dry weather conditions in the September woods.

Kiosk at Morse Preserve. Photo Jen Petz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the Forest Society's 457 acre Morse Preseve in Alton.  Our field trip hiked a loop trail that includes spectacular views of the Belknap Range and Lake Winnepesaukee.

View from Morse in Alton. Photo Jen Petz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The view of the Belknaps is always the highlight of a visit to Morse. A great spot for a picnic lunch.

 

Dave Anderson. Photo Jen Petz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Along the trail, we shared information on NH land use history, forest and wildlife ecology and the story of Mary Jane Morse Greenwood worked to protect her family's land in Alton which had once been a commercial blueberry farm. The property is named in honor of her parents, Evelyn H Morse and Albert D. Morse Sr.   This property contains 70 acres of former blueberry barrens and old fields that continue to be managed to provide early successional habitat for the specialized wildlife which require young forests for feeding, nesting and cover.