Trip Leaders: Megan Jones Patterson and Pat Cullen
Cost/Fees: $10 parking fee or Interagency (America the Beautiful) Pass to park at the Winter lot at Brainard Lake (see below for carpool options)
Participant Limit: 10
Registration Required: Email Pat Cullen after 6 PM on Monday January 18 to reserve your spot, and please include whether you plan on meeting us at Brainard Gateway Trailhead or at Greenbriar Inn. Early registration is not accepted.
Join us for a winter stroll to find winter high-elevation species like Mountain Chickadee, Red Crossbill, Canada Jay, Steller's Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker and even Rosy-Finches, if we are lucky. Brainard Lake Road is closed to vehicles in the winter beyond the Gateway (Winter) Trailhead but is usually walkable without skis or snowshoes. We will walk this wide road, using walking sticks and yak tracks if needed. With this being a 3-hr walk, we are unlikely to get to Brainard Lake itself.
Loaner binoculars are available from BCAS, please request these in your Registration email so that the trip leader can bring you a pair.
Restrooms: Pit restrooms are available at the Brainard Winter Parking Lot
What to bring: The weather at Brainard can be very different from the weather down in the foothills so bring clothing (be prepared for wind & bring layers!) and gear (sunscreen, hats, gloves, etc) that you will need to make this a successful trip. Bring water and a snack. Hiking poles and yak tracks are recommended – you can decide to leave them in the cars at the parking lot but it is better to have them than getting out there and wishing you had them. Bring binoculars (or request them in your registration email so the trip leaders can bring you a loaner pair).
Where and When to meet:
Brainard Gateway Trailhead (Brainard Winter Parking Lot) - meet at 9:00 am
-or-
Carpool from Greenbriar Inn - meet at 8:15 am.
For anyone who wants to carpool, we have permission to park at the Greenbriar Inn (8735 N Foothills Highway) north of Boulder. From Highway 36 turn on Lefthand Canyon Dr and the restaurant is the first driveway/business on the left corner. Expect to get back to the Greenbriar Inn around 1pm.
NOTE: We ask that all field trip participants abide by BCAS Field Trip Etiquette.