Western environment rocks!

Being stuck in a hotel for 3 days made the scenic trip to Sacramento ten times more beautiful. The variation in trees is a welcome sight. On our way to the hostel, we made pit stops near lake Tahoe and throughout El Dorado national park. We encountered new species of cedar, maple, and pine that none of us had seen before. We collected many samples to stuff in our suitcases. With luck, we will get through airport customs without a hitch and bring these samples to the UMN dendrology professor. These will be a great benefit in educating the rest of the students who were unable to attend this terrific convention! Tomorrow we fly back to lower temperatures and familiar landscapes. I miss the variation in elevation already.