As winter snows and elk calving season approach, the field season for 2016 nears its end, offering a chance to reflect upon the summer's progress. It was a great season, full of new partnerships, ecological exploration, and calibrations. The photo series below shows just a few of the season's highlights.

Two new sites were installed. One is on Independence Pass at 12,080 ft in elevation, offering our first truly alpine site in the network and ushering in a new partnership with the Independence Pass Foundation.

Additionally, a station was added at Spring Valley on a private property near the Colorado Mountain college. This station brings a new ecosystem type to the network: pinyon-juniper/sageland. It also offers potential future educational opportunities with students.

Additionally, vegetation surveys were conducted at Sky Mountain and Independence Pass with the assistance Peggy Lyons (Sky Mountain), Karin Teague (Independence Pass), and local ecologist Delia Malone (both).

A bear visited the Glenwood Springs Station.

Much of the work this summer was assisted by an intern from CU Boulder, Adam Korenblat.

Thanks to everyone who made this a great summer! We look forward to a winter of planning and data-processing before the next field season starts again.