Science in the Field: Tracking Wild Bumblebees in Sequoia
- 12 People Maximum
- Moderate Activity Level
- Outdoor Expedition
Venture into the open meadows of the Sierra Nevada and learn firsthand about the plight of the humble bumblebee. Alongside expert biologists, we’ll journey deep into Sequoia National Park to spot, study, and help conduct research on these small but mighty pollinators. The first step to protecting them is understanding them, so we’ll be embarking on an immersive bee-seeking expedition to help identify specimens, track populations, and explore the native wildlife of this spectacular landscape.
- Citizen science research
- Hands-on field experience
- Pollinator conservation
- Stunning national park views
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Sequoia!
We’ll meet at the Silver City Mountain Resort, tucked away in Sequoia National Park, and take some time to settle into our shared mountain chalet before joining our expert guides for dinner at the lodge’s restaurant. Enjoy a glass of California wine or a local microbrew as we learn about the plight of wild pollinators and how researchers are working to save them.
Silver City Mountain Resort, Sequoia National Park, CA
Dinner
Day 2: Tracking Wild Pollinators
Today we’ll head out to Mineral King, a stunning glacial valley. As we wander through this breathtaking landscape, we’ll identify wild bee specimens with our researchers and learn how to track pollinator populations. After a few hours of work in the field, we’ll take a break from being entomologists to enjoy a picnic among the wildflowers in this high-altitude valley. From there, set out on a leisurely post-lunch hike or continue identifying specimens with our research team. After a busy day in the field, we’ll settle in for a well-deserved dinner back at the Silver City Resort.
Silver City Mountain Resort, Sequoia National Park, CA
Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Bumblebees & Bioluminescent Bugs
This morning, we’ll head back out into the field to continue tracking and identifying wild bee specimens alongside our researchers. These fuzzy pollinators are vital to our natural ecosystems, as well as to agriculture; we have bees to thank for one out of every three bites of food we consume. We’ll delve into their role in modern agriculture as we do a few hours of field work, pausing to picnic among the wildflowers. In the evening, we’ll gather for a group dinner at the resort before putting on our headlamps and journeying out into the forest for an after-dark adventure. Tonight, we’re hoping to glimpse glowing millipedes that take on a brilliant, fiery orange hue to fend off potential predators. But be careful not to get too close—these almond-scented glow worms secrete liquid cyanide!
Silver City Mountain Resort, Sequoia National Park, CA
Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Good-Bee!
This morning we'll say farewell to our research team as they head onward to continue their field work. You're welcome to stick around and independently explore the magnificent flora and fauna that Sequoia has to offer. Perhaps head to Moro Rock, where you can climb 400 steps to the peak and take in gorgeous vistas over the forest, or pay your respects to General Sherman, the largest known tree (by volume) in the world. Otherwise, we’ll wave good-bee and head back to our hives.
Trip Leader
The Silver City Resort is located roughly 2.5 hours from Fresno, California. Check-in at the resort begins at 3 p.m., and we'll plan to meet at the resort restaurant at 6 p.m. for dinner, so travelers flying into Fresno Airport should plan to land by 2 p.m on Day 1. If you’d like to carpool, we’d be happy to help coordinate this in advance.
Our trip concludes the morning of Day 4. Check-out at the resort is at 12 p.m., but you’re welcome to depart Sequoia at your leisure. If you’re flying out of Fresno, we recommend booking a flight that departs in the late afternoon or evening of Day 4.
This trip will require some physical activity. Travelers should be comfortable hiking between two and five miles per day, often in unmarked sections of the valley, and sometimes involving bushwhacking. You'll need sturdy hiking boots as well as protective clothing to prevent cuts and scratches to your arms and legs. We'll also be spending extended time in the forest after dark with headlamps and flashlights.
We'll be staying in spacious, shared chalets at the Silver City Resort in Sequoia National Park. Single travelers should be prepared to share a room with two twin beds with another traveler of the same gender, depending on the composition of the group. Pairs traveling together will stay in shared rooms outfitted with queen beds. Each chalet has one bathroom and will accommodate six travelers.
You’ll be in close proximity to, or in contact with, insects and arthropods. Your researcher-guides are trained in handling these creatures, and they’ll help you learn how to approach the bees we’ll be observing and tracking. However, this trip isn’t recommended if you have a severe allergy to bee venom. It’s also important that you not touch the bioluminescent millipedes, which secrete cyanide.
Note that much of our trip takes place between 6,600 and 7,200 feet (2,012 to 2,195 meters), which can make activity more physically demanding. Altitude affects some more than others; if you’re sensitive to altitude, we encourage you to arrive a day or two early to acclimate.
- Three nights of lodging in double-accommodation rooms in a spacious shared chalet, or private studio rooms in the Silver City Mountain Resort for couples traveling together. Single travelers should be prepared to share a room with another traveler of the same gender, depending on the composition of the group.
- Three dinners, a daily picnic lunch, and additional snacks.
- Trip leadership and expert insight from three bumblebee biologists.
- Transportation to and from all collection sites in four-wheel-drive jeeps.
- A new headlamp for our after-dark forest excursions.
- Recommended reading materials, a packing list, and a pre-trip information packet.
- A great group of fellow Atlas Obscura outdoor enthusiasts, excited to learn more about bumblebee ecology and conservation.
- Flights and transportation to and from the Silver City Resort. Carpooling with your fellow travelers can be arranged in advance.
- If arriving by air, flights to and from Fresno, California, then transport to and from the Silver City Mountain Resort in Mineral King, California.
- Travel insurance (recommended).
- Additional meals and drinks outside of Atlas Obscura offerings, including one dinner and all alcoholic beverages with the exception of those listed on the itinerary.
- If applicable, applying for a U.S. visa.
Trip FAQ
What positive impact will I have by taking this trip?
A portion of the proceeds from this trip will be donated to The Woodard Lab, a research laboratory studying bumblebee behavior and physiology in rapidly changing and extreme environments. By engaging in citizen science, your time spent tracking bees alongside researchers directly contributes to their work. Additionally, by sharing your experience with friends and family, you can help spread the word about bees' crucial—and threatened—role in our environment and food systems.
