Announcements:  The question is, what not to announce?  Mud Lake bog is a
unique experience, and one of the most fun in this course.  We will spend the
first portion of the lab on campus, learning about half the plants.
It is always cold and windy on campus, so be prepared.  We'll then travel to
Mud Lake bog, which is just outside of Brighton.  The problem with the bog is
getting wet.  First we need to cross a deciduous swamp, nearly 1/2 mile, to get to the
bog.  The swamp is well-trodden, and the muck is extremely (up to your arm pits or
more) deep.  So the traveling is slow, as we have to hop from root mass to root mass.
Once we get to the bog, students invariably sink through the Sphagnum mat into the
cold water below.  Needless to say, you can potentially get very wet and very cold.
Students in the past have dealt with the wetness in several ways - hip waders,
chest waders, knee boots, even plastic bags taped around legs and tucked in boots.
Anything, no matter how silly-looking, that keeps you dry will be well worth it.
Poison sumac is also a problem as you are struggling through the swamp.
Talk to your GSI for further warnings and advice.

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