Tracking Whitebark Pine Volunteer Homepage
Photo Credit: Matt Leitzinger
Welcome, Adventurers!
It’s cone season! Your summer alpine adventure awaits!
🌲 Next Steps:
1. Choose where to track (jump to ↓)
Explore the map below to find the best place to track down whitebark pine trees and their cones
2. Download and Review Field Resources (jump to ↓)
Field Manual, Updated Summer Survey in Survey123 App, Observation Permit, and Project Area Files
3. Start your adventure! (jump to ↓)
Get out there and find cones! Feel free to share your adventure stories and photos with us after your trip.
4. Review our Additional Support and Resources (jump to ↓)
Connect with the team, explore additional trainings, and browse FAQs for extra support
Project Goals
The main purpose of this project is to track whitebark pines location, health status, and regeneration as a keystone species facing threats like blister rust, mountain pine beetle, and a changing climate. During the warmer months, finding cones is top priority! Land managers will use the cone data you collect to identify prime locations for cone caging and seed collection which enables seedling growth and reforestation. In addition we will be collecting important information on the condition of the whitebark which will help land managers to make informed conservation decisions. Your data is the key to helping keep this keystone species alive and well!
Step 1: Plan your adventure
Trip Planning Map
Use the map below to plan your trip. You can find available trails, and see where data has not been collected. See the video below on how to use the map.
VIDEO: How to use the Map
Suggested Offline Mapping Apps and Tools
If you haven’t already, please download an offline navigation app. You will upload the trail and boundary file to navigate to research areas and record your mileage.
Free: Avenza
Paid subscription: Gaia GPS+, Alltrails Pro, OnX maps, Caltopo
Step 2: Download and Review your Field Resources
Field Manual
Click the manual or the button below to download your step-by-step guide on how to enter your field data into the data collection app
Trail and Project Boundary Files
Download here by clicking an area below
Permit
Please download the permit to your phone so you have it with you in the field during data collection.
Download the Survey123 app
In case you missed it in the training, here is how to download the Survey!
1. Download the Survey123 Application and Tracking Whitebark Pine Survey
Getting started is easy! Download the Survey123 app:
https://survey123.arcgis.app?itemID=1493156320e54b61832d77a7a7d72809
2. Download the Tracking Whitebark Pine Survey
Scan the QR code to download the Specific Survey:
3. Continue without signing in
When prompted, select “continue without signing in”. You’re all set — the survey is ready for your first observation!
Already have the survey from volunteering during the colder months? Don’t forget to update your survey for the summer! To refresh, delete the current survey in your app and use the above QR code to download the updated version!
Step 3: Start your adventure
Once you have everything you need, head out on your adventure! Go find some cones and don’t forget to tell us about it – send us an email, share pictures, and post in the Slack Channel!
Step 4: Additional Resources
Once you have everything you need, head out on your adventure! Go find some cones and don’t forget to tell us about it – send us an email, share pictures, and post in the Slack Channel!
Training
Click below to revisit the training for a refresher!
Join our Slack Community Platform
Come join the community of outdoor adventurers and whitebark pine enthusiasts!
Join Our Staff For Office Hours!
Schedule a time for office hours to chat with our team and get your questions answered live.
And of course, email us anytime at whitebarkpine@adventurescientists.org.
Articles & Publications
Skiers Learn How Threatened Whitebark Pine Protects Mount Bachelor
News Article · Central Oregon Daily
A local news feature highlighting how skiers and outdoor recreationists are learning about the importance of threatened whitebark pine ecosystems on Mt. Bachelor. The article explores how education and hands-on involvement help connect winter recreation with conservation, emphasizing whitebark pine’s role in high-elevation ecosystems, snowpack retention, and long-term landscape resilience.
FAQ
When should I submit a Trip Report?
There is no required distance between surveys in areas with abundant whitebark pine. The goal is to collect enough observations along your route to capture the bigger picture of the landscape.
In these areas, submit surveys periodically as you move along your route—about every ¼ to ½ mile is ideal. For example, you might submit a survey at the bottom of a hill and another at the top of the next knoll or opening if whitebark pine is still present. If you’re unsure which tree to survey, choose the healthiest-looking whitebark pine in the area.
Coverage and spread along your route are more important than surveying every single tree.
Where can I find my volunteer ID?
Can’t remember your Volunteer ID? Look it up HERE
How do I save my volunteer ID in Survey123?
Learn how to save your Volunteer ID in the Survey123 app with this video. Â
How do I know if I’m surveying within the project area above 5,000 feet?
The best option is to download the KMZ file from the Trail and Project Boundary Files section above and upload it into an offline mapping app. If you don’t already use one, we recommend Avenza, which is free and works offline.
Once you upload the correct National Forest map, you’ll be able to see your location, all approved survey areas above 5,250 feet, and nearby iNaturalist observations that can help you identify where potential whitebark pine sightings have occurred in the field.
How often should I submit a survey if I am in an area of abundant whitebark pine ?
There is no required distance between surveys in areas with abundant whitebark pine. The goal is to collect enough observations along your route to capture the bigger picture of the landscape.
In these areas, submit surveys periodically as you move along your route—about every ¼ to ½ mile is ideal. For example, you might submit a survey at the bottom of a hill and another at the top of the next knoll or opening if whitebark pine is still present. If you’re unsure which tree to survey, choose the healthiest-looking whitebark pine in the area.
Coverage and spread along your route are more important than surveying every single tree.
Which file type should I use for my offline mapping app?
GPX files work with Gaia GPS+ and onX
KMZ files work with Avenza and CalTopo
How can I tell which areas have already been surveyed?
The trip planning map at the top of the Volunteer Homepage displays observations submitted by all volunteers. Observations appear as circles, while trip reports appear as a circle with a walking figure. If you see these icons along a trail, that area has already been surveyed, and we recommend choosing a different route for your observations.
If you’ve recorded data in Survey123 but don’t see your observations on the map, check the Survey123 outbox or draft folders. Observations are saved there when you’re out of service, but have not been submitted. Once you send them, the icons should appear on the map within about an hour.
Is there a recording of the project launch webinar?
Absolutely: You can find that here: https://vimeo.com/1143593967?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
How do I know my observations were submitted?
Open the Survey123 app and check your “Sent” box in the Tracking Whitebark Pine survey. If any surveys are stuck in your Outbox or Drafts, we haven’t received your data yet.
Can I go into the field alone to collect data?
We strongly encourage volunteers to head into the field with a partner.
Not only is it safer, but most protocols are easier to complete with an extra set of hands. Having a field buddy is highly recommended.
Any other questions?
Please email whitebarkpine@adventurescientists.org