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SyllabusGNM 2420 The Geology of National Parks (6 credits).Summer Session A, 2008
The National Parks Seminar (GNM 2421) is the only prerequisite for this course. It may be waived in some cases. You must have Permission of Instructor to take this course (2420).
During our time out west we will be in and will study the spectacular geology of selected National Parks.
We will travel in vans, camping in the National Parks. Thus, you will need a sleeping bag and a tent. I must approve the sleeping bags. Sharing tents is highly advisable for warmth and space considerations. We will share cooking stoves, pots, utensils and food coolers. You will need hiking boots and clothes for both very hot weather, potentially cold weather and perhaps, wet weather. We will provide our recommendations for what to bring before the end of the Spring semester. See my weblog.
The cost to students will be 6-credit hours of tuition + food + ~ $500 which will cover all camping and entrance fees. The “$500” will depend upon how many people are signed up for the class. We do not know about the cost of gas yet. The upfront fee is an estimate, and any that we do not use will be refunded to you (though I can say that the refund is not timely).
We must have a $200 deposit by April 12th. This will confirm your intention of going on the trip. If we do not receive this fee by that time, then we will give away your “seat” in the class and you will not be able to go on the trip. This $200 deposit will only be returned under the direst of conditions, which will be decided by the Dean at the recommendation of faculty. So, consider that $200 non-refundable.
We will depart from the Arts and Sciences building in two 15-passenger vans and one carry-all. We will rotate drivers and passengers, so that no one sits in the navigator’s seat the whole time and so that no one is relegated to the back seat in a cramped position for too long. Safety while driving is EMPHASIZED!
Once we begin the trip we will be in the field or traveling every day. You will be ready to go at 8 am each day, and will work until evening. If, on a regular basis, you are not ready in the am when the group is, you will be warned early on and if your behavior does not improve you will be sent home at your own expense. Much of our work will be in rather remote areas, thus there will be no towns or cities nearby. Some days we will be mapping and examining outcrops to determine geologic processes, many days hiking, some days looking at road cuts or overlooks, and some days we will be driving for many, many hours. You will occasionally get days or half days off, but you may not be near cities during this time, and these days off are subject to change. We will work in times for you to do laundry, etc. We will schedule a night at a motel every 7 days or so. Unless you want to pay the cost of a room by yourself, you will share rooms (3-4 people per room).
We will expect you to abide by the laws of whatever state we are in. We need to be particularly careful when we are near the borders of Canada and Mexico, as we will be in remote border country and may very possibly be searched. Thus I will ask each of you to sign a form that states that you are not bringing drugs or firearms. PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL HAVE TO PASS THROUGH SEVERAL BORDER CHECKS IN TEXAS, NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA. THEY HAVE DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS, AND EMPLOYEES WITH SOMEWHAT OF A SIXTH-SENSE ABOUT ILLEGAL ITEMS.
IF YOU HAVE DRUGS ON YOU, YOU WILL ENDANGER THE ENTIRE GROUP AND THE FUTURE OF THESE TYPES OF CLASSES OFFERED AT RSCNJ! YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF THESE BORDER SEARCHES. THEY ARE SCARY FOR ME, AND I HAVE NEVER ONCE HAD CONTRABAND WHEN SEARCHED OR QUESTIONED. IF YOU HAVE SEEDS ON YOU, AND OUR VEHICLES ARE SEARCHED, THE DOGS WILL BE ABLE TO SMELL THEM.
SafetyWe will be outside almost everyday for four weeks in high altitudes where the sun’s UV rays are much more severe than at the elevation of the coast. One must be ever mindful that the field is not as safe as the classroom. We will be at much higher elevations, and UV rays from the sun will be much more damaging. You will burn more easily. The humidity will be drastically lower than you are used to; so much so that your mucus membranes in your nose will dry up and may bleed. Keeping hydrated will be a number one priority. See the booklet on safety that will be distributed during the last few weeks before we leave on the trip.
Grades
Most assignments will entail describing rocks on the outcrop or rocks in hand specimen, drawing/sketching rocks, and evaluations of geologic processes. We may have additional quizzes or other assignments due as we see fit.
Honor system:In this class, you are not to use any materials, notes, or tests from any previous geology class. Nor are you to provide any materials, notes, or tests for future students to see or use. If you are given an area to map, you are not to look at any previously published map of the area until the assignment is finished. You will often be working in small teams, but most assignments will be turned in individually. In particular, you are not to look at other teams’ maps once you are finished with being in the field. We will make it clear when what work is to be done individually, besides the obvious test times. Make certain you know the difference between working together and plagiarism and cheating. Ask questions for each assignment if you are unclear on this.
General Info on the trip
Field trips of this sort do not require you to look good, or have many of the amenities that you normally have. We are basically trying to maximize our time enjoying the general geology. See the TAs, students who have taken the class before, or me for a list of recommended things for you to bring. Students invariably bring too much stuff. I am not real big on buying all the latest outdoor gear, but you must have hiking boots, a raincoat and a hat. If you do not have these yet it is time for you to buy them. Do not leave for the trip without these. Think hard about buying used gear: there are numerous good websites and there are always gear swaps (e.g. REI and such places hold annual meets).
As for money, we will often times be in places that do not accept credit cards or where there are no automatic tellers. Thus you should plan on having money for food with you (travelers checks are still a very good idea for many). I would plan on about $15-20/day for food. You will want a little extra money for books, posters, trinkets, but we really won’t be near many cities. I am pretty sure we will be able to hit an ATM once a week when in the remotest parts of the trip.
As for communicating with the outside world, cell phones may or may not work. We will be in some areas where they will not work, especially out in the field. I recommend you tell your parents that you will call home. It may be difficult for your parents to call you on your cell. Likewise they may have trouble calling you at the motels because most motels will not keep a list of who is in each room. If your parents need to call you at the motel room they can try, of course, as you have given them the itinerary, right? Note that the rooms may be just in my name. They can always call my room (at a decent hour; but if an emergency, then at any time) and I will come and find you. NOTE: I detest the use of cell phones for chit chat. Try your best to relieve your addiction, if you have one. I truly will not put up with cell phones ringing all the time on a field trip in the wilds. In the evening, we will enjoy each other’s company and WE WILL NOT call our pals/boyfriends/girlfriends/parents every blasted day!
Podcasting and homework on the road: An iPod will be used heavily (?) on this trip. Note the assignments given to you in the schedule, which will help you learn as we drive and will enable us to spend more time on the outcrops and on hikes – and so I won’t have to lecture as much while semis are driving by.
|
Date |
Activity |
Mileage/time/comment |
Camping |
|
May 19th |
Pick up vans and U-Haul trailer, sort luggage, check all gear, load vans, have serious talks about road trip driving and group behavior, pit stops, and gassing up vehicles |
Meet at 9 am (leave the next day at 8 am) |
|
|
May 20th and 21st |
Travel to Big Bend Ranch State Park |
~2100 miles travel/42 hours |
Drive straight through |
|
Podcast 1 |
The Making of a Continent |
Begin this while we are crossing the Appalachians. |
|
|
Podcast 2 |
A refresher on the three major rock types |
Any time before we reach Texas. |
|
|
Podcast 3 |
Why there are mountain chains and why there are plains (with some basins). |
As we cross Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, or West VA?) |
|
|
Podcast 4 |
Ah, Texas, the great state and the tectonic history of the Big Bend Area (Trans-Pecos Texas) |
||
|
May 22nd |
Fully unpack and hike around the campsite. Drive back to Presidio for groceries and breakfast? Regional Geology of the Bofecillos Mountains and the Park – at Ranch right after lunch |
Short day, because we are getting up early for the 19 mile hike. Pack backpacks for the haul. |
camp on the Rio Grande |
|
Podcast 5 |
Super Volcanoes |
Listen to/watch before the exercise below. |
|
|
May 23rd, 24th, 25th |
One group will hike the Rancherias Trail Loop: 19 mile hike and v. rigorous; The other group will hike the Oso Loop, maybe visit Ojito Adentro, Barton Warnock Education Center, Fort Leaton State Historic Site, do a topographic orientation exercise |
Volcanic rocks Volcanic Rocks Volcanic Rocks
Assignments on trail |
This group will camp along the trail: group that does not do this hike will stay at Arenosa camp site. Night of the 25th, all at Arenosa |
|
May 26th |
Travel to Carlsbad Caverns (Artesia: 41 miles away). Check into motel; laundry; dinner in town, after bats! That afternoon, we will drive over to Carlsbad Caverns to tour & watch the bats exit the cave – |
Let’s leave early! ~ 310 miles travel
~ 41 miles travel
~ 41 miles travel |
Motel Room in Artesia, NM, the first night.(1-505-748-3904) |
|
Podcast 6 |
Permian Basin –thar’s all (oil) out there! | ||
|
Podcast 8 |
How do deserts form…or why do they form? | Before we get to Tucson, AZ | |
|
May 27th |
Check out of motel. Drive to Tucson and Mt. Lemmon – Saguaro National Forest |
~530 miles to Saguaro; Travel to Saguaro
|
Camp near Saguaro National Park at Showers Pt Group Site in Catalina/Coronado |
|
Podcast 9 |
Metamorphism | At
Mt. |
|
|
Podcast 10 |
Metamorphic Core Complexes | At
Mt. |
|
|
May 28th |
Geologic Exercise on Metamorphic Core Complexes |
Rock descriptions? Structural Geology |
|
|
May 29th |
Saguaro to Kanab on way to Zion |
535 mi to Zion Camping at Zion or Bryce may be impossible |
Camp at Bauer’s Canyon Ranch RV Park? |
|
May 30th |
Zion National ParkAngel’s Landing. Study the ancient sand dunes in the Navajo Sandstone. Describe different sedimentary rocks and differentiate ancient depositional systems. |
Need clipboards; this is the “test’ for heat problems for the GC hike |
Camp at Bauer’s Canyon Ranch RV Park, |
|
May 31st |
North Rim.
Arrive at Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim. Short hike and geologic time exercise- no rigorous hiking. Evening- ready packs for big hike- HYDRATE!! 1st night Lecture in the evening on the glory of the regional geology |
160 miles to the North Rim of the Canyon |
Set up camp at the North Rim Campground – EARLY TO BED!! WE MAY HAVE TO GET A LAST MINUTE PERMIT |
|
Podcast 11 |
Geologic Time | ||
|
Podcast 12 |
Dehydration and hyponutremia |
||
|
June 1st |
***VERY EARLY START ON THE DAY Big hike down the canyon. A 3 day event for 2008; We have to stagger the groups; split up faster and slower groups. This will be tricky and subject to much improvisation. It all depends on how many passes we get, and how man people want to go. |
Need back country passes, back packs, appropriate foodstuffs; hyponutremia problems. |
Some are hiking down into the canyon and across to the South Rim; others will stay up top and then come and pick us up. The group that stays up top, will also do hikes along the rim, and will also do geologic exercises. |
|
June 2nd |
Hikes going across and up to the South Rim (less elevation difference than N. rim) |
We will be studying stratigraphy and geologic time in the heat of the day….not hiking. We hike in the cool hours only. |
|
|
June 3rd |
Van Shuttle and or pickup. Out of the Canyon, meet up with other group. |
We’ll just focus on “getting out alive” – North side group will have the vehicles, shuttle or drop off |
4th night camp. Stay at same campground. |
|
June 4th |
Travel to Page, AZ for motel room and laundry and phone calls home!!!
|
~140 miles Start early, have more time at hotel; Laundry, pool, rest |
Stay in Page, AZ one night |
|
June 5th |
On to |
~750 miles HUGE DRIVE |
Set up camp. Nighttime lecture on Yellowstone volcanic history. |
|
Podcast 13 |
The ages of the three most recent enormous eruptions | Before Yellowstone | |
|
June 6th |
|
100 miles of driving |
Tour the park via car. Go all the way North to Hot Springs. Come back and visit |
|
June 7th |
2 day project: Volcanism at Yellowstone: Hot spots and mantle; caldera mapping and aerial photo work, volcanic rock descriptions |
150 miles of driving over the three days |
Same Campsite at Yellowstone |
|
June 8th |
2 day project |
Same Campsite at Yellowstone |
|
|
June 9th |
Travel to Bozeman, MT on way to Glacier National Park |
~ 300 mi |
Motel in Missoula, MT
406-543-0700 |
|
Podcast 14 |
Proterozoic sedimentary rocks – non-metamorphosed - and their importance to understanding the development of life on our planet |
||
|
June 10th |
Drive to Glacier National Park
Examine glaciers Hikes on their own. |
~150 miles |
Set up at campsite; likely to be quite cold at night |
|
June 11th |
Do the shrinking glacier exercise, calculators needed! |
Same campsite at Glacier |
|
|
June 12th |
2nd geologic exercise – Precambrian Sed rocks, mainly non-metamorphosed! |
Proterozoic Sed rocks and thrust belt |
Same campsite at Glacier |
|
June 13th |
Drive to Rocky Mountain National Park |
~ 1007 mi (drive half the distance first day) |
Hotel in Sheridan, WY |
|
Podcast 15 |
The Rocky Mountains |
||
|
June 14th |
Drive to Rocky Mountain National Park |
~ 1007-598 mi(finish trip) |
Camp in RMNP |
|
Podcast 16 |
The geomorphology of alpine glaciation |
||
|
June 15th |
Study of Alpine Glaciers and the formation of the Rocky Mountains and the Laramide Orogeny |
Camp in RMNP |
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June 16th |
Hikes? |
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June 17th And June 18th |
Travel home |
1820 miles |
Park contact numbers (they can take a message, but likely won’t be able to deliver it): Let your parents know that it can be very difficult getting hold of a person at the Parks, especially after hours or on weekends.
Big Bend Ranch State Park: 432-229-3416
Carlsbad Caverns: 505-785-2232
Bauer’s Canyon Ranch RV Park: 888-648-2564
Zion National Park 1-435-772-3256
Grand Canyon: 928-638-7814
Yellowstone – we’re at Bridge Bay Campsite: 1-307-344-7311
Glacier: 406-888-7800
Rocky Mountain National Park: 970-586-1206
My cell phone: have to purchase one yet…
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