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The Saint Louis University Geoclub 1997 Spring Break Field Trip. Seven fun filled days of driving, camping, driving, hiking, driving, geology lectures, and driving. Geoclub members include: David Kirschner (faculty affiliate), Tammy Fawcett, Lise Head, Lorena Ibanez, Elizabeth Rabbitt, Carolyn Settle, Julie Suetterlin, and Brian Wingbermuehle. From March 8 to March 15 we extensively traveled across this vast country to the untamed wilderness of the Grand Canyon. In addition, since we are all aspiring geologists, we realized that there was much more to see than one little canyon. We then headed off to uncharted volcanic fields where we risked life and limb to peer into what was once an active cinder cone, the SP Volcano. Not yet getting our fill of geology we ventured to Meteor Crator, the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert, and Petroglyph National Monument. After many slips, spills, falls, accidents, and near death experiences we all made it home intact and with many amusing stories to tell...
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Our first night driving to Arizona we spent in Amarillo, Texas. Look...tumbleweed! |
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Lise and Tammy underestimated the power of wind when trying to take down our condo-sized tent. Good thing the van was there. |
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A slump(?) in the roadside geology of New Mexico. |
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More roadside geology. Tammy, Lorena, and Elizabeth watching David point out olivine crystals in basalt. |
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Roadside geology is apparantly illegal in the state of New Mexico. Whoops. |
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The temptation was almost too great, but we realized geology awaits. |
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Finally, we reach our first destination after two excruciating days in the van. The ever beautiful Grand Canyon was more amzing than we imagined. So begins our adventure...
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If you think this looks steep try hiking it! |
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The gang in front of the canyon. Here is where we learned the stratigraphy and geologic history of the Grand Canyon. |
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Us at the beginning of our hike down Bright Angel Trail. The first couple of miles was icy and slick, but half the group pushed on... |
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Six miles down the trail we stopped for lunch before we headed back out of the canyon. It took us twice as long to hike up as it took to hike down. |
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Hiking back up the canyon, we took one of our hundreds of stops at an interesting waterfall. |
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We actually got up at 6:30 am to watch the sunrise at Kaibab Point. |
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The next two days we spent exploring Arizona and New Mexico. We found our way around lava fields, flows, and tubes. We even climbed a cinder cone the hard way - straight up.
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Sunset Crater just south of the Grand Canyon. This is actually a very young cinder cone - 900 years old. |
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Lise atop a lava flow at Sunset Crater trying to get a good picture. |
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David looking inside a hole in the side of a lava tube at SP Volcano. |
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On our way home we stopped at Red Rock State Park for the night. A classy evening of dining with barbequed chicken and smores. |
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Meteor Crater, the best preserved meteor impact site in the world. Hold on to your hat, it is extremely windy here! |
Battered and bruised,we
finally arrived home after a grueling week looking forward to the next
geoclub field trip.
Prepared by Tammy Fawcett
