John Day Exploration
Explore the past on this weekend trip to the vicinity of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in north-central Oregon. We will spend three days with Whitman geology professor Bob Carson learning about the region’s geologic history, beginning with sites near the town of John Day, where we will spend Friday night. On Saturday we will head to the National Monument to hear from local Park Service guides at the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center and hike in the Blue Basin, one of Oregon’s hidden gems. After stops at Stein’s Pillar and elsewhere along the road, we will spend Saturday night in Prineville. On Sunday we will go to the Painted Hills, one of Oregon’s seven wonders, and make stops in Clarno and Heppner, learning about the geology of each location, before arriving back in Walla Walla in the early evening. The Pacific Northwest’s unique geologic history and magnificent scenery are exemplified in north-central Oregon. After plate collisions and the withdrawal of Cretaceous seas, the Pacific Northwest was dominated by volcanism. The Eocene in central Oregon was like today’s Cascades with their volcanoes and lahars. In the Oligocene, the area was like today’s Yellowstone, with ash flows and falls. The Miocene brought the familiar Columbia River basalts. We will travel through time, partly on foot, collecting samples (except in the national monument) and taking photographs. No background in geology is necessary. This trip is intended for ages 18 and up; however, children can be accommodated if needed.
Date and Time
Friday Oct 5, 2018 Sunday Oct 7, 2018
Location
WWCC Main Parking Lot 500 Tausick Way Walla Walla, WA 99362
Fees/Admission
$450
Contact Information
Lauren Platman
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