Pat Pringle is a highly regarded geologist who has studied throughout western Washington and is the author of roadside geology guides to Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. He is a frequent speaker and field trip leader for the QGS. He retired as a Emeritus from Centralia College in 2017. Here is his bio from there:
I am Professor Emeritus of Earth Science at Centralia College, Washington and was Professor of Earth Science from 2005–2017. From 1990–2005 I was Research Geologist, WADNR Div. of Geology and Earth Sciences (now Washington Geological Survey), and from 1982–1990 was with US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory in the volcanic hazards program. My main areas of study are volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, and debris flows, which I study using radiocarbon and tree-ring analysis to establish the history of past geologic events. My publications include books on the roadside geology of Mounts St. Helens and Rainier as well as published papers and reports; the Mount Rainier book won the Geoscience Information Society’s “Best Guidebook Award” for 2009, presented at the Geological Society of America’s Annual Meeting that year.
Professionally my goals are to be in an informed instructor of earth sciences who will hopefully inspire students. I also want to continue my research and research collaborations on the recent geologic history of volcanoes, earthquakes, and landslides in the Pacific Northwest using field investigations of and radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology of subfossil trees. Getting undergraduates involved in doing research that investigates recent geologic and environmental history is an important part of that equation! (Updated Oct. 2021)
Books:
Roadside geology of Mount Rainier National Park and Vicinity
Roadside Geology of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Vicinity –