Category: Local Field Trips

Descriptions of field trips we’ve run. May or may not have a Field Guide associated with it.

2021-10-02 Pre-Field Trip Registration: Elwha River Restoration

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Quimper Geological Society Field Trip:  A decade of changes in the Elwha River as a result of dam removal

 

Saturday Oct. 2, 2021, Port Angeles Area. Start time 9:30, finish 3 pm or later

Leaders: Ian Miller, Coastal Hazards Specialist, WA Sea Grant, Port Angeles
               Keith Denton, Fisheries Specialist and Consultant, Sequim
               Michael Machette, Quaternary Geologist (retired), Port Townsend

Objectives: Visit ground zero of the largest dam-removal project in the world and one of the largest ecological restoration projects ever attempted. See the developing shore-line and take a tour of three important restoration sites along the Elwha River. Limited participation, $15 fee to cover expenses. Deadline: receipt by mail on or before Sept. 24.

Click here to download the Elwha River field trip info

Click here to download the Registration Form

2021-10-02 Ian Miller & Keith Denton — Field Trip: A decade of changes in the Elwha River as a result of dam removal

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Quimper Geological Society Field Trip

October 2, 2021, Port Angeles Area. Start time 9:30. should finish around 3 pm (with other options)

One-day field trip (car caravan) to see the Elwha River’s response to removal of its two dam 7 years ago (2014).  We’ll see one of the dissected lake basins, sedimentation alone the river’s mid-reach and the build out of the river’s delta.  We’ll try and recruit a salmon recovery expert to talk about the main reason to have done the dam removal.  Ian Miller, our geologic guide, is with the SeaGrant program of the University of Washington, but resides in Port Angeles close to the action.  Keith Denton is a Fisheries Consultant and will discuss the recovery program that has brought salmon back to the Elwha River after a century. We encourage carpool caravans leaving from our Port Angeles’ start point and a BYO lunch. We’ll be gone most of the day.

Leaders:  Ian Miller, Coastal Hazards Specialist, Washington Sea Grant, Port Angeles
Keith Denton, Fisheries Specialist and Consultant, Sequim
Michael Machette, Quaternary Geologist (retired), Port Townsend

Objectives:  Visit ground zero of the largest dam-removal project in the world and one of the largest ecological restoration projects ever attempted. See the developing shore-line and take a tour of three important restoration sites along the Elwha River. Enjoy the outdoors and have enlightening discussions (socially distanced).  Limited participation, $15 fee to cover expenses. Deadline: Closed Sept. 15 (Sorry).

2021 Summer Geology Beach Walks–North Beach, Port Williams, & Nodule Point

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2021 Summer—Three Geology Beach Walks

We led three different beach walks where you can learn more about the geology and sediments that form the bluffs and supply the beaches. Each trip ran twice.  Because of parking and logistical difficulties, attendance was limited to about 20 participants for each trip. Field trip guides are available for downloading.  This are preliminary and dynamic; we may update them as more information becomes available.

FORT WORDEN—NORTH BEACH, PORT TOWNSEND

  • Where: Meet at Fort Worden in the parking pad south of Battery Kinzie for a two-hour walk. State parks pass required to park here.
  • What: On the one-mile walk west towards North Beach county park, we’ll see a wide variety of glacial deposits including outwash and marine sediments, a peat layer, a “buried” forest, and glacial erratics on the beach. All are well exposed in a steep bluff at sea level. Generally, we walk up section (through younger deposits to the west). There are various return routes.
  • Leader: Kitty Reed, retired geologist, and several assistants.
  • For: Persons with limited geology background, easy walking across some bouldery section of beach.
  • To download the guide, click this link.

PORT WILLIAMS, SEQUIM BAY

  • Where: Meet at Port Williams, NE of Sequim for a two-hour walk. Carpooling recommended; small parking lot at this county park.
  • What: We’ll see glacial deposits, including Vashon till and Possession drift, various outwash deposits, and locally derived alluvium of the Dungeness River. All are well exposed in a steep bluff at sea level.
  • Leader: Kitty Reed, retired geologist, and several assistants.
  • For: Persons with geology background. This is the least known of the three areas we’ll visit this summer. We invite active discussion. Generally easy walking
  • To download the guide, click this link (not yet active 9/12/2021).

NODULE POINT, MARROWSTONE ISLAND

  • Where: Meet at the East County Beach Park,  NE of Nordland on Marrowstone Island for a four-hour walk. Carpooling strongly recommended for this small (8-10 car) parking lot.
  • What: On the four-mile walk to the Point and back, we’ll see Vashon glacial till, outwash deposits, and glacial erratics. All well exposed in a steep bluff at sea level and on the beach. At the point, well see sandstone of Scow Bay, a basalt dike that intruded the sandstone, and many cemented sandstone concretions (not nodules, despite the point’s name). They are worth the long walk.
  • Leader: Michael, retired geologist, and several geohelpers.
  • For: Persons with limited geology background. This is the only walk that encounters bedrock of the three areas we’ll visit this summer.  Moderate walking across some bouldery beach, your shows will get wet.
  • To download the guide, click this link