With this notice, we are announcing three different beach walks where you can learn more about the geology and sediments that form the bluffs and supply the beaches.

Each trip will be run twice.  Because of parking and logistical difficulties, attendance is limited to 20 participants for each trip. Here are the dates, but read further to register.

• June 23, Port Williams, Sequim Bay
• June 26, Nodule Point, Marrowstone Island
• July 9, Nodule Point, Marrowstone Island
• July 10, Port Williams, Sequim Bay
• July 23, North Beach, Port Townsend
• Aug. 10, North Beach, Port Townsend

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 register. Download the registration form and mail with $20 check.
• Wed. June 23, 9:00 am.  Registration form:  Port Williams Beach Walk.
  Deadline to register is receipt of check and form by June 16.
• Sat. July 10, 9:00 am. Registration form:  Port Williams Beach Walk.
  Deadline to register is receipt of check and form by July 3.

 

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 register. Download the registration form and mail with $20 check. .
• Sat. June 26, 10:30 am.  Registration form:  Nodule Point Beach Walk
  Deadline to register is receipt of check and form by June 19.
• Wed. July 9, 10:30 am. Registration form:  Nodule Point Beach Walk.
  Deadline to register is receipt of check and form by July 2.

 

FORT WORDEN—NORTH BEACH, PORT TOWNSEND

• Where: Meet at Fort Worden in the parking pad south of Battery Kinzie for a two-hour walk.
• 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 register. Download the registration form and mail with $20 check.
• Fri. July 23, 9:30 am. Registration form:  Fort Worden—North Beach Walk.
  Deadline to register is receipt of check and form by July 16.
• Tues. Aug. 10, 11:00 am. Registration form:  Fort Worden—North Beach Walk.
  Deadline to register is receipt of check and form by Aug. 3.