NOVA Annandale | Geology | Bentley GOL 295: Advanced Regional Field Geology of the Northern Rocky Mountains

This is a 2-week field course examining the geology of the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA and Canada. Dates will be TBA, 2011. The trip will begin and end in Bozeman, Montana and will be co-taught with Pete Berquist of Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Virginia. Travel will be in two or three large vans, and accommodations will be a mix of dormitory residence (at Montana State University, Bozeman) and camping. Pre-trip meetings TBA and TBA, 6:30pm, in CS 217 (the geology lab on the Annandale campus).

The pre-requisites for this course are (1) regular GOL 295: Regional Field Geology of the Northern Rocky Mountains and (2) the permission of the instructors. (Yes, you can take both in the same summer, by special permission of the instructors.)

Idaho, Washington, Montana, Alberta and British Columbia showcase tectonic, sedimentary, geomorphic, and volcanic features which provide world-class examples of geologic processes. Students in this course will complete field studies of locations in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, as well as several other field sites. The course will involve VERY STRENUOUS outdoor physical activity: Students are expected to hike several miles at high elevations in rough mountainous terrain in order to accomplish course objectives. Airfare, lodging, transportation, & some group supplies are covered in the $1400 course fee (does NOT include tuition or food). Food will be bought and prepared in small (3-5 person) food groups which will be organized according to dietary preference. | Packing list | Resources

If you are interested in more details about this class, I want to hear from you. Shoot me an e-mail at:

Some details on potential study locations (in no particular order):
1. Canadian Rockies: Banff and Jasper National Parks, Yoho National Park.
2. The Burgess Shale: a world-famous fossil deposit which showcases creatures both familiar and bizarre.
3. Drumheller, Alberta: by some measures, the Tyrannosaurus capital of the world. We will visit the Royal Tyrell Museum.
4. The tar sands of Alberta: famous as an energy-intensive source of fossil fuels in a world that's running out of oil.
5. The Stillwater Intrusive Complex, Montana. A classic layered igneous intrusion, and a source of many metal ores.
6. Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho.
7. Salmon River Suture Zone, Idaho
8. Snake River Plain, Idaho.
9. Channeled Scablands, eastern Washington. A unique landscape created by the catastrophic drainage of Glacial Lake Missoula.
10. Up-time traverse of the Bridger Range (west-to-east)
11. Crazy Mountains intrusive complex, Montana
12. Block Mountain area, Montana: three-day mapping project

Packing list: (No more & no less!)

Personal gear

Sleeping bag - Comfortable for temperatures that can/will get down to the 20s (F). Down mummy bags are best.
Foam pad or Therma-rest - Foam pads are more bulky, but they don't pop, which Therma-rests can do.
'Crazy Creek' style chair that integrates with your Therma-rest (for wolf watching sessions, plus general comfort around camp) (optional)
Tent - should be shared with 1-2 other people
Dufflebag - For packing your gear in. No need for a backpacking backpack: we won't be backpacking..
Daypack - For daily field excursions. May be integrated with a "Camelbak" style hydration system.
Rain jacket - Waterproof, preferably Gore-tex, preferably with "pit-zips" for aeration.
Sun hat - Wide brim.
Sun glasses - The western sky yields intense sun. No joke here: have a good pair of sunglasses.
Sunblock - A good tube of sunblock. (Can be shared; can easily be replaced if used up.)
Lip balm - something with an SPF >15
Bandana - to tie around your neck to protect it from sun
Good field boots, with ankle support (NOT sneakers); Break these in before the trip.
Six pairs of clean/dry socks (I strongly recommend Smartwool)
Six pairs of underwear
Lightweight field pants (2)
Shorts (1 pair)
Breathable long-sleeve shirts (2)
T-shirts (2)
Fleece pullover or wool sweater for layering
Down vest for layering (down packs down to a very small volume, and is unmatched in insulative value)
Longsleeved thermal undershirt for evenings in camp, sleeping
Warm hat for evenings and cold weather that may hit during field work.
Bathing suit
Towel
Flip-flops or sandals (for public showers and general camp use)
Compact, lightweight backpacking stove (should be shared with other students)
Fuel for stove (fuel will be purchased in Bozeman, NOT taken on the airplane from NOVA)
Cookware (pots & pans; should be shared)
Personal eating gear: bowl + spoon; thermal mug
Personal toiletries kit: Soap, toothbrush, etc.
Money for food

Field gear

Wristwatch
Capacity for four liters of water (I use two 1-liter Nalgenes and one 2-liter Camelbak "bladder")
Rock hammer (we have a few to loan out if you don't want to buy your own)
10x Hand lens (like a Bausch & Lomb Hastings Triplet)
A field notebook - Rite in the Rain makes a notebook specifically for geologists, though I prefer their 'grid' notebook. We will probably be able to supply these to all participating students.
Two mechanical pencils (0.5 mm), one with hard lead that won’t smear in your field notebook and one for mapping contacts on your topographic sheet - bring extra lead
Erasers (tube erasers are best, the kind that look like mechanical pencils)
Colored pencils (can be shared with 1 other student)
Protractor
Pocket knife
Camera (preferably small, digital, with a large memory chip)
Shockproof camera case (Mine is made by AccuCase.)
One waterproof marker (Sharpie twin-tip in black or red)
Small first aid kit - required for each student; see below.
Small flashlight or head lamp (not left in your tent) and extra batteries
Neck lanyard for hand lens, safety pins, pencils, tube eraser, etc.
Clipboard with extra binder clips on three edges and a large Zip-loc freezer bag for rainy days
Field belt or Field pouch for your field book, extra pens/pencils, etc. (Plateau Design makes a good one), although...
...Some geologists prefer a field vest (Filson’s field vest is a favorite)
A whistle is also a good idea for emergency signaling.
Duct tape makes a great emergency adhesive
Toilet paper - a small roll for outdoor bathroom stops
Bear spray (optional; active ingredient = capsaicin. Purchase in Bozeman if you want it - not allowed on airplanes.)
Binoculars (optional; makes wildlife viewing better. If you're going to carry 'bins' in the field, they may as well be good ones. I'm a huge fan of the Eagle Optics "Rangers" - 10x35)

First aid supplies for trauma care:

Several assorted sizes of adhesive strips (Band-aids), including some large ones
One rolled Ace bandage (elastic wrap)
Waterproof medical tape (1- and 2-inch rolls)
Several assorted sizes of non-stick sterile dressings (gauze pads)
Alcohol (or other antiseptic) wipes
Several small safety pins (attached to your hand-lens lanyard)
Triple antibiotic ointment (over-the-counter, like Bacitracin or Neosporin)
Pain / anti-inflammatory medication (your choice; Some people have allergies, so follow whatever your doctor recommends.)
Moleskin or molefoam or other pads and bandages for blisters on your feet
Other prescription or non-prescription medications (decongestant for hay fever, antacid, throat lozenges, etc.)

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