April 15 – 22, 2018
The focus of this tour is hiking. Yes, we’ll talk geology. We’ll notice geology. We’ll visit dinosaur tracks. And we’ll hike. Lots of hiking.
Bryce Canyon. Buckskin Gulch (a slot canyon). Moccasin Mountain Dinosaur Trackway. Coral Pink Sand Dunes. Grand Canyon.
To the bottom of Grand Canyon.
Here’s the itinerary.
Sunday. Arrive in St. George, Utah.
By air: Fly to Las Vegas and take a shuttle to St. George.
Sunday afternoon. Explore Snow Canyon State Park on your own. Lava caves, sandstone exposures, sandy washes.
Sunday evening. Camp in Snow Canyon. Lecture: Geology 101 and local geology.
Monday morning. Hike to Snow Canyon petroglyphs. Led by Gerry Bryant. Geology: Erosion, lava flows, topographic inversion, lag deposits, desert varnish, diagenic color changes.
Monday afternoon. Contact between the Kayenta and Navajo formations. Drive to Bryce Canyon.
Monday night. Camp at Bryce Canyon. (No showers.)
Tuesday morning. Dawn on the rim. After breakfast: Intro to local geology. Midday: Hike eight miles.
Tuesday afternoon. Drive to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.
Tuesday night. Camp at Coral Pink.
Wednesday morning. Dawn at the dunes.
Wednesday midday: Moccasin Mountain Dinosaur Trackway.
Local exploring of dunes, creek beds, and peaks.
Wednesday night. Camp at Coral Pink.
Thursday. Buckskin Gulch. 20 mile hike.
Thursday night. Camp at Coral Pink.
Friday morning. Drive to Grand Canyon.
Friday afternoon. Hike to Plateau Point. Eleven miles round trip. 3000 feet of elevation gain.
Sabbath. Hike to the bottom of Grand Canyon. Down South Kaibab, up Bright Angel. Fifteen miles, 5000 feet of elevation gain.
Sunday morning. Drive to Las Vegas airport.
Cost: $600. Includes local transportation, food, entrance and camping fees, geology professor.
Contact info: John McLarty. 253-350-1211. jtmclarty@gmail.com.
johnmclarty.com 