Geology of the Canyon Country (GEOL 333) is a 1-credit class offered in the Spring of every semester. There are three, two-hour lectures with films and slides used to preview the geology of the Colorado Plateau. A five-day field trip to the selected sites is conducted during Spring break.
In the past, the Grand Canyon field trip was led by Dr. Verner Johnson. Students traveled and observed geology of the Professor Valley, Window Rock, Natural Bridges National Monument, the San Juan River Gooseneck (the famous text book illustration of the entrenched stream and canyon), Monument Valley, Black Mesa, and Grand Canyon National Park. A full day was devoted to the observation point along the rim, and another day was a hike along the Bright Angel Trail to the Plateau Point. Evenings were spent camping and sitting by campfires.
Led by faculty instructor Mike Sewell in 1999,The Cataract Canyon Float Trip, a white-water rafting excursion down the Colorado River, gave students a unique opportunity to ride the raging rapids of the Colorado River while viewing geology found only in the deep gorges of the canyons. Each student chose a specific topic, researched it, wrote about it, and gave an informal discussion on their topic. Most days were spent on the river with students and faculty working as a team doing battle with the rapids. During quiet moments on the raft, students participated in short informal discussions concerning the geology of the canyon.
Click here to see Grand Canyon pictures!
Click here to see Cataract Canyon
Float Trip pictures!
