Dr. Jim Johnson
shivers from cold weather near Alamosa, CO. Western Slope Geology Field
Conference 1994.
"House cleaning"
time. Western Slope Geology Field Conference, Alamosa, CO. 1994.
Each year during fall semester,
students and faculty from five western slope colleges get together for
a conference including the San Juan Mountains, San Luis Valley, Sangre
de Cristo Mountains, and the many canyons in the area. The colleges take
alternate turns hosting the conference, allowing them the opportunity to
"show and tell" the unique geologic features of their particular area.
Mesa State College, Western State College, Adams State College, Fort Lewis
College, and Dine College (formerly Navajo Community College) are the participating
host colleges of the Field Conference. A traditional cookout is held by
the host college to welcome the participating guest colleges. The Fall
1998 conference was hosted by Western State College in Gunnison. Approximately
60 representatives from the guest colleges camped at the West Elk group
campground near Blue Mesa Reservoir, where they were treated to a cookout
after they set up their tents. Within view of the campground were excellent
exposures of the local oligocene volcanics. Students and faculty participated
in an all day field trip to Cross Mountain (12,500 ft) to observe thrust
faults and the Paleozoic Stratigraphy, then visited nearby Red Creek where
students and faculty hiked up steep slopes to view the volcanic tuffs and
breccia of the West Elk volcano. A Panoramic view of the West Elk Mountains
could be seen from this stop. It is a great opportunity for students and
faculty from various areas to meet new people and exchange ideas and perspectives
on the diverse landscape of Colorado and New Mexico. Mesa State College
is preparing to host the 2001 Western Slope Field Conference.
