2016 PNW Cell

Sign up for the trip here.

Logistics and other trip information can be found here

We are pleased to announce the 2016 PNW Friends of the Pleistocene field trip, scheduled for Aug. 19-21 on and around Mount Rainier, Washington. Details and further details will be available in mid-July on the trip website: http://bit.ly/rainier2016.

If you are interested in joining the trip, please complete the brief survey at here so that we can get a sense of likely numbers of participants. If you have questions, please email us at pnwfop2016@gmail.com, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can, though travel schedules may prevent an immediate response.

Cheers,
Stephen Newman and fellow trip leaders

2016 Pacific Northwest Friends of the Pleistocene Field Trip
Geology, Archaeology and Natural Hazards of Mount Rainier and Vicinity, Washington.


August 19-21, 2016

Please join us for a Friends of the Pleistocene exploration of the raw landscape of Mt. Rainier, Washington. We will explore the eruptive history, glaciation, lahars, post-lahar paleoecological response, debris flows, fluvial geomorphology, and early human activities at Mt. Rainier … and likely much more.

Trip organizers:
Stephen Newman, Shannon & Wilson, Inc.
Amelia Oates, University of Washington

Field-stop discussion leaders:
Paul Kennard, Mt. Rainier National Park
Scott Beason, Mt. Rainier National Park
Ben Diaz, Mt. Rainier National Park
Carolyn Driedger, USGS, Cascades Volcano Observatory
Stephen Slaughter, Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources
Kellie Wall, Oregon State University
(more names will be posted in mid-July)

Special thanks to Pat Pringle, who has generously granted us the use of his definitive guide “Roadside geology of Mount Rainier National Park and vicinity” as the official guidebook for this trip.

Logistics:
Following FOP tradition, we will keep up-front costs low by leaving participants responsible for transportation and food, and basing the group at inexpensive campgrounds. There will be a nominal charge for campground fees and the trip guidebook. Pat Pringle has generously permitted us to use his definitive guide “Roadside geology of Mount Rainier National Park and vicinity” as the official guidebook for this trip. We will also post trip-specific addenda online at http://bit.ly/rainier2016.

Camping:
On Friday night (8/19), we will camp on the northeast side of Mt. Rainier at The Dalles campground, just off Highway 410. We have reserved camp sites for up to 60 people at this location. For those wishing to camp Thursday night, we’ve also reserved the same camp sites for Thursday night (8/18). If you would like a roof over your head, indoor lodging can be found nearby at Alta Crystal Resort (http://www.altacrystalresort.com), Crystal Mountain (http://www.crystalhotels.com/), and in the town of Enumclaw, WA (25 miles away from The Dalles Campground).

On Saturday night (8/20), we will camp on the southwest side of Mt. Rainier at Big Creek campground, in Ashford, Washington. We have reserved camp sites for up to 60 people at this location. If you would like a roof over your head, indoor lodging can be found nearby in the towns of Ashford, Elbe or Eatonville.

Provisional Itinerary:


Thursday evening, 8/18 (optional)
Those arriving Thursday evening will gather at The Dalles campground just off Highway 410. We have reserved camp sites for up to 60 people. This is the same location where we’ll camp Friday night (8/19).

Friday, 8/19
Examine glacial and lahar records on the eastern margin of the Puget Lowland, at the mouth of the White River canyon, and along the White River.
Camping again at The Dalles campground.

Saturday, 8/20
Archaeologic, glacial, tephra and lahar records at Sunrise and Emmons Glacier. Glacial and volcanic history of Goat Rocks. Post-lahar paleoecological response at Reflection Lakes.
Camping at Big Creek campground in Ashford, Washington. We have reserved camp sites for up to 60 people.
Evening celebration and planning for next FOP gathering.

Sunday, 8/21
Examine glacial history, debris flows, sedimentation and fluvial geomorphology at Tahoma Creek and South Tahoma Glacier. Discuss climate-driven challenges to park management and access in the basin. NPS-escorted access to West-Side Road.
Trip will end mid-afternoon.

Further details will be available in mid-July.

If you are interested, please complete the survey at here so that we can get a sense of likely numbers of participants. If you have questions, please email us at pnwfop2016@gmail.com. We are on summer travel and field work schedules, but we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.