Saturday, August 22nd, dawned cloudy and overcast. 22 geology enthusiasts gathered just south of Round Valley, to hear professor emeritus of geology, Terry Wright, shed some light on the rocks. The first topic, geology of the Owens and Deep Springs Valleys. Terry had just recently completed a diagram showing this, a cross-section that captures the geology from the Sierra Nevada to the White Mountains.
Terry Wright points out key geologic features of the Owens Valley to tour participants.
Our tour continued north, stopping at Crowley Lake to observe the Long Valley Caldera, and to discuss the magma chamber below our feet. We continued to the Mono Basin, stopping to observe the Aeolian Buttes, and then continued on to the Panum Crater. There we hiked up into the rocks, for a closer view of the boudinage formation.
Tour participants get up close with the rock at the Panum Crater
We ended our tour with a lunch of local foods at a private residence along DeChambeau Creek. Tour participants were greeted by ESLT staff in a shady cottonwood grove as they walked up. On the menu was a Nicoise Salad, with Eastern Sierra Alpers Trout, a couscous dish with local squash, tomatoes, and onions, a garden salad with lettuce from Dennis Oakeshott and cucumbers and tomatoes from ESLT staff gardens, goat cheese from Simis Ranch, and fresh baguettes from the Great Basin Bakery, and a peach cobbler with fresh peaches from Apple Hill Ranch. Wine was donated from Pete Watercott and from the Sonoma Wine Company. Thank you to Simis Ranch for their donation of vegetables, and to Anything Goes Catering and Inyo Council for the Arts for their support.
The wine and cheese display under the cottonwoods. Photo courtesy of Stephen Ingram
Particpants enjoy their local foods lunch while Karen briefly thanks everyone for coming.
