WELCOME TO VAGABOND GEOLOGY WHERE GEOLOGY ROCKS!
2018 - Westward Ho Trilogy - Year 1 - Lewis & Clark Exploration
The Vagabond adventurers, Sandi Phillips & Rocky Romero, research the geologic treasures and history of America's early westward expansion starting with Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery in 1803-1806
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Westward Ho Trilogy |
Course Handout - Outline |
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Session 1 - Setting the stage: Geologic intro to the North American mountain systems, major rivers, weathering & erosion, the rock cycle, rock types. Archeological roots of Paleo-Indians; Indian tribes in 1802 and their demographics. Historical context of America in 1802, America's demographics then, and chief players that set the Corps of Discovery in motion. (34.1MB)
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Session 2 - The Corps is formed: Geologic plate tectonics and the formation of the Appalachian Mountains; geology from the Atlantic to the Missouri River. Historical story of early explorers to North America and their impact; what the Louisiana Purchase meant to Jefferson & the USA; Lewis' preparations for the trip & movement along the Ohio River to the Mississippi, recruiting along the way. Formation of the Corps of Discovery & winter at Camp DuBois (48.0MB)
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Session 3 - Geologic formation of the North American craton; Western Inland Seaway; weathering and erosion creating the structural components and soils of the Great Plains; and glacial formation of the final route of the Missouri river. Historical review of the boats, supplies, and crew on leaving Camp River Dubois. Highlights of the day to day happenings as Lewis and Clark explored the Missouri and new territory of the West. Lastly, an overview of Native American tribes met along the way and the effects of smallpox on those tribes. (134.4MB)
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Session 4 - Geology of western North America and the Rocky Mountains -- exotic terranes, the Laramide Orogeny, and the impact of the Continental Divide on river travel into the mountains. Lewis and Clark with their Corps of Discovery spend the winter in Fort Mandan then leave for their river adventure into the unknown. Traveling up the Missouri River against the current, passing through the Upper Missouri Breaks, portaging around the Great Falls, cordelling through the Gates of the Mountains, and finally at the headwaters of the Missouri.
(213MB)
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Session 5 - Crossing the Bitterroot Mountains; a near death experience. CSI: Traveler's Rest; how science, evidence and good logic yield the only validated Lewis and Clark campsite in America. Clark's journal entries give a feel for the trials and tribulations the Corps experienced while making their epic trip across the West and down the Clearwater, Snake and Columbia Rivers. Corps interactions with Shoshone, Salish, Nez Perce, Yakama, Chinook, Tillamook, Cathlamet and Clatsop natives are included from the journal entries. Learn Sacagawea's nickname...(208MB)
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Session 6 - Life at Fort Clatsop till departure March 23, 1806; return up the Columbia River; food shortages return; difficulties with natives below Great Falls; good relationship with Walla Wallas & Nez Perce; up the Bitterroot Mtns but need native guide so "retrograde march"; separation plan from Traveler's Rest; Lewis up Marias River-2 Indian deaths; Lewis is shot; Clark down Yellowstone River-Pompy's Tower; reunion and return to St. Louis; changes to America while Lewis and Clark were gone; tribes met and depended on; animals and plants discovered; geomorphology & mapping; what happened to Corps members and Seaman!
(76.3MB)
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