2023 - National Treasures of our National Wonders - Yr 2 - Western Exotic Terranes

In this  second year of their ‘National Treasures’ trilogy, the Vagabond adventurers, Sandi Phillips & Rocky Romero, research and present the National Parks & Monunents that  lie on the geologic wonder called the ‘exotic terranes’ of the West Coast. Get ready to explore the National Parks & Monuments that are on the seashores, the coastal mountains, and the volcanic chains of California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.  

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Session 1: Exotic Terrane Orientation: Review the core geologic concepts that  interpret and contextualize the magnificent geologic landforms in later classes. Review attributes of the Pacific Geologic Provinces in parts of CA, OR, and WA and Alaska. Look at UT Institute of Geophysics' plate tectonic model showing exotic terranes accreting to the west coast of North America inc;uding the exotic terranes that underlie Alaska.  Discuss historic glaciation and its impact on sea levels and the development of Beringia, the land-bridge between Russia and Alaska.  Introduce people that play important roles in creating our west-coast National Parks and Monuments; the First Arrivals, Native Americans, Early Explorers, New World Settlers, and American Visionaries.

natural_wonders-yr2-session_1-both-final.pptx
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Session 2: Coastal Range Geological Province: This week we learn about the geologic 'Natural Wonder' of plate tectonics and its impact on the North American west coast.  We'll see the impact this geologic process has made to our  'National Treasures' of Channel Islands National Park, Redwood National Park, Olympic National Park, and San Juan Island National Historical Park.   From the rocky offshore islands near Los Angeles in the south to a tiny island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the Canadian border, we'll learn about the two different types of geologic plate boundaries that created and still impact these parks:  Transform and Convergent Plate Boundaries.  A photo tour of  the parks will leave us yearning to head west to view the monument to Juan Cabrillo, drive through the towering California redwoods, see the massive sea stacks of Washington, and meet the bronze statue of 'Kaiser Wil-ham' ...the pig. 

Due to uploading restrictions, this week's class file has to be broken into two parts. Be sure to download both parts.

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session_2_-_natural_wonders2-sbp-2nd_part.pptx
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Vagabond 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. 
(86.7 MB)

Vagabond 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.
(223MB)

Vagabond 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...(182.4MB)

Vagabond 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!
 (134.3MB)