Present plans are for you to arrive in Albion, MI on either 6/12 or early in the morning of 6/13. We leave Albion at 7 AM to start the journey to Wyoming.

On these days, we drive across Iowa and South Dakota into Wyoming. If time permits, we tour Badlands National Park on the 14th. After 3 full days of driving, we arrive at Northwest College in Powell, WY
 

We head out to Elk Basin, WY/MT, to carry out exercises designed to familiarize you with the Brunton compass and pace and compass mapping techniques. In addition, you are introduced to the use of GPS.

Today working with a partner you construct your own map of several badlands hills in Elk Basin using GPS.

This is a field trip day in which you learn how to describe sedimentary rocks. We travel to various localities around the Big Horn Basin, examining and describing Mesozoic strata. You will compile and draft your observations as a stratigraphic column.

We return to Elk Basin, where you work in groups of three to measure and describe a stratigraphic column. Fieldwork is completed by the middle of the afternoon; the columns are compiled and drafted back at the dorm.

On this day you construct a geologic map of the area of Elk Basin where we measured the stratigraphic column the day before. This is done as an individual exercise. Maps are handed in before we leave the field; they are graded and returned to you before you start mapping again on the 22nd.

This is a field trip day to examine Precambrian and Paleozoic stratigraphy. You record observations on these formations in your field book while on the outcrop, then compile and draft a stratigraphic column this evening.

This is the first multiple-day mapping project. Working with a partner, you construct a geologic map of a portion of Elk Basin. You start where you worked alone on the 14th, and extend this work into adjacent areas. Along with your map, you hand in a set of cross sections and a paper in which you describe the structures and depositional history of your area.

We leave Powell and travel into Yellowstone National Park, where we will spend the next two days examining features related to the Eocene and Quaternary volcanism in the park.  We camp at Grant Campground.

We field trip through Yellowstone into Teton National Park, where we camp at Colter Bay Campground on Jackson Lake.

You map the surficial geology of a portion of Jackson Hole.

We travel from the Teton's to Northwest College's Mickelson Field Station, where we spend the next 5 nights.

You carry out a mapping project involving the relations among autochthonous Paleozoic and Mesozoic strata, Heart Mountain fault blocks, and Absaroka volcanics. You use GPS on this project. You and your partners hand in a map and cross sections, and you each write a paper outlining your interpretation of the geologic history of the area.

Day off! We go to Cody, where you can visit the Buffalo Bill Museum (right), the stores, and the restaurants.  Rodeo in the evening!

We leave the cabins and return to Cody. From there we cross the Bighorn Basin, and drive south along the western edge of the Big Horn Mountains, looking at range front structures. Our campground will be up at the top of the Big Horns.

Today we complete the drive across Wyoming, with a detour for lunch at Devil's Tower. Once we reach South Dakota, we examine the stratigraphy you will be mapping for the next three days. On this evening, we set up our camp at Bear Butte State Park.

This multiple day project involves mapping the stratigraphy and structure around a Tertiary intrusion on an air photo base. Your map and cross section will be due at dinner on the 9th, after which we commonly have had a trip to the movies in Spearfish.

We travel through the core of the Black Hills today, examining pegmatites, the geology of the Homestake Mine area, and begin to learn how to work with metamorphic rocks.

A day off! People often choose to visit the town of Custer for the shops and restaurants, and then hike Harney Peak (seen at right), visit Jewel or Wind Cave, swim at Center Lake...

Our final, and longest, project is in a multiply deformed and metamorphosed area near Custer. The emphasis here is not just on geologic mapping, but also on the collection of orientation data. GPS is useful here. You and your partner prepare a map and cross sections; in addition you use equal area nets and computer software to examine your data, and write a 2-page structural analysis of the map area.

The drive home begins! We drive across South Dakota and Iowa today.

We usually arrive in Albion by mid-afternoon. Once the vans are unpacked and cleaned, the great adventure is over, and people are free to leave. If you need to fly home, it is best to plan to stay with us on the 18th and fly out the next day.