Field Trips

2016 President's Field Trip: Lava Flows and Accreted Terranes

Landslide that happened last November at Arcadia Beach on the northern Oregon Coast.

Field trip leader, GSOC President Bo Nonn, posing next to some pillow basalts at Arcadia Beach.

An abandoned section of very bad pavement (due to continuing landslide) on Hwy 101 north of Newport.

Elephant Rock at Seal Rock State Park just north of Waldport, Oregon. This represents Columbia River Basalt overlying older Yaquina Formation sediments.

GSOC group watches the rising waves at Cape Perpetua, then decides to go back to the cars as a large wave washes over the platform of basalt.

Our last stop on Day one is at the Darlingtonia Wayside, where we enjoyed seeing these carnivorous pitcher plants. Time to go get our dinners too.

On Sunset Bay, SW of Coos Bay, we viewed cliffs made up of Coaledo Formation. The layers are tilted sharply upward in the cliffs, & overlain w/Whiskey Run terrace of sandstone, 80' above sea level.

In the foreground is the root system of a tree inundated the tsunami generated by Oregon's last subduction quake around 1700.

At Shore Acres, just to the south, we hiked up to the top of the terrace, where sandstone was sculpted into beautiful formations.

Later, on the beach south of the Bandon jetty, we were examining rock outcrops and picking up nice pebbles, when we noticed someone had left this lovely sculpture.

Our last stop of the day was at Cape Blanco, where we hiked down to the beach to look at more cool rocks. In the blue shirt, second from right, is our leader for the day, Frank Hladky.

Our leader on Day 3 was Roger Brandt. He interpreted streamside boulders and cobbles for us. Here are layers of "sheeted dikes" from deep ocean crust. They form vertically, but have been tilted 90°.

Our first stop on Day Three was the middle fork of the Smith River in Northern California

Up into the steep hills to find a beautiful outcrop of green serpentenite. Past President Sheila Alfsen helped to organize and lead parts of this trip.

It was a close call but we managed to escape Oregon's only carnivorous plant, Darlingtonia.

Most of the group, after touring the Oregon Caves. Sheila stayed at the lodge to give us a program afterwards.

Inside the cave, we photographed these signatures, beginning "Prof Thom. Condon," and listing his students. The signatures are about 125 years old, encased in a thin layer of calcite.

It was really fun to explore the caves with our group.

Some of the group left after the cave tour to return to Portland. A hardy bunch continued south to Mount Ashland, where we had this view south of Mount Shasta.

An inclusion of pegmatite in the local granite outcrop.

Upcoming Field Trips

Featured

GSOC President’s Field Trip: Eclipse! (and More)

Aug 18

Aug 18, 2017 – Aug 21, 2017 9:00am09:00 Field Trip webmaster

GSOC President’s Field Trip: Eclipse! (and More)

Aug 18, 2017 – Aug 21, 2017 9:00am09:00 Field Trip webmaster

Registration now open. Limited to GSOC members and their guests only. This field trip, organized by GSOC President Rik Smoody, will focus on the geology of the Cascades and will culminate in the total eclipse of the sun on the morning of August 21. It will be held at a private property in Mill City, Oregon, and will be limited to 48 GSOC members and their guests and 12 vehicles. Cost $80 per person.

Aug 18, 2017 – Aug 21, 2017 9:00am09:00 Field Trip webmaster

Oct 7

Oct 7, 2017 1:00pm – 3:30pm13:00 – 15:30 Field Trip, Events downtown webmaster Pioneer Square (across from Pioneer Courthouse)

Downtown PDX Geology North Tour

Oct 7, 2017 1:00pm – 3:30pm13:00 – 15:30 Field Trip, Events downtown webmaster Pioneer Square (across from Pioneer Courthouse)

We can't get enough of exploring Downtown Portland Building Stone! If you missed our Spring tour or just want to see more interesting buildings, join us for this two-hour walking tour of more of downtown Portland's geological mysteries and oddities. This tour is open to public.

Oct 7, 2017 1:00pm – 3:30pm13:00 – 15:30 Field Trip, Events downtown webmaster Pioneer Square (across from Pioneer Courthouse)

Stay tuned for our 2017 Schedule.

Our Previous Adventures

May 2014 - Lewiston Basin/Snake River

Sept 2014 - Cascades Sedimentation

July 1998 - Buried Forests of Mt. Hood

April 1999 - Erratic Rock State Park

Sept. 2000 - Ice Age Floods

Feb. 2002 - Grotto/Rocky Butte Trip

Sept. 2004 - Mt. Hood

Sept. 2005 - John Day Fossil Beds

June 2006 - Bull Run Watershed

Aug. 2006 - Ape Cave

Feb. 2007 - Newport Fossil Fest

June 2007 - Mt Hood

Sept 2007 - Klamath Mountains

Feb. 2008 - Newport Fossil Fest

June 2008 - Christmas Valley & Summer Lake

June 2008 - Journey to Maars

Sept. 2008 - Blue Mountains

Sept. 2008 - Baker County

Feb. 2009 - Newport Fossil Fest

June 2009 - Eastern Columbia Gorge

July 2009 - Silver Falls State Park

June 2010 - Bull Run Watershed

July 2010 - President's Trip - Oldest Rock in Oregon

May 2013 - Two Calderas

What to Bring on a GSOC Field Trip

Bring boots, raincoats, layered clothing even if it's not raining. Be prepared to get wet and muddy.
Pack a lunch unless a lunch destination is announced, then bring lunch money.
You must be a member of GSOC or a guest of a member to participate in the field trips. Become a member of GSOC!
The GSOC Board has decided that a registration fee will be charged on GSOC field trips. Refer to the trip description for the fee.
We encourage carpooling and may need to mandate carpooling on certain trips if parking space is limited at the stops on the trip. People who carpool are also asked to share the cost of the gasoline for the vehicle in which they are riding.