GeoHostelFrom the Peak to the Park: The Geology of Pikes Peak Country, Colorado
Scientific Co-LeadersReinhard A. (Bud) Wobus is professor of geosciences at Williams College. Bud received his Ph.D. from Stanford in 1966 and has been studying the Proterozoic basement and Tertiary volcanic rocks of the southern Rocky Mountains for more than 40 years, 16 of them as a WAE (part-time) member of the U.S. Geological Survey. He has published dozens of geologic maps and reports on the Pikes Peak region, where he has led three GSA Annual Meeting field trips and directed more than 20 week-long field seminars for college and museum groups. Herb Meyer is the paleontologist for Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, an adjunct curator for the University of Colorado, and a research associate for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. He is the author of The Fossils of Florissant and a co-author of Geologic Guidebook to the Goldbelt Byway, Colorado. He received his doctorate in paleontology from the University of California at Berkeley; research interests are in Tertiary paleobotany, climate change, and paleoelevation. He has been the leader for three GSA field trips in this area. Steve Veatch conducts educational earth science programs throughout the Pikes Peak region. He is an adjunct professor of earth science at Emporia State University, where he received his M.S. in physical science with an emphasis in earth science. His primary research interests are in geomorphology and Quaternary geology. He has led many field trips in the area and is president of the Friends of the Florissant Fossil Beds. DescriptionThe southern Front Range, from Pikes Peak west to South Park and from the Cañon City embayment north to Florissant, is a geological classroom of extraordinary variety. As accessible as it is scenic, the region climbs from about 5000 ft in the Arkansas Valley to over 14,000 ft at the Pikes Peak summit. Geological features ranging from Early Proterozoic basement to Pleistocene glacial deposits lie within its bounds. During day-long field trips and evening lectures, we will explore three generations of Precambrian granite plutons and their metamorphic wall rocks and mineral deposits, Paleozoic and Mesozoic stratigraphy and paleontology (including the dinosaur localities in Garden Park), Laramide structures, and the Eocene Thirtynine Mile Volcanic Field and its most significant "product" – the Florissant lake beds, with one of the world's richest collections of plant and insect fossils. At the Cripple Creek diatreme, we'll spend a day visiting underground and surface (heap-leach) gold mining operations. Our base for the week will be The Nature Place Conference Center near Florissant, within the 6000-acre Colorado Outdoor Education Center property. Participants will reside in studio apartments, each with moss-rock fireplace, loft, kitchenette, and deck. Meals are served family-style in the central lodge, with a broad deck overlooking Pikes Peak. AccessibilityGSA is committed to making its activities accessible to all people interested in attending. Please contact Wesley Massey, , if you have any special requirements. The Nature Place Conference Center is ADA compliant. Fees and PaymentGSA Members, US$1305 (double occupancy); spouses, US$1355;
Included: Program and materials, lodging for six nights, all meals, field trip transportation, use of conference facilities and sportsplex, welcoming and farewell events, and shuttle transportation to and from the Colorado Springs airport (about a 1-hour drive). Not included: Transportation exclusive of field trips and airport shuttle, alcoholic beverages, and other expenses not specifically included.
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A US$200 deposit is due with your reservation and is refundable through 12 May, less a US$20 processing fee (please see refund policy tab.) The balance is due 15 May 2006. Min.: 20; max.: 30. 
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Travel & Tours for Everyone2006 GeoVentures
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