Fast Times at Poplar Flats

So it's been a week. Sorry for the delay.

I left you in SEATAC. I did make it to EAT met up with my collaborators, Bob, Katie (both from SJSU) and Christine (from Oregon State University). Bob was my Masters advisor so we go back. Many miles have been spent behind the rocket-propelled structural geology professor from San Jose State. We spent several days on the Twisp Pass trail in the Twisp River Valley, surprisingly, the Twisp River runs through the valley and right by the campground.

On the Twisp Pass trail we were studying some very white rocks (called tonalites- composed of plagioclase, quartz, and a dark mineral called biotite). What we were looking for was variations in the whiteness, which we actually found. The idea is to determine if white rocks are different in age and chemistry from the less white rocks. Fun stuff crawling along lichenated rocks in the blazing sun looking for small variations in the number of dark minerals.

Then we went on a backpack to Louis Lake. Louis lake has haunted my nightmares since last year. Kyle and I went to this Mosquito Infested S Hole (a MISH) last year and found truly fantastic rocks. We only had a day last year so of course we had to go back this year. We hiked up (5 miles in 5 hours, we had a novice hiker). The first day we spent on the steep slabs, mapping in more detail evidence for mixing of different magmas. The next day we climbed 1000 feet above the lake under threatening skies. We got to the first awesome outcrop just as the first rolls of thunder began. Then the lightning began. My bowels got a bit looser (too much detail? sorry). Then it began to rain. So the 5 of us were up on the slopes in the pouring rain with lightning and thunder all around us. Just another day in the Cascades. At least nothing was on fire yet.

So we chickened out and hiked back to the car. It took most of our group about 2 hours to pack up, so Christine and I sat with our very heavy (remember- pack in food, pack out rocks!) packs.
Another 5 hours back to the car. I don't think I will ever have the patience to have children if they are as disorganized and slow as professors.

anyway. I've got to go help buy food. hopefully I'll have pics and more amusing stories next week.