CITY OF ROCKS/LAKE BONNEVILLE/FOSSILS
IDAHO – UTAH ADVENTURE
AUGUST 3 – 7, 2006
THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT
ADVENTURE!
This will be a 5 day
adventure along the south-central Idaho border with Utah and extending into
west-central Utah. The first 2.5 days
will be devoted to study of the interesting “Dismantled City”, as called by the
wagon train pioneers traveling through, but now designated the City of Rocks
National Reserve. Beginning in 1843,
City of Rocks was a landmark for emigrants on the California Trail and Salt
Lake Alternate Trail. How did these curious rock features form? From Idaho, the adventure route will
traverse much of the eastern and southern portion of Ancestral Lake Bonneville
to the House Mountain Range in western Utah; evidence for this very large
ancient body of water exits in the form of elevated beaches, deltas, spits, and
wave-cut cliffs.
The House Mountains of
Utah are a rugged, uplifted, block faulted sequence of chiefly layered
fossiliferous sedimentary rocks. The
last 2.5 days will be devoted to extracting well preserved fossil trilobites
from bedded claystone, and siltstone.
We will have a paleontologist along to guide us to the best locations
for collecting fossils.
TRIP EMPHASIS: Modern science tells us that the City of
Rocks vary in age from 2.5 billion to 25 millions years old; in fact, the older
portion of the rocks are some of the oldest rocks in the lower 48 states. They go on to say these spires, pinnacles
and bornhardts were formed by two stage weathering; really! Why is it they look like water sculpted rock
masses of yesterday? The evidences for
a recent formation of these unusual rock features are for participants to view,
ponder and discuss. Elevation of the
area is 6,000 feet. Camping will be in the National Preserve with sites with
tables, fire pits and
restrooms.
The Lake Bonneville
basin will be traversed by car from the Idaho border into Utah for fossil
collecting. The ancient shore line
features are so recent that one can easily envision this great body of water
being formed in post-Flood times. Native
Americans must have had fun times fishing for the big ones in this lake.
Camping in the House
Range will be somewhat primitive with some shade, good spring water, and
portable restrooms. Elevations vary
from 5,500 to 6,000 feet. The rocks
that make up the mountain range are bedded sediments that were deposited during
the time of the Biblical Flood.
Slabbing layered rock for fossils in kind of potluck; that is, not sure
what you might find. However, our guide
has insured us that everyone will find very nice fossil trilobites with other
interesting fossils for collection also.
The House Mountain
trilobite localities are world renown for being very well preserved and for a
wide variety of fossil trilobites. The
key is to have a guide who knows where to collect and we are blessed to have such
a guide. As you recall, trilobites are
small, marine organisms that lived in the oceans of the created world, prior to
the Biblical Flood. These fossils are
now found in sediments that the evolutionists call Cambrian rocks, many
hundreds of millions years in age.
Further, they are found near the bottom of the geologic column, and
should be very simple in structure; but, in fact, trilobites are very
complex. God made them interestingly
unique for us to see his creative powers.
TRIP DETAILS (CONDENSED)
1.
Travel to City of Rocks, Idaho: Early Arrival is encouraged
Travel
& Mileage: Thursday
morning and early afternoon, August 3rd. Travel from Boise via Hwy
I-84 east to Delco off ramp at Exit 216, and southward on Hwy 17 and county
roads to the town of Almo. The City of
Rocks is located about 15 minutes out of Almo past the Park Service
Headquarters.
www.mapquest.com reports 205
miles from Boise to Almo. Remember! Plan
extra travel time for possible road crews & rest stops. Fuel up before
arriving at City of Rocks.
2.
Register FIRST at FIGI Registration Table located in the campground.
This applies to ALL registered FIGI
participants.
Cost: $40.00
This
includes camp fee’s, portable toilet costs & a trip field/route guide for
the entire trip.
Upon registration at the campground, you will
receive:
a.
Your Campsite #
b.
A Field Guide &
Route Directions for the entire trip
c.
Each family is
asked to sign a Liability Release Form
3.
Set Up Camp