Location:      Rocky Mountain Nature Association Field Seminar & Conference Center

                        1895 Fall River Road, Estes Park, Colorado

Time:   8:00 AM- 4:30 PM                 

Course Description: Much of today’s magnificent scenery in RMNP is attributable to the erosional effects of ice more than a thousand feet thick.  This course will begin at the terminal moraine of an ancient glacier near the entrance station and traverse up Fall River Road through its U-shaped Canyon, into its cirque 8 miles away; observing depositional and erosional features along the way.  On the return trip along Trail Ridge Road, many interesting glacial and periglacial features will be pointed out at several stops (rock glaciers, felsenmeer, patterned ground, and sackungen).

Course Level:  II

Short-distance walks throughout the day on primarily level terrain (possible sites include Horseshoe Park, Old Fall River Road, and stops along Trail Ridge Road) Some portions of this course will be at elevations exceeding 11,000 ft.

Brief Instructor Biography (additional information available at www.rmna.org): Dr. Vince Matthews is the State Geologist of Colorado, Director of the Colorado Geological Survey, author of Messages in Stone - Colorado's Colorful Geology, and compiler of Tourist Guide to Colorado Geology. He has taught geology at five institutions of higher education.  Vince is a recipient of the Arthur Lakes Legacy Award for increasing public awareness of the region's geologic, prehistoric, historic, and natural features.

Expectations:  Professional conduct will be expected from participants at all times.  Individual ideas will be respected.  Except during course breaks, cellular phones, pagers, and personal entertainment devices are strictly prohibited in the classroom and during field sessions.

Car-pooling:  Rocky Mountain Field Seminars courses utilize car-pooling to limit vehicles traveling into the Park.  Car-pooling makes it easier to keep the group together, reduces transit time, and allows courses greater access because fewer parking spaces are required at destinations.  In addition, it provides an opportunity for participants to discuss course material in small groups during transit.  Typically, a few participants from each course volunteer the use of their vehicles for car-pooling to course locations.

Tentative Course Schedule:

8:00 AM- Welcome, Introduction

8:30 AM- Classroom discussion/gather gear/ restroom break

9:15 AM- Field session:

Stop 1:  Aspenglen Campground - - Terminal moraine of the Fall River glacier

Stop 2:  Horseshoe Park - - Lateral Moraine of the Fall River glacier.  Ancient lakebed dammed by terminal moraine of Fall River glacier.

Stop 3: Fall River canyon - -U-shaped valley.  Glacially polished and striated bedrock/grooved walls.

Stop 4: Willow Park - - Cirque of the Fall River glacier

Stop 5: Alpine Visitor Center - - Lunch. Overview of cirque

Stop 6: Lava Cliffs - - Patterned ground

Stop 7:   Iceberg Pass – Sackungen

Stop 8: Forest Canyon Overlook

Stop 9: Rainbow Curve - - Overview of Horseshoe Park.  Lateral moraine damming a tributary stream.

Stop 10: Many Parks Curve - - Overview of Moraine Park. Lateral Moraines/Roche moutonee.

4:30 PM- Depart

What to Bring:

§         Sack lunch, snacks, energy bars, and Water                          

Remember to Bring the 10 Essentials:

Rocky Mountain National Park recommends that hikers always carry the 10 essentials in their daypacks.

     Raingear                                     Map and compass                       Flashlight or headlamp

     Sunglasses and sunscreen            Candles                                      Matches or other fire starter

     Pocketknife                                 First-aid kit                                 Extra layers of clothing

     Sack lunch, snacks, and water                                                     

Note:  Rocky Mountain Field Seminars recommends that participants for all courses dress in layers and wear comfortable, sturdy hiking boots/shoes.  Participants should be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and weather conditions.

Teacher Recertification Credit: 

Most seminars are eligible for teacher recertification credit through the Centennial Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES).  The fee is $25.00 per seminar (.5 unit) or $25.00 per series of threaded seminars (1.0 - 3.0 units).   A list of threaded seminars can be found online at www.rmna.org.  Participants must enroll in all seminars of a threaded series in order to qualify for the $25.00 multi-unit fee. Please be prepared to pay for this credit with a check, made payable to BOCES, on the first day of a seminar or on the final day of a threaded series of seminars.