A Guided Geoscience Tour of Northwest Vermont
Mark Powers Charlotte, VT
TIG Program, Mississippi State University
2008
"The views and opinions expressed on this and following pages are strictly those of the page author or organization. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by Mississippi State University"
View from Mt Philo, Charlotte,Vermont
http://www.adventureguidesvt.com/philo1jpg
http://www.adventureguidesvt.com/philo1jpg
Introduction to the Geoscience of
Vermont
Welcome to Vermont and a
tour of some of the interesting local features that are examples of a
number of scientific disciplines in the field of
Geoscience. The Northwest corner of Vemont has landforms shaped
by ancient tectonic events and the relatively more recent action of
glaciers. A large lake
separates Vermont from the Adirondack Mountain region of upstate New
York both which influence the climate and weather of the area. The
dominant rural
setting of the region allows for dark, clear night skies perfect for
astronomical
observations including on occasion, the spectacular Aurora Borealis.
The peaks of
the centrally located Green Mountain range provide spectacular hiking
while exhibiting a number of microclimates and environments that change
with elevation. Vermont has a history of environmental awareness and
putting those interests before those of development which has preserved
many pristine ecological niches.This tour
will guide you to some of the scientifically significant sites in this
beautiful area and provide some activities to allow the traveler to
make formal observations of the elements of Geoscience they will
encounter.
Overview of the tour
Instructions for getting to, and staying in, Vermont are acccessed by using the link button above. The season of the year will have a large impact on how to prepare for this tour. Spring, Summer and Fall are ideal with each having their particular merits or compromises. Winter is the season where many of the features described in this tour are NOT accessible and this guide cannot be reliably used at that time. Let it be known that winter in Vermont is spectacular for other reasons and you are invited to enjoy the region in other ways at that time of the year. Some portions of this tour require some hiking and flat water kayaking but alternate activities will be suggested for those with physical challenges. The range of activities require an assortment of outdoor clothing and gear and by reading the descriptions of each day trip participants should be able to ascertain what to bring. One evening includes an overnight stay in campground shelters so bring appropriate gear for that nights sleep. I can provide a suggested packing list and I can be reached by e-mail for any type of question about the trip. Participants are responsible for their own meals and transportation during the tour via personal or shared rental cars. The longest daily traveling time is about 2 hours, always within a short distance of food and facilities. I am looking forward to sharing the beautiful landscape of Vermont with you on this tour.
Spring Maple sap collection Summer kayaking on Otter Creek Fall foliage in the Champlain Valley
www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/images/co dague.net/.../2007/09/sean_susan_kayaking.JPG www.terragalleria.com/images/us-ne/usvt6522.jpeg
Outline of daily trips. (Access to trip details will follow the outline via link buttons).
Every morning we will meet at the ECHO Science Center on the waterfront just below the Hilton hotel in downtown Burlington and begin our day trip at 7:00 AM from that location. There are a number of other hotels in the vicinity that are listed in the "Traveling to Vermont " link above and you are free to select the place that best suits you as long as you can be at the ECHO parking area by the morning departure time. There is very limited public transportation in Vermont and lodging near the waterfront is recommended if you do not plan on renting a car. Each day should take a total of about 8-9 hours to complete including travel. You are not restricted to that time frame however and if you are interested in spending more time on the science at each site or other diversions please do so. We will be visiting places that provide evidence of the paleo-oceanic environments and the associated organisms of the region, see evidence of plate movement, various geologic formations and the effects of glaciation, see different microclimates of the mountains and lowlands, collect and analyze meteorological, astronomical and geographic data, become aware of some local environmental issues and innovative alternative energy and waste solutions, see how natural resources are used, make local astronomical observations and see how invasive species affect native communities. The reason for this tour is to build a deeper awareness of the geosciences in the region which will create a better overall sense of stewardship of the land in Northwestern Vermont. Most of the tour can be self directed by people knowledgeable in the area of geoscience with assistance from available staff at some locations and the references and links provided in this website. The sequence of day trips has been chosen to make a smooth flow of travel and a sequence of experiences that build upon each other as each day progresses. The significance of each event is that they support a framework of knowledge that again supports the idea of stewardship of the region which can be translated up to the overarching goal of responsible planetary stewardship. Daily trip costs have been kept to a minimum and food can be found along the day trips at reasonable prices.
Day 1
Geoscience in Burlington VT
Welcome to Vermont breakfast on the lakeside terrace at the ECHO Science center at the Burlington waterfront. 1/2 hour
ECHO Science Center tour. Provides an overview of the Geoscience and flora and fauna of the Lake Champlain region. 2 hours
Champlain Overthrust. Dramatic geologic feature on the shoreline of Lake Champlain. 5 hours
South Burlington Living Machine Innovative munincipal waste water treatment facility. 2 hours
Day 2
Geoscience in Burlington VT II
Redstone Quarry. Quartzite formation with ripple marks, intrusive basalt dikes, fossil inclusions. 3 hours
Perkins Geology Museum. University of Vermont regional geologic mineral and fossil collection. 3 hours
Winooski River Hydropower station. Hydropower station with fish elevator and geologic formations of interest. 2 hours
Day 3
Mount Mansfield hike. 4400 foot mountain with changing forest types with height, alpine tundra flora near summit, acid precipitation effects on conifers at summit, view of glacially modified Champlain Valley. 8 hours
Day 4
Lake Champlain Islands.
Lessors Quarry. Shaley limestone formation with Ordovician fossils. 3 hours
Chazy Reef. Ancient Ordovician reef structure. 4 hours
Mc Neil Generating Plant Woodchip fueled electric power generating facility. 2 hours
Day 5
Shelburne VT invasive species kayak tour.
Shelburne Pond. Confined pond often susceptible to fish kills due to hypoxia. 4 hours
Shelburne Bay. Lake Champlain bay with zebra mussels, Eurasian milfoil and other invasives. 2 hours
La Platte River. Meandering river with numerous types of fauna and flora many of them invasives. 2 hours
Day 6
Southern Champlain Valley.
Champlain Thrust Fault Roadcuts. Different parts of the regional rock column exposed with various degrees of deformation due to faulting. 3 hours
Maritime Museum. Small rural museum of Lake Champlain maritime history that performs significant dive research of the subsurface lake with broad knowledge of lake health. 4 hours
Button Bay overnight camping. Quiet bay with unique clay formations, nature program and clear dark skies perfect for celestial viewing. 2 hours
Day 7
Middlebury VT and south.
Poultney Marble Quarry. Long-term productive quarry of quality marble with display of marbles from around the world. 5 hours
Middlebury College observatory. Private college observatory and science facility. 3 hours
Links to daily data collection
Required equipment
Hand held weather data instrument
Hand held GPS receiver
Compass
Clinometer
Hand lens
Journal
Camp sleeping gear (see day 6)
Hiking gear
Appropriate seasonal clothing
Northwestern Vermont Map http://www.vermontproperty.com/areamap.php?map=northwestvermont
West Central Vermont Map http://www.vermontproperty.com/areamap.php?map=westcentralvermont
Overview of the tour
Instructions for getting to, and staying in, Vermont are acccessed by using the link button above. The season of the year will have a large impact on how to prepare for this tour. Spring, Summer and Fall are ideal with each having their particular merits or compromises. Winter is the season where many of the features described in this tour are NOT accessible and this guide cannot be reliably used at that time. Let it be known that winter in Vermont is spectacular for other reasons and you are invited to enjoy the region in other ways at that time of the year. Some portions of this tour require some hiking and flat water kayaking but alternate activities will be suggested for those with physical challenges. The range of activities require an assortment of outdoor clothing and gear and by reading the descriptions of each day trip participants should be able to ascertain what to bring. One evening includes an overnight stay in campground shelters so bring appropriate gear for that nights sleep. I can provide a suggested packing list and I can be reached by e-mail for any type of question about the trip. Participants are responsible for their own meals and transportation during the tour via personal or shared rental cars. The longest daily traveling time is about 2 hours, always within a short distance of food and facilities. I am looking forward to sharing the beautiful landscape of Vermont with you on this tour.
Spring Maple sap collection Summer kayaking on Otter Creek Fall foliage in the Champlain Valley
www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/images/co dague.net/.../2007/09/sean_susan_kayaking.JPG www.terragalleria.com/images/us-ne/usvt6522.jpeg
Outline of daily trips. (Access to trip details will follow the outline via link buttons).
Every morning we will meet at the ECHO Science Center on the waterfront just below the Hilton hotel in downtown Burlington and begin our day trip at 7:00 AM from that location. There are a number of other hotels in the vicinity that are listed in the "Traveling to Vermont " link above and you are free to select the place that best suits you as long as you can be at the ECHO parking area by the morning departure time. There is very limited public transportation in Vermont and lodging near the waterfront is recommended if you do not plan on renting a car. Each day should take a total of about 8-9 hours to complete including travel. You are not restricted to that time frame however and if you are interested in spending more time on the science at each site or other diversions please do so. We will be visiting places that provide evidence of the paleo-oceanic environments and the associated organisms of the region, see evidence of plate movement, various geologic formations and the effects of glaciation, see different microclimates of the mountains and lowlands, collect and analyze meteorological, astronomical and geographic data, become aware of some local environmental issues and innovative alternative energy and waste solutions, see how natural resources are used, make local astronomical observations and see how invasive species affect native communities. The reason for this tour is to build a deeper awareness of the geosciences in the region which will create a better overall sense of stewardship of the land in Northwestern Vermont. Most of the tour can be self directed by people knowledgeable in the area of geoscience with assistance from available staff at some locations and the references and links provided in this website. The sequence of day trips has been chosen to make a smooth flow of travel and a sequence of experiences that build upon each other as each day progresses. The significance of each event is that they support a framework of knowledge that again supports the idea of stewardship of the region which can be translated up to the overarching goal of responsible planetary stewardship. Daily trip costs have been kept to a minimum and food can be found along the day trips at reasonable prices.
Day 1
Geoscience in Burlington VT
Welcome to Vermont breakfast on the lakeside terrace at the ECHO Science center at the Burlington waterfront. 1/2 hour
ECHO Science Center tour. Provides an overview of the Geoscience and flora and fauna of the Lake Champlain region. 2 hours
Champlain Overthrust. Dramatic geologic feature on the shoreline of Lake Champlain. 5 hours
South Burlington Living Machine Innovative munincipal waste water treatment facility. 2 hours
Day 2
Geoscience in Burlington VT II
Redstone Quarry. Quartzite formation with ripple marks, intrusive basalt dikes, fossil inclusions. 3 hours
Perkins Geology Museum. University of Vermont regional geologic mineral and fossil collection. 3 hours
Winooski River Hydropower station. Hydropower station with fish elevator and geologic formations of interest. 2 hours
Day 3
Mount Mansfield hike. 4400 foot mountain with changing forest types with height, alpine tundra flora near summit, acid precipitation effects on conifers at summit, view of glacially modified Champlain Valley. 8 hours
Day 4
Lake Champlain Islands.
Lessors Quarry. Shaley limestone formation with Ordovician fossils. 3 hours
Chazy Reef. Ancient Ordovician reef structure. 4 hours
Mc Neil Generating Plant Woodchip fueled electric power generating facility. 2 hours
Day 5
Shelburne VT invasive species kayak tour.
Shelburne Pond. Confined pond often susceptible to fish kills due to hypoxia. 4 hours
Shelburne Bay. Lake Champlain bay with zebra mussels, Eurasian milfoil and other invasives. 2 hours
La Platte River. Meandering river with numerous types of fauna and flora many of them invasives. 2 hours
Day 6
Southern Champlain Valley.
Champlain Thrust Fault Roadcuts. Different parts of the regional rock column exposed with various degrees of deformation due to faulting. 3 hours
Maritime Museum. Small rural museum of Lake Champlain maritime history that performs significant dive research of the subsurface lake with broad knowledge of lake health. 4 hours
Button Bay overnight camping. Quiet bay with unique clay formations, nature program and clear dark skies perfect for celestial viewing. 2 hours
Day 7
Middlebury VT and south.
Poultney Marble Quarry. Long-term productive quarry of quality marble with display of marbles from around the world. 5 hours
Middlebury College observatory. Private college observatory and science facility. 3 hours
Links to details for day
trips
| Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Day 4 |
Day 5 |
Day 6 |
Day 7 |
Links to daily data collection
| Geographical and Astronomical Data
collection |
Meteorological
Data collection |
Required equipment
Hand held weather data instrument
Hand held GPS receiver
Compass
Clinometer
Hand lens
Journal
Camp sleeping gear (see day 6)
Hiking gear
Appropriate seasonal clothing
Northwestern Vermont Map http://www.vermontproperty.com/areamap.php?map=northwestvermont
West Central Vermont Map http://www.vermontproperty.com/areamap.php?map=westcentralvermont
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