I've hit a land access roadblock in my planning! I had assumed, apparently incorrectly, that the Promontory Mountains in Utah would be Bureau of Land Management land. This afternoon I downloaded a Shapefile showing land status for the state of Utah and found out the entire promontory is privately held. I've found some climbers who've gained access to the area to climb peaks in the Promontory Mountains. Hopefully they can assist me in contacting the owners to obtain access (?!?!).
The Promontory Mountains are a normal fault bounded mountain range in Northern Utah and is a part of the basin and range geological province of the western US. The basin and range began forming about 20 million years ago in response to a change in plate stresses which resulted in lithospheric thinning and extension. The range is named for the south pointing peninsula it forms in the Great Salt Lake.
Wednesday 28 March 2012
Saturday 24 March 2012
Sleeping Quarters
My plan in June is to remain as flexible as I can about my accommodations, sleeping wherever I can to maximize the efficiency of my travels. I have very little money so I cannot afford to stay at hotels or fancy campgrounds every night. I plan to sleep on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands or in rest areas and truck stops. You can't pitch a tent in a truck stop or rest area so I've rigged up a bed inside my Land Rover. Surprisingly the distance between the rear window and the windshield on an 88" wheelbase Land Rover is exactly the length of a bed. I had a local welding shop make up supports to hold what amounts to a canvas stretcher above the bulkhead on the passenger side of the truck. I then sewed up the canvas to hang between the stretcher rods. I have always loved sleeping in cots while doing field work and this one is super comfortable. A couple of weeks ago I made drapes out of duck cloth to cover the windows and provide some privacy while I sleep. Set up and take down takes less than a minute and I get to sleep off the ground in the comfort and security of my truck!
My Land Rover
Anybody who knows me knows I am a bit of Rover enthusiast! I acquired my 1959 88" Land Rover Series II from my Father in 2006 and have spent the last 6 years tinkering and toying with it to make it more reliable and comfortable to drive. The vehicle is largely original with the only major modifications being parabolic springs, a paper air filter and a Roverdrive (overdrive). Compared to modern vehicles classic Land Rovers are extremely rudimentary. Powered by a carbureted, 2.25 L inline 4 cylinder engine, generating ~70 HP and 120 lb/ft of torque top speed is around 110 km/h with the truck cruising happily at 90 km/h. Fuel economy is dismal at >15 L/100 km. There is no power anything so steering and stopping relies on the strength of the driver.
You may ask why would I choose the Land Rover as my field vehicle? The primary reason is it's the vehicle I have. My other vehicle, a Honda Odyssey, is far too busy shuttling kids around to be away for a month and I have far to small a budget to rent an SUV. For all the Rovers obvious shortcomings it is an incredibly rugged, capable vehicle that can carry large loads over difficult terrain and can be modified easily to suit my needs. For example, by the end of the trip I will be carrying between 600 and 800 lbs of rocks, in addition to all my camping and field gear. Not only will I be carrying this along highways I will be taking this to some relatively inaccessible areas off road.
I will be discussing in future posts some of the modifications I have made to get the Landy ready for this trip.
You may ask why would I choose the Land Rover as my field vehicle? The primary reason is it's the vehicle I have. My other vehicle, a Honda Odyssey, is far too busy shuttling kids around to be away for a month and I have far to small a budget to rent an SUV. For all the Rovers obvious shortcomings it is an incredibly rugged, capable vehicle that can carry large loads over difficult terrain and can be modified easily to suit my needs. For example, by the end of the trip I will be carrying between 600 and 800 lbs of rocks, in addition to all my camping and field gear. Not only will I be carrying this along highways I will be taking this to some relatively inaccessible areas off road.
I will be discussing in future posts some of the modifications I have made to get the Landy ready for this trip.
Overview
I am a Ph.D. student at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. My thesis involves a mix of tectonics, sedimentology and geochronology. But wait! Before you navigate away assuming that this will be some tedious blog associated with the many trials and tribulations of undertaking a Ph.D., don't worry, this blog is not really going to focus on my research at all. Instead I'm going to use it to share with a greater audience the adventures I will have doing field work this summer while collecting data in support of my research.
Geological research often involves field work. Sometimes the locations are glamorous, often they are places nobody would visit unless they are interested in geology. I've been very fortunate in my career to have had the opportunity to look at rocks in some very cool places. My Ph.D. studies this year will take me into the western United States. While many people have visited the western US, geology often takes us off the beaten track to more remote, seldom visited areas. This summer I will be collecting data and rocks in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. As you may guess this amounts to an amazing month-long road trip through some of the most beautiful areas in the United States. Just to make it interesting I will be taking my 1959 Land Rover!
This blog will document my preparations over the next two months, while I decide on where to go and how I'm going to get there. I will be making some modifications to the Rover as well to facilitate my travels. I will be leaving Calgary in June and heading south. Follow along and enjoy the scenery, stories and adventures.
Geological research often involves field work. Sometimes the locations are glamorous, often they are places nobody would visit unless they are interested in geology. I've been very fortunate in my career to have had the opportunity to look at rocks in some very cool places. My Ph.D. studies this year will take me into the western United States. While many people have visited the western US, geology often takes us off the beaten track to more remote, seldom visited areas. This summer I will be collecting data and rocks in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. As you may guess this amounts to an amazing month-long road trip through some of the most beautiful areas in the United States. Just to make it interesting I will be taking my 1959 Land Rover!
This blog will document my preparations over the next two months, while I decide on where to go and how I'm going to get there. I will be making some modifications to the Rover as well to facilitate my travels. I will be leaving Calgary in June and heading south. Follow along and enjoy the scenery, stories and adventures.
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