Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#102684 - 09/07/08 07:21 AM A Dangerous place.by Marc Reisner
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
I know this is an older book about the history and future fate of California. But the really big one hasn't happened yet. It really opened my eyes to the early times and the way California was established and the current fight over water use in that part of the country. Will it really fall into the ocean?

Top
#102685 - 09/07/08 11:46 AM Re: A Dangerous place.by Marc Reisner [Re: chaz]
aimless Online   content
Moderator

Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 3292
Loc: Portland, OR
Will it really fall into the ocean?

According to another book I read, Assembling California, by John McPhee, geologists are quite certain that a rift will open someday, very similar to the rift between Africa and Arabia that forms the Red Sea. It will allow the ocean to enter a deep trough that will run through Death Valley, up toward Mono Lake, and somewhere along one of the many block faults in Nevada.

So, while California won't literally "fall" into the ocean, it will become more of a penisula with ocean on both sides.

Top
#102686 - 09/10/08 06:21 AM Re: A Dangerous place.by Marc Reisner [Re: aimless]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
I'm not a geologist but, from what I gather, Florida was part of another continent and the rock that makes up the Apalachins is found on other continents also.
Our short lifespan doesn't begin to give us the time to whitness the slow earth changes. I think it would be facinating to learn more about the surrounding rock formations while out in the wilderness with someone that knows what they are talking about.
_________________________
Enjoy your next trip...

Top
#102687 - 09/10/08 11:05 AM Re: A Dangerous place.by Marc Reisner [Re: chaz]
aimless Online   content
Moderator

Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 3292
Loc: Portland, OR
Geology is too fascinating to be the exclusive property of geologists.

If you have an interest in the subject, John McPhee wrote a whole series of books about the geology of North America. They are very well-written and completely geared to the non-specialist general reader. They can be found collected in one volume as Annals of the Former World, or picked up seperately under titles such as Basin and Range or On Suspect Terrain.

He just happened to start this project at a time when geology was just exploding with the widespread acceptance of plate tectonic theory, and he met with some of the best geologists in the nation to get his information. The books are written as narratives (stories) and the characters of the geologists he meets are woven into and around the more technical parts.

Good stuff. I highly recommend it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Top
#102688 - 09/11/08 08:17 AM Re: A Dangerous place.by Marc Reisner [Re: aimless]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
Thanks for the info, sounds like good reading, I'll check it out. Plus, I think it would be interesting to know more about all the different rock I trod upon.
_________________________
Enjoy your next trip...

Top
#102689 - 09/11/08 09:23 PM Re: A Dangerous place.by Marc Reisner [Re: chaz]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada
My favorite alberta rockies stomping grounds used to be shallow seabed on the coast of north america - as the continent moved with the pacific plate subducting under it, some larger islands that were on the pacific plate were "scraped off" before the pacific plate went under north america. these collided with the coast, forming the rockies (geologists
figure there were several collisions). so roughly - the bits that collided formed british columbia. Makes me think every time i see fossils while hiking (which is frequently)
_________________________
Any fool can be uncomfortable...
My 3 season gear list
Winter list.
Browse my pictures


Top
#102690 - 09/12/08 09:36 AM Re: A Dangerous place.by Marc Reisner [Re: phat]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
I will definatly slow down and pay more attention to the rocks and landscape on future trips. Just another reason to be out enjoying nature.
_________________________
Enjoy your next trip...

Top
#102691 - 09/13/08 07:54 AM Re: A Dangerous place.by Marc Reisner [Re: chaz]
Roocketman Offline
member

Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 203
Quote:
I know this is an older book about the history and future fate of California. But the really big one hasn't happened yet. It really opened my eyes to the early times and the way California was established and the current fight over water use in that part of the country. Will it really fall into the ocean?


It will fall into the ocean shortly after the hurricane season. The idea is to get maximum press coverage out of it.

Governor Schwartzeneger has a secret committee doing the planning.

Top
#102692 - 09/14/08 08:31 PM Re: A Dangerous place.by Marc Reisner [Re: Roocketman]
trekkin Offline
member

Registered: 02/05/07
Posts: 19
Loc: PNW
The part west of the San Andreas will eventually (give it millions of years) go down the drain, chewed up in the Aleutian Trench. The rest of California should stay high and dry.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 170 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum