AWG-PNW Field Trip to Point Roberts, WA and the Vancouver, BC Area

September 30 - October 2, 2016

Vancouver-area glaciologist/meteorologist and AWG member Mindy Brugman is organizing a field trip to the Vancouver area, including geology in the Point Roberts area, for the first full weekend of October. (Mindy was one of the outstanding trip leaders on the AWG Canadian Rockies field trip in 2014.) The main trip will run from Friday evening September 30 through Sunday afternoon October 2. There’ll be quite a bit of walking but no really strenuous hikes. This will be a family-friendly trip – kids who are old enough to hike will be welcome. If you wish to bring a kayak or paddle board, it can be stored at Mindy’s cabin while we’re driving around. As usual, all attendees will need to sign a liability release form and fill out a medical information form.

Itinerary (some elements depend on attendance, group preferences, and weather):

Friday Sept 30 – Arrive by 6 pm at Point Roberts (lodging options: camp at campground or by Mindy’s rustic cabin in Point Roberts, or stay at a nearby motel or B&B at your own expense. The campground has running water, electricity, phone access and even a shower. Be sure you first contact your cell phone service and get your phone to allow you to affordably use phone and internet in Canada to avoid undesired overcharges – or use local wireless at cafes or at Mindy’s cabin. If you plan to use debit or credit cards, they may not work unless you contact your issuer and let them know when you’ll be in Canada. (Chip-and-pin technology is now standard in Canada, and occasionally you may find businesses who can’t print out a charge slip for you to sign, in which case a debit card will work better.) Allow about 5 hours to drive from Seattle to Point Roberts, with two border crossings. These are faster if you have a Nexus card, so perhaps this is the time to get yours too! (However, be aware that everyone in a carpool has to have one to get to use the Nexus lane.) Dinner will be at your own expense at the local Brewsters or South Beach Café, with a fireside lecture afterward at Mindy’s cabin or the beach.

Saturday Oct 1 – Lily Point and Point Roberts area geology. The dramatic shoreline cliff exposures allow the leaders to fly participants back through 150,000 years of record, with peeps back through multiple glaciations. We plan to start early with hot coffee, OJ, oatmeal and cinnamon rolls at 8 am. Soon after, we will hit the beach at low tide so we can see all the features. There’s no bathroom on the beach, so use the restroom at the top of the hill before we wander down through the deep thousand-year old cedar, huge Douglas fir and maple-lined forest to the old cannery and native village site on the beach, long since reclaimed by the ravages of the winter storms. A possible indigenous tree direction marker will be shown at the Tango tree, and the wacked-out wind-whipped tufted trees that make such great eagle habitat will be discussed. If we are lucky we may see hundreds of eagles at once, and if they are lucky the salmon will have attracted them to upstream spawning channels on the Fraser and other nearby rivers at that time. We plan to have a late lunch afterwards at about 1 pm, so bring snacks and water with you. A unique rip-up deposit will be traced around the point, as well as evidence for large earthquake shaking and faulting events, major tsunamis, storm surges, floods waves from volcanic eruptions

1 of nearby Mt. Baker or outbursts from nearby glaciation, or flooding of the Fraser river due to landslides. The induced sedimentary features will be examined and discussed. Liquefaction features we will see include clastic dikes, sand pillows and ghosts, flame structures, soft sediment deformation, and squirts. We will differentiate the causes of these features which include large wave crashing, earthquake shaking, and glacier bed deformation. Evidence for a high stand of sea level during the last interglacial, dating, and sediment analyses will be examined. Rocks and natural features exposed along the shoreline at Lily Point read like a book of the geology upstream, and a prize will be given to the participant who can identify the most specimens (or you can ask). If you are lucky you may find a piece of the Jackass conglomerate or a piece of gold encrusted rock which was carried from near Lytton in the Fraser Canyon. The plight of the starfish will be discussed and you can see how they are starting to come back from near total collapse from wasting disease. Marine cycles, salmon, ocean temperatures and currents, pollution, fossil fuels and ocean acidification and global warming impacts will be discussed. From recent natural and human history, to the far distant past, we will examine features, which include repeated dramatic climate changes and natural disasters, and then humans which have all changed the landscape dramatically, interspersed with long periods of peaceful docile sedimentation along a gently lapping shoreline. This trip will be part well- documented story book, part imaginary time travel and an adventurous treasure hunt. Ancient coal, well-preserved wood and peat, fossils, marine clay, and water-lain volcanic deposits will be found, as well as evidence of indigenous communities and early settlers, fishing industry and demise, sea level change, landslides and erosion. Here nature eventually wins and humans do their best to keep out of her way during tempests. Perhaps you may find a mammoth bone or a native burial; if so, these will be given to the local Tsawassen and Lummi First Nations and the parks. Characteristic features suggestive of violent shaking causing damage on ancient trees in the park and possible modifications by early man will be discussed, and their ages examined. This will be mainly a beach walking day until mid-afternoon. Those who cannot hike down the trail, can meet up with us at Lighthouse Park. We will provide makings for a late lunch there after our hike at about 1-2 pm, and before we leave the point we will also visit Maple Beach to share vistas from Northshore mountains through Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, San Juan Islands, and northwestern Washington, including Mt. Baker and the Fraser Valley. Expect to see ferries, fishing fleets, and freighters, and wildlife that may include schools of Oolichan, eagles, heron, jumping salmon, orca, dolphins, whales, loons, grebes, and embrace this precious little place on earth called Point Roberts. The origin and consequence of the very deep waters immediately off Lighthouse park will be discussed, as well as man-made versus natural dikes and dunes. Placement of Tsunami warning signs and sirens and evidence of large paleo waves, large sand dunes, paleo shorelines and displacements, native villages, farms, and hydrogeologic features will be discussed. The geology of the region hidden under the glacial and delta deposits, and evidence of paleo volcanism, climate change, and isostatic rebound and sea level variations will be discussed, and evidence shown using LIDAR and local land forms – by the leader and special guest experts participating. Weather and wave forecasting and impacts of climate change on the region will also be presented. Novelty nunataks will be used to trace the level of ancient ice sheets over the landscape, from Orcas Island, Vancouver Island to Cypress Mountain. The Delta port coal terminal and Tsawwassen Ferry terminal activities will be discussed, with the importance of the wetland and nearshore areas, and local tsunami modeling will be discussed. By about 4 pm we will drive north past the Fraser River and UBC along Marine Drive with a possible visit to the native village outside the Museum of Anthropology past Wreak Beach and

2 have a Group dinner at Mindy’s apartment in Vancouver’s West End. Lodging is at Mindy’s (small) apartment (students will have priority) or stay (at your own expense) at a local hotel or Air B&B near Davie and Thurlow Streets in Vancouver’s West End. The YWCA on Beatty is not too far and is also a nice safe place to stay on the cheap.

Sunday Oct 2 – Northshore Mountain / Vancouver-area geology/hydrology/geologic hazards. This day will include a drive up Cypress Mountain and a short hike to the summit for vistas up Howe Sound to Mt. Baker and possibly even Mount Rainier, weather permitting. There will also be hikes in Stanley Park. We will provide lunch makings. We anticipate this day ending by 4 pm. Either drive home (allow 4-5 hours to drive back to Seattle) or stay in Vancouver and head home on Monday. The day will start with a drive to Lynn Valley to examine deposits and take a short hike to some incredible waterfalls and chasms in the rain forest. These deposits are likely similar in age to the interglacial deposits exposed at Lily Point, so we’ll compare. Then we will venture to the summit of the Northshore mountains up Cypress mountain, and hike to the summit. An alternative is to take the gondola up Grouse Mountain or drive to Squamish and take the new Sea to Sky Gondola, if the weather is fine. The leader’s preference is to hike up to the summit on the west side of Cypress mountain past some tarns to share lunch overlooking the region. This is also one of the Novelty Nunataks we traced from Lighthouse Park at Point Roberts, and we will examine the sedimentary record. The reason why this mountain perch was exposed while ice filled the surrounding low lands will be discussed, as well as its possible impact on early man as the deglaciation progressed. If we are lucky we will see Mt. Baker and possibly even Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains. The geology and history of the region, including the bedrock geology, faulting, subduction zone features, origin and history of the Strait of Georgia and the Fraser Lowland, and Metro Vancouver will be discussed. The precipitation on these north shore mountains is 100 times that of Point Roberts to the south, which we can see from this mountain top perch. Then we will drop back down the short trail (only an hour hike or less, but steep), and drive back to Stanley Park by 1 pm. We will then walk to Siwash Rock and create carpools so those who wish can walk back to the apartment along the shoreline, with a stop at the Teahouse for refreshment and a geology summary by the leader and guest experts. Those who wish to paddle or bike or walk back to the apartment can do that, or take a car back. Dinner will be at special local restaurant called the Sandbar, which we access using a local small ferry and which is located under the Granville street bridge on False Creek – or wherever the group decides. We can also eat at the Stanley Park Fishhouse, or make our own BBQ at Mindy’s place, depending on how many stay Sunday night. Then we can go to hear some terrific jazz music and venture walking around the town nearby. It’s always interesting for sure, and different. If we have a terrific sunset, that’s where you will find me, for the hours it takes for the sun to fall.

Transportation: You will need to provide your own transportation. We’ll be arranging carpools from the Seattle area and also carpooling during the trip. If you have a boat, you could also sail up and stay at Point Roberts and False Creek Marinas. Please be advised that you will need to have either a passport or an enhanced driver's license to travel to/from Canada. The process to obtain an enhanced driver’s license in WA (http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/edlget.html) takes 2-3 weeks, so if you need one, apply for it right away. A passport may be quicker but likely more expensive.

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Arrangements can be made for those using public transportation, flying, ferry, bicycling, boating into Point Roberts – all are possible; please ask Mindy for details. We will do all we can to accommodate all participants, especially those who wish to make this trip as carbon neutral as possible, so public transportation and carpooling are preferred. Secure parking is available in Mindy’s building but is very limited; however, there’s lots of space for bikes and boats. If you need parking at her apartment or want to store your boat or bike there, please make arrangements with her in advance.

Lodging: You will need to arrange and pay for your own lodging, but if you wish to camp, Mindy has a tiny rustic (no running water or toilets) cabin in Point Roberts where people can either camp in the woods by her house or on the floor in the event of rain. Wind in the forest is always a hazard, and even though she has specially had tree experts work on the dead trees and do limbing this summer, tree and branch fall is always a camping hazard at her place. She loves her trees so when its windy, she goes elsewhere and you will need to as well. If you wish to stay with Mindy please send her an email and make sure there is sufficient room, realizing that those on a budget and students will be accommodated first. A neighbor of Mindy’s at Point Roberts has offered to provide air B& B space for participants, so that’s another option, and just a block from her cabin. A neighbor has also offered to allow use of their bathroom. There’s also a campground at Point Roberts at Lighthouse Park, but you will have to reserve a spot (http://pointrobertstourism.com/camping.php#.V6kTZxFWSUk). Mindy has several tents if anyone needs to borrow one for use either at Mindy’s cabin or the campground. For those who don’t wish to camp, there are motels and B&Bs in Point Roberts. There’s room for 3-4 people to sleep at Mindy’s apartment in Vancouver on Saturday and Sunday nights – student attendees will have priority, so you should book a room somewhere until you know there’s room for you (make sure you can cancel). There’s also a fairly decent hostel and a YWCA – and, of course, lots of rather expensive hotels.

Cost: Tentatively $60 US ($80 CD if you plan to share provided meals with us and receive a guidebook), payable directly to Mindy upon arrival. This covers the group dinner Saturday night, 2 lunches and a guidebook. (This may be less as we determine our actual costs.) The fee for the first 5 AWG student members who sign up will be $10 US. Donations will be welcome, and any profit will be given to the AWG-PNW Chapter to help with subsidizing student participation in future field trips, publications and/or the chapter scholarship. Payments will be made directly to Mindy Brugman (she can accept US cash and checks on US banks.) The group dinner (seafood/grill) on Saturday evening will be cooked by us at Mindy’s apartment or at the beach. This time of year, sunset will be by 6 pm, so we likely will be limited by daylight and prefer to cook at her apartment.

If you’d like to attend, please let Marcia Knadle ([email protected]) AND Mindy Brugman ([email protected]) know by Thursday September 22. We would prefer to know by then, but we may be able to accommodate late registrants. We will send attendees a final itinerary, final cost, and directions regarding where to meet by Thursday Sept. 29, including Mindy’s cell phone number. This trip will be limited to 20 participants, and local participants will likely join us for parts of the trip, so please contact us soon to make sure you get on the list. When you sign up, you will be sent two forms – a liability and photo release form and a medical information form. You may either sign and email these back to Mindy and Marcia or bring a

4 signed hard copy along with you. Please let Marcia know if you’re willing to drive a carpool or if you need a ride from the Seattle area (riders will need to compensate drivers for gas) by Wednesday September 22 (Marcia will be out of town at the annual GSA meeting after that until Sept. 29; she’ll also be away on the AWG Maine field trip until Sept. 17, so don’t expect a response before then). If you wish to stay longer than your driver, it’s easy to get back to Seattle by Bolt Bus or train. Also, please let Marcia and Mindy know if you plan to sail or bike up or take public transportation up instead of driving so we can ensure sufficient room in vehicles. Please let Mindy know whether you plan to camp at her cabin on Friday night (or stay at her apartment on Saturday and/or Sunday night), or if you’ll be arranging your own lodgings. If you have questions regarding the itinerary, please let Mindy know. If you need to call Mindy, her cell # is 778-997-0570. Marcia’s is 206-718-3183. Finally, if you find you can’t attend, please let Mindy know by Wednesday Sept. 28, so she won’t spend money on food for you.

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