DOCSLIB.ORG

Types and Rates of Alpine Mass Movement, West Edge of Boulder County, Colorado Front Range

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Types and Rates of Alpine Mass Movement, West Edge of Boulder County, Colorado Front Range This dissertation has been microfilmed exactly as received WALLACE, Ronald Gary, 1938- TYPES AND RATES OF ALPINE MASS MOVEMENT, WEST EDGE OF BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO FRONT RANGE. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1967 Geology University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan TYPES AND RATES OF ALPINE MASS MOVEMENT, WEST EDGE OF BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO FRONT RANGE DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Ronald Gary Wallace, B.S., M.S. «****« The Ohio State University 1967 Approved by Department of Geology ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer is deeply indebted to Dr. Sidney E. White of the Ohio State University for suggesting this investiga­ tion, for proposing and receiving a National Science Founda­ tion grant to support the project, for his assistance in the field, and for guidance during the writing of this disserta­ tion. An expression of appreciation is also due to Dr. Charles E. Corbato and Dr. Gunter Faure who served as members of the Doctoral reading committee. The writer is also indebted to Dr. George E. Moore, Jr. who read and made suggestions toward improving the dissertation. A statement of indebtedness is made to the National Science Foundation whose support made it possible to carry out the full extent of this three year project. This support included salaries for the writer and a field assistant each year, lodging, food, tents, transportation, photographs, maps, and other equipment. Many thanks are herewith given to the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research of the University of Colorado and to Dr. John W. Marr, Professor of Biology and Director of the Institute, for permission to use and live at the mountain research station near Nederland, Colorado, for the summers of 1964, 1965, and 1966. Lodging, meals, and laboratory facilities were made available. Use of office ii space, a photographic laboratory, library, and recreation facilities were appreciated. The writer is grateful to the City of Boulder, Colorado, for permission to conduct studies within their watershed property. Field assistants Craig Johnson (1964), James Davis (1965), and Gary Dolezal (1966) are to be thanked for their help during the specified field seasons. Particular appreci­ ation is due to Davis and Dolezal for their excellent photo­ graphic processing of the black and white prints used in this dissertation. Additional thanks are given to Ronald Laughlin, Judith Purley, Richard Bonnett, and James Richards who at various times helped to establish and measure the motion studies. The writer is also indebted to James Benedict, geolo­ gist and research participant at the research station, who was available on numerous occasions for valuable discussions pertaining to problems associated with the writer's field studies. ill VITA July 6, 1938 Born, Cadiz, Ohio 1961 .... B.S., Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 1962-1964. Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1964 .... M.S. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1964-1967. Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1967 .... Petroleum Geologist, Standard Oil of Texas, Midland, Texas iv CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................... ii VITA .............................................. iv TABLES ............................................ ix ILLUSTRATIONS ..................................... xii PLATES ..............................................xvll INTRODUCTION....................................... 1 Purpose of Investigation ................. .... 1 Location and Boundaries of A r e a ................. 2 Methods of Investigation ......................... 2 Previous W o r k ................................... 6 GENERAL GEOMORPHIC SETTING ......................... 9 Surface Features and Relief ..................... 9 Accessibility ................................... 10 Climate and Vegetation ........................... 11 Introduction ................................... 11 Subalpine Region ............................... 12 C l i m a t e ..................................... 12 Vegetation................................... 15 Alpine Region ................................. 15 C l i m a t e ..................................... 15 Vegetation................................... 17 Drainage........................................ 17 GEOLOGIC HISTORY ................................... 19 Introduction ..................................... 19 Precambrian to Cenozoic History ................. 19 Precambrian Formations ......................... 20 Idaho Springs Formation ..................... 21 Swandyke Hornblende Gneiss ................... 23 Boulder Creek Granite ....................... 24 Silver Plume Granite ..... ............... 24 Cenozoic History ................................. 25 Tertiary Igneous Intrusives ................... 25 Physiographic History ......................... 26 Glacial History ............................... 29 v CONTENTS (Contd.) Page DESCRIPTIONS OF MASS MOVEMENT FEATURES............. 33 Introduction.................................... 33 Alpine Processes of Erosion ..................... 33 Rock G l a c i e r s ................................... 37 Introduction ................................... 37 Arapaho Rock Glacier........................... 39 Location..................................... 39 Description ........................... 39 Evidence of M o t i o n ........................... 45 O r i g i n ....................................... 48 Possible Rock G l a c i e r ......................... 54 Arapaho Possible Rock Glacier ............... 54 Henderson Possible Rock Glacier ............. 55 Arikaree Possible Rock Glacier ............... 57 Protalus Lobes ....... ..................... 59 Introduction ................................... 59 Location....................................... 60 Description................................... 61 O r i g i n ......................................... 66 Examples of Protalus Lobes ..................... 71 Blue Lake V a l l e y ............................. 72 Isabelle Valley ............................. 74 Green Lakes V a l l e y ........................... 75 Arapaho Valley ............................... 75 Proscree Lobes ................................... 77 Introduction ................................... 77 Location....................................... 78 Description ........................... 79 Origin ................................. 80 Protalus Ramparts ............................... 82 Introduction ................................... 82 Location....................................... 82 Description................................... 82 Origin......................................... 83 Scree S h e e t s ..................................... 84 Introduction ................................... 84 Location........................... 84 Description ................................... 85 Or igin......................................... 85 Complex Talus Cones ............................. 87 Introduction ................................... 87 Location....................................... 87 Description................................... 87 Origin......................................... 89 vi CONTENTS (Contd.) Page Avalanche Boulder Tongues ...................... 93 Introduction ................................... 93 Location ............. 93 Description ................................... 94 O r i g i n ........................................ 96 Alpine Mudflows ................................. 102 Introduction ................................... 102 Location......................................... 102 Description ..................................... 102 O r i g i n ........................................... 104 Rockfall Talus ................................... 108 Introduction ................................... 108 Location.......................................10 8 Description ............. 108 O r i g i n ........................................... 109 VOLUME AND DISPLACEMENT OP DEBRIS ................. Ill Introduction ..................................... Ill Procedures......................................... Ill Blue Lake V a l l e y ................................... 116 Motion Study 1 - D ................................. 116 Motion Study 1 - C ................................. 118 Motion Study 1 - X ................................. 120 Motion Study 1 - A ................................. 120 Motion Study 1 - B ...............................12 3 Motion Study 1-E ......... 123 Motion Study 2 ................................... 125 Isabelle Valley ................................. 126 Motion Study 3 - A ................................. 126 Motion Study 3 - B ................................. 126 Motion Study 3 - C ................................. 126 Motion Study 3 - D ................................. 126 Motion Study 4 ................................... 133 Pawnee Valley ................................... 136 Motion Study 5 - A ................................. 136 Motion Study 5 - B ................................. 139 Green Lakes V a l l e y ............... 141 Motion Study 6 - A ................................. 141 Motion Study 6 - B ......... 143 Motion Study 7 ................................... 147 Motion Study 8 ................................... 148 Motion Study 9 ................... * ..............151 vii CONTENTS (Contd.) Page Arapaho Valley ................................... 152
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Curt Teich Postcard Archives Towns and Cities
    Curt Teich Postcard Archives Towns and Cities Alaska Aialik Bay Alaska Highway Alcan Highway Anchorage Arctic Auk Lake Cape Prince of Wales Castle Rock Chilkoot Pass Columbia Glacier Cook Inlet Copper River Cordova Curry Dawson Denali Denali National Park Eagle Fairbanks Five Finger Rapids Gastineau Channel Glacier Bay Glenn Highway Haines Harding Gateway Homer Hoonah Hurricane Gulch Inland Passage Inside Passage Isabel Pass Juneau Katmai National Monument Kenai Kenai Lake Kenai Peninsula Kenai River Kechikan Ketchikan Creek Kodiak Kodiak Island Kotzebue Lake Atlin Lake Bennett Latouche Lynn Canal Matanuska Valley McKinley Park Mendenhall Glacier Miles Canyon Montgomery Mount Blackburn Mount Dewey Mount McKinley Mount McKinley Park Mount O’Neal Mount Sanford Muir Glacier Nome North Slope Noyes Island Nushagak Opelika Palmer Petersburg Pribilof Island Resurrection Bay Richardson Highway Rocy Point St. Michael Sawtooth Mountain Sentinal Island Seward Sitka Sitka National Park Skagway Southeastern Alaska Stikine Rier Sulzer Summit Swift Current Taku Glacier Taku Inlet Taku Lodge Tanana Tanana River Tok Tunnel Mountain Valdez White Pass Whitehorse Wrangell Wrangell Narrow Yukon Yukon River General Views—no specific location Alabama Albany Albertville Alexander City Andalusia Anniston Ashford Athens Attalla Auburn Batesville Bessemer Birmingham Blue Lake Blue Springs Boaz Bobler’s Creek Boyles Brewton Bridgeport Camden Camp Hill Camp Rucker Carbon Hill Castleberry Centerville Centre Chapman Chattahoochee Valley Cheaha State Park Choctaw County
    [Show full text]
  • Mesofauna at the Soil-Scree Interface in a Deep Karst Environment
    diversity Article Mesofauna at the Soil-Scree Interface in a Deep Karst Environment Nikola Jureková 1,* , Natália Raschmanová 1 , Dana Miklisová 2 and L’ubomír Kováˇc 1 1 Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Šrobárova 2, SK-04180 Košice, Slovakia; [email protected] (N.R.); [email protected] (L’.K.) 2 Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, SK-04001 Košice, Slovakia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The community patterns of Collembola (Hexapoda) were studied at two sites along a microclimatically inversed scree slope in a deep karst valley in the Western Carpathians, Slovakia, in warm and cold periods of the year, respectively. Significantly lower average temperatures in the scree profile were noted at the gorge bottom in both periods, meaning that the site in the lower part of the scree, near the bank of creek, was considerably colder and wetter compared to the warmer and drier site at upper part of the scree slope. Relatively high diversity of Collembola was observed at two fieldwork scree sites, where cold-adapted species, considered climatic relicts, showed considerable abundance. The gorge bottom, with a cold and wet microclimate and high carbon content even in the deeper MSS horizons, provided suitable environmental conditions for numerous psychrophilic and subterranean species. Ecological groups such as trogloxenes and subtroglophiles showed decreasing trends of abundance with depth, in contrast to eutroglophiles and a troglobiont showing an opposite distributional pattern at scree sites in both periods. Our study documented that in terms of soil and Citation: Jureková, N.; subterranean mesofauna, colluvial screes of deep karst gorges represent (1) a transition zone between Raschmanová, N.; Miklisová, D.; the surface and the deep subterranean environment, and (2) important climate change refugia.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing the Chemistry and Bioavailability of Dissolved Organic Matter from Glaciers and Rock Glaciers
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Assessing the Chemistry and Bioavailability of Dissolved 10.1029/2018JG004874 Organic Matter From Glaciers and Rock Glaciers Special Section: Timothy Fegel1,2 , Claudia M. Boot1,3 , Corey D. Broeckling4, Jill S. Baron1,5 , Biogeochemistry of Natural 1,6 Organic Matter and Ed K. Hall 1Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 2Rocky Mountain Research 3 Key Points: Station, U.S. Forest Service, Fort Collins, CO, USA, Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, • Both glaciers and rock glaciers CO, USA, 4Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 5U.S. Geological supply highly bioavailable sources of Survey, Reston, VA, USA, 6Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, organic matter to alpine headwaters CO, USA in Colorado • Bioavailability of organic matter released from glaciers is greater than that of rock glaciers in the Rocky Abstract As glaciers thaw in response to warming, they release dissolved organic matter (DOM) to Mountains alpine lakes and streams. The United States contains an abundance of both alpine glaciers and rock • ‐ The use of GC MS for ecosystem glaciers. Differences in DOM composition and bioavailability between glacier types, like rock and ice metabolomics represents a novel approach for examining complex glaciers, remain undefined. To assess differences in glacier and rock glacier DOM we evaluated organic matter pools bioavailability and molecular composition of DOM from four alpine catchments each with a glacier and a rock glacier at their headwaters. We assessed bioavailability of DOM by incubating each DOM source Supporting Information: with a common microbial community and evaluated chemical characteristics of DOM before and after • Supporting Information S1 • Data Set S1 incubation using untargeted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry‐based metabolomics.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Andrews Glacier in August 2016 Tyndall Glacier Lidar Scan in May
    Final Report for “Glacier and perennial snowfield mass balance of Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO): Past, Present, and Future” Task Agreement Number P16AC00826 PI Dr. Daniel McGrath June 28, 2019 Department of Geosciences Colorado State University [email protected] Andrews Glacier in August 2016 Tyndall Glacier LiDAR scan in May 2016 1 Summary of Key Project Outcomes • Over the past ~50 years, geodetic glacier mass balances for four glaciers along the Front Range have been highly variable; for example, Tyndall Glacier thickened slightly, while Arapaho Glacier thinned by >20 m. These glaciers are closely located in space (~30 km) and hence the regional climate forcing is comparable. This variability points to the important role of local topographic/climatological controls (such as wind-blown snow redistribution and topographic shading) on the mass balance of these very small glaciers (~0.1-0.2 km2). • Since 2001, glacier area (for 11 glaciers on the Front Range) has varied ± 40%, with changes most commonly driven by interannual variability in seasonal snow. However, between 2001 and 2017, the glaciers exhibited limited net change in area. Previous work (Hoffman et al., 2007) found that glacier area had started to decline starting in ~2000. • Seasonal mass turnover is very high for Andrews and Tyndall glaciers. On average, the glaciers gain and lose ~9 m of elevation each year. Such extraordinary amounts of snow accumulation is primarily the result of wind-blown snow redistribution into these basins (and to a certain degree, avalanching at Tyndall Glacier) and exceeds observed peak snow water equivalent at a nearby SNOTEL station by 5.5 times.
    [Show full text]
  • Summits on the Air – ARM for USA - Colorado (WØC)
    Summits on the Air – ARM for USA - Colorado (WØC) Summits on the Air USA - Colorado (WØC) Association Reference Manual Document Reference S46.1 Issue number 3.2 Date of issue 15-June-2021 Participation start date 01-May-2010 Authorised Date: 15-June-2021 obo SOTA Management Team Association Manager Matt Schnizer KØMOS Summits-on-the-Air an original concept by G3WGV and developed with G3CWI Notice “Summits on the Air” SOTA and the SOTA logo are trademarks of the Programme. This document is copyright of the Programme. All other trademarks and copyrights referenced herein are acknowledged. Page 1 of 11 Document S46.1 V3.2 Summits on the Air – ARM for USA - Colorado (WØC) Change Control Date Version Details 01-May-10 1.0 First formal issue of this document 01-Aug-11 2.0 Updated Version including all qualified CO Peaks, North Dakota, and South Dakota Peaks 01-Dec-11 2.1 Corrections to document for consistency between sections. 31-Mar-14 2.2 Convert WØ to WØC for Colorado only Association. Remove South Dakota and North Dakota Regions. Minor grammatical changes. Clarification of SOTA Rule 3.7.3 “Final Access”. Matt Schnizer K0MOS becomes the new W0C Association Manager. 04/30/16 2.3 Updated Disclaimer Updated 2.0 Program Derivation: Changed prominence from 500 ft to 150m (492 ft) Updated 3.0 General information: Added valid FCC license Corrected conversion factor (ft to m) and recalculated all summits 1-Apr-2017 3.0 Acquired new Summit List from ListsofJohn.com: 64 new summits (37 for P500 ft to P150 m change and 27 new) and 3 deletes due to prom corrections.
    [Show full text]
  • Landslides and the Weathering of Granitic Rocks
    Geological Society of America Reviews in Engineering Geology, Volume III © 1977 7 Landslides and the weathering of granitic rocks PHILIP B. DURGIN Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Berkeley, California 94701 (stationed at Arcata, California 95521) ABSTRACT decomposition, so they commonly occur as mountainous ero- sional remnants. Nevertheless, granitoids undergo progressive Granitic batholiths around the Pacific Ocean basin provide physical, chemical, and biological weathering that weakens examples of landslide types that characterize progressive stages the rock and prepares it for mass movement. Rainstorms and of weathering. The stages include (1) fresh rock, (2) core- earthquakes then trigger slides at susceptible sites. stones, (3) decomposed granitoid, and (4) saprolite. Fresh The minerals of granitic rock weather according to this granitoid is subject to rockfalls, rockslides, and block glides. sequence: plagioclase feldspar, biotite, potassium feldspar, They are all controlled by factors related to jointing. Smooth muscovite, and quartz. Biotite is a particularly active agent in surfaces of sheeted fresh granite encourage debris avalanches the weathering process of granite. It expands to form hydro- or debris slides in the overlying material. The corestone phase biotite that helps disintegrate the rock into grus (Wahrhaftig, is characterized by unweathered granitic blocks or boulders 1965; Isherwood and Street, 1976). The feldspars break down within decomposed rock. Hazards at this stage are rockfall by hyrolysis and hydration into clays and colloids, which may avalanches and rolling rocks. Decomposed granitoid is rock migrate from the rock. Muscovite and quartz grains weather that has undergone granular disintegration. Its characteristic slowly and usually form the skeleton of saprolite.
    [Show full text]
  • Maternal Defensive Behavior of Mountain Goats Against Predation by Golden Eagles
    Western North American Naturalist Volume 69 Number 1 Article 13 4-24-2009 Maternal defensive behavior of mountain goats against predation by Golden Eagles Sandra Hamel Université Laval, Québec, Canada, [email protected] Steeve D. Côté Université Laval, Québec, Canada, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan Recommended Citation Hamel, Sandra and Côté, Steeve D. (2009) "Maternal defensive behavior of mountain goats against predation by Golden Eagles," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 69 : No. 1 , Article 13. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol69/iss1/13 This Note is brought to you for free and open access by the Western North American Naturalist Publications at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Western North American Naturalist by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Western North American Naturalist 69(1), © 2009, pp. 115–118 MATERNAL DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR OF MOUNTAIN GOATS AGAINST PREDATION BY GOLDEN EAGLES Sandra Hamel1,2 and Steeve D. Côté1 ABSTRACT.—Maternal defensive behavior against predators may appear risky but is common in many species. Herein we describe maternal defensive behavior of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) against Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) predatory attempts. We found that Golden Eagles attacked goats in 1.9% of sightings (n = 311 sightings of active Golden Eagles over 12 years) but were never successful. Mothers always defended their young against Golden Eagle attacks. Predation by Golden Eagles on young-of-the-year appears low for most ungulate species, including mountain goats.
    [Show full text]
  • Fegel Colostate 0053N 13488.Pdf (1.978Mb)
    THESIS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE; THE CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, AND LABILITY OF GLACIAL MELTWATERS IN THE AMERICAN WEST Submitted by Timothy Scott Fegel II Graduate Degree Program in Ecology In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of Master of Science Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Spring 2016 Master’s Committee: Advisor: Jill Baron Co-advisor: Edward Hall Michael Gooseff Copyright by Timothy Scott Fegel 2016 All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE; THE CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY, AND LABILITY OF GLACIAL MELTWATERS IN THE AMERICAN WEST Glaciers and rock glaciers supply water and nutrients to headwater mountain lakes and streams across all regions of the American West. The resulting changes in volume, timing, and chemistry of meltwater discharged by these features appears to be having significant effects on the adjacent alpine headwater ecosystems they feed. Whereas both glaciers and rock glaciers are sources of seasonal meltwater, sediment, and solutes to headwater ecosystems, differences in meltwater characteristics between glacial types, and its affect on biological productivity, is poorly documented. Here we present a comparative study of the metal, nutrient, and microbial characteristics of glacial and rock glacial influence on headwater ecosystems in three mountain ranges of the contiguous U.S.: the Cascade Mountains, Rocky Mountains, and Sierra Nevada. Several meltwater characteristics (water temperature, conductivity, pH, heavy metals, nutrients, complexity of dissolved organic matter (DOM), and bacterial richness and diversity) differed significantly between glacier and rock glacier 2+ 3+ meltwaters, while other characteristics (Ca , Fe , SiO2 concentrations, reactive nitrogen, and microbial processing of DOM) showed distinct charcteristics between mountain ranges regardless of meltwater source.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ice Age in Pennsylvania 13
    Educational Series 6 PENNSYLVANIA AND THE ICE AGE An Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer Recycled Paper 2200–BK–DCNR3061 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Tom Ridge, Governor DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES John C. Oliver, Secretary OFFICE OF CONSERVATION AND ENGINEERING SERVICES Richard G. Sprenkle, Deputy Secretary BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC SURVEY Donald M. Hoskins, Director FRONT COVER: The wooly mammoth—a Pennsylvania resident during the Ice Age (modified from Thomas, D. J., and others, 1987, Pleistocene and Holocene geology of a dynamic coast, Annual Field Conference of Pennsyl- vania Geologists, 52nd, Erie, Pa., Guidebook, front cover). Educational Series 6 Pennsylvania and the Ice Age by W. D. Sevon and Gary M. Fleeger PENNSYLVANIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOURTH SERIES HARRISBURG 1999 When reproducing material from this book, please cite the source as follows: Sevon, W. D., and Fleeger, G. M., 1999, Pennsylvania and the Ice Age (2nd ed.): Pennsylvania Geological Survey, 4th ser., Educational Series 6, 30 p. Pennsylvania World Wide Web site: www.state.pa.us Department of Conservation and Natural Resources World Wide Web site: www.dcnr.state.pa.us Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey World Wide Web site: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo Illustrations drafted by John G. Kuchinski First Edition, 1962 Fifth Printing, May 1978 Second Edition, May 1999 PENNSYLVANIA AND THE ICE AGE by W. D. Sevon and Gary M. Fleeger Have you heard the story of the Ice Age, a time when large sheets of moving ice (glaciers) blanketed the northern half of North America? Unbelievable though it may seem, half of our continent was once buried beneath thousands of feet of ice.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rockies of Colorado
    THE ROCKIES OF COLORADO THE ROCKIES OF COLORADO BY EVELIO ECHEVARRfA C. (Three illustrations: nos. 9- II) OLORADO has always been proud of its mountains and rightly so; it is often referred to in the Union as 'the mountain state', about 6o per cent of its area is mountainous, and contains fifty-four peaks over 14,ooo ft. and some three hundred over 13,000 ft. Further, its mountaineering history has some unique aspects. And yet, Colorado's mountains have been seldom mentioned in mountaineering journals; if in modern times they may have deserved a passing mention it has been because of a new route on Long's Peak. But on the whole, the Rockies of Colorado are almost unrecorded in the mountaineering world abroad. In this paper, an effort has been made to outline briefly the characteris­ tics of this area, and to review its mountaineering past; a few personal experiences are also added. The mountains of Colorado belong almost completely to the Rocky Mountain range of North America; a few outliers are sometimes mentioned as independent lesser chains, but in features and heights they are unimportant. The Rockies of Colorado are grouped into a number of ranges (see sketch-map), some of which are actually prolongations of others. Some­ what loosely and with some injustice to precise geography, they can be grouped into ten important sections. The state of Colorado is a perfect rectangle in shape; the Rockies enter into its western third from Wyoming, to the north, and split, then, into two parallel chains which unite in the centre of the state.
    [Show full text]
  • A Botanical Survey of the Goodnews Bay Region, Alaska
    A BOTANICAL SURVEY OF THE GOODNEWS BAY REGION, ALASKA Robert Lipkin Alaska Natural Heritage Program ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE 707 A Street, Anchorage, AK 99501 In cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management Anchorage District 6881 Abbott Loop Road, Anchorage, AK 99507 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report is a continuation of a cooperative relationship begun in 1990 between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Alaska Natural Heritage Program (AKNHP). We would like to thank Jeff Denton of the Anchorage District, BLM, who was instrumental in initiating this particular project and who has evinced continual interest in the rare plants of the District. Jeff Denton and the Anchorage District provided transportation and all other logistical support of the field work, without which this survey would not have been possible. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the other members of the field team including: Julie Michaelson (AKNHP), Alan Batten (University of Alaska Museum), Virginia Moran (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Alaska Ecological Service), and Debbie Blank of the BLM State Office. Debbie Blank not only participated in the field work, but also in the thankless tasks of specimen sorting and data entry. Alan Batten identified or verified the aquatic collections. Thanks also go to David Murray, Curator Emeritus of the Herbarium of the University of Alaska Museum, for his assistance with identifications of several critical taxa. The collections and literature files at the Herbarium provided invaluable help in completing the plant identifications and in evaluating their significance. June Mcatee of Calista Corporation provided valuable background information on the geology of the region.
    [Show full text]
  • Bill Jennings' Key to Phlox
    KEY TO PHLOX OF COLORADO PREPARED BY BILL JENNINGS APRIL 29, 1999 The similarity of Phlox flowers from species to species does not offer much upon which to construct a key, except plant stature and habitat, the tack taken in most floras. However, taken together, the dimensions of the plant, leaves, and flowers; characteristics of the calyx; pubescence; habitat; blooming season; and elevation seem to separate the species of Phlox. Considering the similarity of the flowers, most species of Phlox are probably pollinated by the same or similar pollinators. It is probable that only by temporal, ecological, and elevational differences do the taxa maintain their distinctiveness as species. Where species share the same range and habitat, one should expect difficulty in separating species of Phlox. 1. Plants east of Continental Divide...2 1. Plants west of Continental Divide...11 2. Plants of the eastern plains (generally east of I-25)...3 2. Plants of the foothills, mountains, and tundra...6 3. cushionlike, densely caespitose plants, less than about 5 cm tall; leaves densely woolly, closely overlapping, scale-like, less than 5 mm long; flowers white to bluish, tube 5-10 mm, lobes 3-5 mm, style 2-5 mm; blooming mid-May to mid-June, peaking June 9; often in cracks in rock outcrops or on rocky sites, usually on calcareous substrates, in Logan, Weld, and Larimer Counties within about 30 miles of the Wyoming state line...Phlox muscoides (Phlox bryoides) (This can be difficult to distinguish from somewhat caespitose plants of Phlox hoodii, but Phlox muscoides is copiously woolly pubescent, is usually restricted to very rocky sites, and blooms later; see lead 5B for more characteristics of Phlox hoodii).
    [Show full text]