Bend—Smith Rock, Gray Butte, Grizzly Mountain, Barnes Butte and Powell Buttes are all familiar landmarks. But what do they have in common? What enormous geological event gave rise to these and other local landmarks? View and learn about the recently designated “Crooked River Caldera” on this member-led driving tour.
OLLI-UO member Bob Clautice will lead us on this first of our 2012 series of local geological field trips on Thursday, June 21. We will car-pool on this driving tour from Prineville to Haystack Rock, and points in between, stopping at six or seven viewpoints. These stops have been chosen to provide a fantastic overview of the results of the largest single volcanic eruption known in the geological record of Oregon, comparable in size to some of the largest calderas known worldwide. And it is right here in our backyard. A detailed, illustrated description will be available to refresh your memory of the “Crooked River Caldera”.
The trip will begin at the U. S. Forest Service Office just east of Prineville with a brief introduction and distribution of information. We will then car-pool to our first stop for a great overview and discussion on calderas in general and this one in particular. We then continue through the various stops with a break for lunch. The tour should finish by late afternoon. There are minimal walking requirements, so everyone can participate.
Members from Bend and points south will meet at the Bend River Mall parking lot on Business 97 at 8:30 a.m. and head to Prineville. The Redmond and Sisters contingent will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Redmond Cinema (at Albertson’s) on the corner of Highway 97 and Odem Medo Road in Redmond and also head to Prineville where we’ll gather at the U. S. Forest Service Office just east of Prineville at 9:00 a.m. with a brief introduction and distribution of information.
Please let us know if you can volunteer to drive; Bob suggests that passengers each pay $5 to the driver to defray the cost of the trip. We recommend you wear walking shoes and hats, and bring water, lunch, snacks, sunscreen, walking sticks, binoculars and camera.
Call the OLLI-UO office at 800-824-2714 by Monday, June 18 to reserve your spot. An activity waiver must be signed to participate in this trip.
