"Where in North America?" -- Section I

[Kestrel]

I haven't tried to look up the stratigraphic section for NW Colorado-NE Utah, but the thinly-veiled hint regarding "Jurassic" leads me to guess it's the Dinosaur National Monument (Nat Park?), which I think makes the river the Yampa, or is it the Green? I'm eating lunch with one hand and typing with the other, while clients wait for me up front, so I can't do any of my own homework at the moment.

Funny, both AZBuck and myself, present and former professional geologists, respectively, did a "drive by" under Kestrel's bio in order to find out just who this new geologist in the forum might be.

Cool stuff, Kestrel. I like it.

Foy

Yes, it's the Canyon of the Yampa in the Colorado part of Dinosaur National Monument. To get a sense of scale, it helps to know the trees along the river are cottonwoods.

I am a retired engineer, not a geologist. Most of what I know about geology comes from reading the Roadside Geology books during road trips. Knowing what the layers are makes the scenery even more interesting.

When Mark commented that the rock looked like Colorado National Monument, I just had to look it up and find out.

[Kestrel]

Where is this?

[Mark Sedenquist]

Hmmmm, I nearly failed Geology 101 at UC Berkeley-- the mapping requirements nearly drove me to drink, but I've harbored a barely-concealed love of Geology ever since. My brother is former geologist and can regale car trip companions at some length about various strata and such on mountain roads. I, myself, have a serious collection of road cut photos and if we really want to get technical, I am pretty sure I can find some photos that will stump most professional-and-otherwise geologists....but... I digress....

I've seen that railroad siding someplace.... hmmmm. The shape of the mountain is not entirely correct... but could it be Ouray, Colorado? Or maybe Ridgway, Colorado?

Mark

[AZBuck]

I'm thinking farther north, either Kicking Horse Pass between Alberta and British Columbia, or a little farther west of there in Field, BC. But like Mark, I sure think I've been there.

AZBuck

[Kestrel]

Hmmmm, I nearly failed Geology 101 at UC Berkeley-- the mapping requirements nearly drove me to drink, but I've harbored a barely-concealed love of Geology ever since. My brother is former geologist and can regale car trip companions at some length about various strata and such on mountain roads. I, myself, have a serious collection of road cut photos and if we really want to get technical, I am pretty sure I can find some photos that will stump most professional-and-otherwise geologists....but... I digress....

My friend Tony had a father that would spend hours at an interesting road cut. Tony made sure he packed several good books whenever he took a road trip with his dad.

I've seen that railroad siding someplace.... hmmmm. The shape of the mountain is not entirely correct... but could it be Ouray, Colorado? Or maybe Ridgway, Colorado?

Mark

The tracks that used to go to Ouray have been gone for decades. And I suspect the same is true of Ridgeway. This photo is from 2006.

[Kestrel]

I'm thinking farther north, either Kicking Horse Pass between Alberta and British Columbia, or a little farther west of there in Field, BC. But like Mark, I sure think I've been there.

AZBuck

You may indeed have been there, but it's not in BC or Alberta.

ETA: Take a closer look at the tracks.

[Mark Sedenquist]

ETA: Take a closer look at the tracks.

I was going on the assumption that those were narrow gauge tracks -- but now, I'm not so sure... But since you've mentioned them.... hmmmm I wonder. I'll ask one of my foamer friends....

Mark

[Foy]

I was going on the assumption that those were narrow gauge tracks -- but now, I'm not so sure... But since you've mentioned them.... hmmmm I wonder. I'll ask one of my foamer friends....

Mark

Given the very high elevation (as timberline is around 11,000' in the central Rockies, well south of BC and Alberta), the narrow gauge railroad, and the regal peak (Presidential in appearance), I'm going to say Iron City, CO, along the narrow gauge railway between St Elmo and Pitkin, CO. The railway passes through the famous Alpine Tunnel beneath Altman Pass (renamed Alpine Pass after the tunnel was built). The elevation of the tunnel is around 11,000'.

Foy

[Mark Sedenquist]

I'm pretty sure I've been to Iron City (but I could be confused) but I don't remember a train station there. But it was very interesting to learn about that high altitude train tunnel. But I thought all of the tracks had been removed from that rail line. I know the tunnel collapsed a few years ago.

Mark

[Kestrel]

I'm pretty sure I've been to Iron City (but I could be confused) but I don't remember a train station there. But it was very interesting to learn about that high altitude train tunnel. But I thought all of the tracks had been removed from that rail line. I know the tunnel collapsed a few years ago.

Mark

You can drive to the town where the photo was taken, but we didn't get there by car.