Early morning light on the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend. The first day of Field Camp 2007.


Another great group of students, here enjoying the Painted Desert in Arizona.
Front row, L-R: Gerardo, Tyler, Tracie, Patrick, Lonnie, Chantel and TA Micah.
Back row, L-R: Hunter, Travis, Jeff, Daniel, Chris, Cory and Pete.

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Texas

Folds at Ernst Tinaja, Big Bend National Park. Hunter, Gerardo and Travis contemplate axial plane orientations -- while Dr. Nielson thinks about a cold Diet Coke.


Micah stands amid the folded Boquillas formation at Ernst Canyon.


New Mexico

On our first mapping project, this handsome bear stood up and looked at our group for a few seconds and then decided to high-tail it out of there. I think he was looking for his old friend Mindy! (Student picture.)


Later, Patrick found this bear track by a watering hole. (Student picture.)


Chris reacts enthusiastically to another meal at MickeyD's. (Student picture.)


Pete's ready to go. (Student picture.)


Hunter, on the right, thinks, "We're gonna map in metamorphic rocks?! Dango, Dango!" (Student picture.)


Enjoying sunset after the Bear Mountain Marathon.


As we left New Mexico, we enjoyed another spectacular western sunset.


Arizona

Chantel volunteered to be this year's tree hugger at Petrified Forest National Monument.


The next day the profs were happy to be at the Grand Canyon.


Dr. Nielson points across the Grand Canyon to the Kaibab monocline as students take in the view.


Tyler enjoys a golden sunset on the North Rim of the Canyon.


Utah

A big gnarly clump of fault breccia has students puzzled on the first day of this project.


Summer solstice at Parawan Gap, Utah. Indian petroglyphs and strategically placed pillars of rock suggest that humans have been observing the solstice through this giant notch for thousands of years. The gap is in one of our field areas.


Now that's an ice cream sundae!


On the road again, driving across the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah.


Sunrise at Dead Horse Point State Park, UT.


Dr. Nielson phones Shana to see how things are going back in the Geology Department.


Taking in the spectacular scenery at Arches National Park.


Mt. Tuk North (or 'Little Tuk') -- the triangular peak in the center -- overlooks our last map area. This year all the snow was gone.


On a night-time visit to Arches Park we watched moonrise through the gap.


Hey, Alumni -- have more pictures of your SFA field camp? Let us know!

Photos by C. A. Barker unless otherwise noted.
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