Thanks. Here is Cadillac granite - the beautiful pink rocks famous at Acadia. The pink comes from feldspar, the white is quartz and the black is hornblende. This granite started in a volcano (over 400 million years ago) and cooled slowly, allowing the large, visible crystals to form.
Hey all--I just found this Thread....Looked at the pictures (NOT read all of it). SO NEAT!
I took a course in Geology when I was in my early 20's at a night-school college at Johns Hopkins here in Baltimore...
It was the most memorable course I have ever taken in my life!!!! I was SOO interested in all the topics, that all I got were straight "A's". In all the quizzes and all the tests....
After it--I understood all the WHY's and HOW's of all the mountains and valleys and layers of rocks in road-cuts.....
Our professor was a tall, lanky 60-some year old man. We all had trouble keeping up with his long strides on all the many field trips we took. He was amazing!
I was his "Star Student"--as I just ate, slept and breathed and thought of nothing but Geology. We had quizzes in EVERY class--and I tell you--it kept us "sharp"! I had all the answers.
--I learned all about "synclines" and "anticlines" in the distant mountains and "faults" and "strata" and "Intrusions" in the Earth's rock layers--and what caused which one.
--I learned all about WHY there is a single granite "chimney" jutting straight up somewhere in an otherwise level field. It ALL had to do with magma and eruptions of vulcanos.
--I learned about WHY in a road cut--the layers of the rocks point up, or down while others go in different directions.... and what caused that black "vein" on the exposed rock.
--I learned what the power of a Volcano can do to the Earth's eventual shaping-----and WHY you can find sea-shells on top of the highest mountains on Earth.
--I learned what causes Faults and why we have earthquakes.....
--I learned that some of the highest mountains, and the deepest valleys on Earth are under the Oceans.....never to be seen by man.
On the few flights I have taken cross-Country--and have been fortunate enough to have a seat by the window--I have been mesmerized at the views from above! You see everything as it should be seen--and never CAN be seen--from ground level. You see where the rivers start--and where they go. You see all the canyon erosions and how it has shaped the land. Flying over Salt lake City---You see how the lake has dried up over times--exposing the white salty sands all around--and you realize that--salt Lake City is a town surrounding a drying up lake.....
You can see all the plateaus of the Rocky Mountains--and realize that they were sheared off by Glaciers--long--long ago! Worn away--buy the eons.
To me--looking down from above--EVERYTHING makes sense!!!! And I gaze in wonder at the sights....
When I took this Geology course, I was then--maybe 20 years old.....A sponge for knowledge! But--I have never forgotten this class I took nor the understanding of the Earth I gained from it!
I could go on and on--but a course in Geology just gives one a totally different perspective on why Earth is what it is--or was--and also WHY it changed to what it is today!
I tell you! If you EVER have a chance to take a college-level course in Geology---DO IT!!!
I post all this here--because this post is all about ROCKS! And--it "rocks"....
Hope to soon read all the Posts I just skimmed over today....
Gita
I wish you would show some enthusiasm, Gita!^_^ I agree completely. Never took any college courses but have attended many lectures, field trips, etc., with the AMNH in NYC.
Ah--Victor----
GOSH! You read fast! I just "sent" that Post.....and 4 minutes later, you have already responded----AND read my "novel" on my passion with Geology!
What is AMNH? I am NOT an "A" student when it comes to acronyms......:o(
Gita
American Museum of Natural History.
DAH!!!!!
Hi Gita! Isn't it great to have the experience you had with your Geology class? I would love to take several courses again.....one would be geology and one would be botany. Loved those!!
Laurel - The 18-wheeler is not the gift I'm bringing you.......it's only the vehicle needed to fulfill your and Sharon's requests for 6-ton erratics to be delivered on our drive south. I think your fireplace stone story exemplifies the old addage: "Be careful what you ask for....you might get it." LOL
Sharon AND Louise,
I know exactly how you feel about NOT revisiting a treasured spot, I think. What if it's not the same? What if it IS the same, but it's not yours, and can never be yours? Some places you leave and it's like getting rid of an old sneaker, but other places you never quite get over. The kind of love you never recover from.
I had a minor brush with geology back in college, but I must admit I didn't really care what kind of rocks the erratics were, I just loved the size and the shapes. I still do. I do take more of an interest now and pay attention to the geological portions of nature tours that I have taken.
Martha
victor great shots of arcadia pink granite. it's been a while since i visted there last. on the previous thread i posted some baxter/kahtadin shots. the whole mountain/knifes edge trail is made of the same pink granite - except these are covered in lichen and not cleaned by the sea.
Thanks Bill.
Oh, now I see where you went Victor. Acadia is wonderful!
Speaking of incredible amount of stone, we went to Gillette's Castle yesterday: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillette_Castle_State_Park
Always wanted to visit the castle - haven't made it yet.
I have enjoyed all your stories everyone, so much history and memories, thanks so much for sharing them.
Victor thanks for all the fascinating views of Arcadia and those amazing rocks. If I get a chance to have another vacation some day that will be tops on the list and I think I would take your advice and get the rangers tour. What is it about rocks that people like so much? Maybe because they are our foundation for life that they strike such a cord in our imaginations. Whatever the reason I think they are very cool.
Visited GC when I was a kid a neat place to visit, very interesting place and craftsmanship with the stone. It was many years ago but as I recall there was a beautiful view.
You're welcome. Here is a more 'typical' Acadia shot - coast, rocks and fog!
Oh, thanks for sharing your pics and stories, everyone. Will have to look through this more thoroughly when time permits. Like the rest of you, I looooooovvvvvveeee rocks! Everytime I got to the beach I find a few to bring home with me. I love hiking in rocky areas. I lived out west in Nevada, California and Arizona for a lot of years, and they have some lovely rocks out there. Loved the Sierra Nevadas. Loved the canyons, hills and, deserts and arroyos of AZ. So much rocky beauty out there.
Karen
Here's one from my hiking area.
victor,
I LOVED the misty picture on the sea-shore above! Soooo moody...dreamy....
The one above--looks like that rock just fell from the sky and landed the way it is sitting....
Let me look through some of my pictures from my trip to Alaska in 2006. Maybe something there might qualify for this Post....
Well--not exactly "eratica"--but still a lot of rocks.....These are along the bay outside of Seward. I was on a ferry.
This is along-side the "Exit Glacier"--the only glacier you can access with a car and a short hike. You can, literally, walk up to the face of it. It, like all the others, is now melting and shrinking....
The gorge you see on the right is where the Glacier once flowed over, when it was still bigger and wider. This was gouged out by the sheer weight of the ice and the boulders and rocks a glacier drags along on it's underside as it makes it's way to the sea.
Beautiful! Can't wait to visit Alaska.
alaska is on my list as well - although it will be tough (impossible) to get the wife to hike knowing there are griz in the woods.
wha,
In the woods we had to hike through to get to the glacier--they said there "might' be some bears in the vicinity....and you are supposed to talk and make noises of some kind.....so they know there are people around and then they stay away. Most wildlife like that does not just attack, but you need to be respectful that it is THEIR territory--and YOU are the intruder....
I was in AK 3 weeks. My sister lives there....Never saw a bear--and never saw a "real" Moose....and if you "might" see a moose--they are the youngsters from the year before that have been abandoned by their Moms as they are having new young. These yearling moose--big as horses--often can be seen near the town, walking through people's gardens and parking lots and crossing roads....a real traffic hazard!
AK is spectacular--especially anything around the Kenai Peninsula. Homer--and it's 5 mile Spit--has become THE tourist mecca....That's where my sister lives....The surrounding area and the many side-trips available--make this area a "must"....
...They even have a beach!
Isn't the Kenie Pen. where theTV series
Northern Exposure was based?
I don't know......
here is another from Baxter. this boudler fell of a cliff beside the lake a long time ago. I like the way trees can grow anywhere.
Those trees are sure hardy
in this case - were hardy - makes for a nice pic though
Gillete's Castle is a great little trip. He was very clever in some of his inventions for the house. And the view is amazing.
Haven't been to Gillete's Castle since the renovations. It is beautiful there. Think I'll plan a day trip. Thanks for reminding me about a backyard treasure, Dave.
All I want to know is this: VICTOR: is there anything that you DON'T know? :-))))
Also, can I have a print of the misty fog dreamy Acadia pic? I would love to stare at that photo whilst meditating!
Victor, Gita & Bill - those are great shots! I also want to go to Alaska! My niece went out years ago and never came back. She is a whitewater rafting guide in the summer and a snow patrol person in the winter, and she now works as an emergency room nurse year around. For years she lived in a large teepee on a riverbank on the grounds of one of the resorts. We'd love to visit her out there at some point.
JoAnn - I loved Northern Exposure. I miss that show.
The first of the"odd intelegent"shows. It became a bit prepostrous after awhile.
Louise - I missed it too so I bought 4 seasons of 'Northern Exposure' on DVD. Bill had never seen it before and now he's hooked!
Alaska is on our "short list" also.
Alaska is wonderful, I was there for almost 2 weeks in June. I stayed with a family in Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, and Salmon Creek ran behind the house where I stayed. The bears were just out of hibernation, hungry, and the salmon were running. I didn't intend to bother them, but was warned to not be out alone near the creek because of their hunger for salmon and anything else they could get their paws on.
It is beautiful there, and unbelievably huge. Many huge cruise ships came to port while I was there, lots were quarantined, some were semiquarantined...sort of surreal. There are no snakes, very few bugs, don't think I saw any at all. I had friends who had cottages way up in the mountains, beautiful places, stark and alone...so I got to see a tourist area as well as live with the family who was born there and had lived in that harsh beauty all their lives.
I have well over 600 pictures.....doubt you would want to see them all, but it sure is a trip I will never forget. I was there during summer solstice.
wha,
take the wife on an alaskan cruise. you can do the hiking tours and whatnot and she can camp out in the spa, casino or pool! No bears on board.except for this one from the time we took the cruise.
Martha
There is also this one--on a street in Anchorage!
But--this is my most favorite shot--from a 4-seated airplane--of where ALL the glacier's melts from this area come to an end......as out to the sea the waters go......
Beautiful! I hope to get there someday.
Sharon, I'd like to know what Aunt Bett would say if she ever saw Alaska.
Anyone driven there? That's what DH would like to do. At this point I think we'll need to wait til he retires to even think about that. Friends of ours drove their camper there back in the early 70's from Michigan. DH helped them cover the undercarriage with plywood to help protect it. The road was not paved back then. The cruise up the Inland Passage sounds great also. Or I've heard by ferry is cool too.
