All IAFI

Name: 1.5 Million Years of Climate Data from the Antarctic Drilling Project
Start: 2025-05-05T19:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-05-05T20:30:00-07:00

February 2025
February 12 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm PST

Google Earth & the Field Notes of Bretz & Pardee

North Spokane Library 44 E Hawthorne Rd, Spokane, WA

Join Glenn Cruickshank as he shares a look at 16 years of J Harlen Bretz’s field notes about the historic ice age floods and 30 years of Joseph Pardee’s USGS field notes, now publicly available for the first time in 100 years and visible through Google Earth. This presentation will introduce you to a large and growing collection of historic notes by early ice age floods investigators, but if you can't make the presentation you can explore much of the material on Nick Zentner's CWU webpage. Presentation will be by Glenn Cruickshank, Vice President, Cheney-Spokane Chapter, IAFI, Liberty Lake Presented in partnership with Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) (Registration required on SCLD website. Registration opens at 6:00 PM Wednesday, January 15, 2025.)
February 18 @ 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm PST

Oregon Gold – This valuable mineral is brought to you by Geology

Tualatin Heritage Center 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR, United States

Geologist and professor, Sheila Alfsen, will show how geologic processes that occurred in Oregon paved the way for the discovery and utilization of gold in our state. Sheila is an Adjunct Instructor of Geology at Portland State University, Chemeketa Community College, and Linn-Benton Community College. Tuesday, February 18, 2025, In Person 6:45PM PST at Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR 97062 Simultaneous Live ZOOM from THC if you cannot attend the in-person THC meeting yourself. Click here for Zoom meeting, Meeting ID: 869 4651 3479 Passcode: 322382
March 2025
March 4 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PST

Terroir and the floods

(12Dec24) Scott Burns is back in March to talk about the impact the Ice Age Floods had on vinticulture in the Pacific Northwset. Join us as Scott explains how the Floods influenced the regional properties of Northwest soils and ultimately made the Pacific Northwest one of the prime wine producing regions in the United States. The "virtual wine tasting" will happen at our chapter meeting 04Mar2025 at 7:00pm at Bellevue College, Building B ,ROOM 104. This lecture will be in-person and livecast on Zoom. Click on Zoom link: https://us02web.Zoom.us/j/82985244730 Bellevue College, Bldg B Rm 104
March 15 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm PDT

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Escure Ranch / Towell Falls

Escure Ranch Washington

The Cheney-Spokane Chapter of the IAFI is scheduling a hike at Escure Ranch on the BLM Rock Creek Recreation Site on Saturday, March 15th. The hike will start at 10:00 a.m. It will be led by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Cheney-Spokane Chapter. You will meet the leader at the trailhead. Description of the Escure Ranch Hike The hike will begin and end at the Escure Ranch parking area, of the Bureau of Land Management, Rock Creek Recreation site. The hike will follow an old ranch road to Towell Falls and return on the same route. The out and back hike will be about 6.5 miles. The trail is mostly double track over dirt and rock, with an elevation gain and loss of about 160 feet. The hike is a pleasant trek through a remote scabland canyon. Features will include rock benches and basins, flood bars, Mima mounds, mesas and waterfalls. This hike is included in the book, On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods – Northern Reaches, by Bjornstad & Kiver. Directions to the trailhead will be provided to hikers after registration. Click on the Register button to sign up for the hike. The hike will be limited to 20 hikers. Items to bring with you: appropriate shoes, day pack, water, snacks, appropriate clothing for changes in the weather, sun protection, emergency items, camera and binoculars. Walking poles will be helpful. The hike is free; however, donations for support of Chapter activities will be accepted. For additional questions, contact Don at 509-891-5875.
April 2025
April 5 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm PDT

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Fishtrap Lake Scablands

Fishtrap Lake North Loop Sprague, WA, United States

The Cheney-Spokane Chapter of the IAFI is scheduling a hike at the north loop trailhead of Fishtrap Lake on Saturday, April 5th. The hike will start at 10:00 a.m. It will be led by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Cheney-Spokane Chapter. You will meet the leader at the trailhead. Fishtrap Lake, Washington (BLM Photo) Description of Hike The hike will begin and end at the north trailhead at Fishtrap Lake. The hike will follow the north loop trail, with a total length of about 5 miles. The trail is mostly single track over dirt and rock, with an elevation gain and loss of about 500 feet. The hike will provide an intimate view of the channeled scablands that were carved out by the ice age floods. Features will include pothole lakes, rock benches, Mima mounds, and streamlined and scarped Palouse hills. The hike will also provide wide open views of Fishtrap Lake and the surrounding country. This hike is included in On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods – Northern Reaches, by Bjornstad & Kiver. However, we will be following trails that were constructed after the book was published. Directions to the trailhead From I-90 take Exit 254 and proceed south 2.4 miles on the Sprague Highway. Turn left (east) on Fishtrap Road and proceed 0.6 miles to the trailhead parking on the right. Register for the hike using the buttons below. This event will be limited to 20 hikers. Items to bring with you: appropriate shoes, day pack, water, snacks, appropriate clothing for changes in the weather, sun protection, emergency items, camera and binoculars. Walking poles will be helpful. The hike is free; however, donations for support of Chapter activities will be accepted. For addition questions contact Don at 509-891-5875.
April 15 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm PDT

Mapping the Pacific Northwest’s Glacial Legacy

Cheney Community Library 610 1st St, Cheney, WA

Enhanced LIDAR images (WA-DNR) Glaciers have shaped much of the Pacific Northwest’s landscape over the past 15,000 years. The Cordilleran ice sheet, repeated ice age floods, and expansive alpine glaciation have left their distinctive fingerprints on the topography of our region. Geologists and cartographers have been mapping and interpreting glacial landforms since the late 19th century. In the past decade, the Washington Geological Survey has created new maps that build upon this rich cartographic history by fusing older datasets and techniques with modern insights and technology, such as lidar. Using both historical and modern maps, this presentation by Daniel Coe, Washington Geologic Survey, Seattle, will be a visual journey through the Pacific Northwest’s glacial past and present. Presented in partnership with Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) This event will be live via Zoom. Watch at the library or from anywhere you have an internet connection. Register in-person at the library to view the online presentation at Cheney Library. Register online to view the online presentation from home or anywhere. Note: as of April 2 at 9 PM there are still 33 in-person seats available and 93 online seats available! Registration is required.
April 28 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm PDT

Tom Pierson – Geology of the Gorge

White Salmon Valley Community Library 77 NE Wauna Ave, White Salmon, WA, United States

Tom Pierson, retired USGS Geologist/Hydrologist, will present an overview of the catastrophic forces and events that have shaped the Columbia Gorge that we know today. Our majestic ancient river has fended off unceasing, violent geologic attempts to block it and divert it, but it keeps on flowing--it's quite a story. Tom will describe how small and huge volcanic eruptions, colossal floods, enormous landslides, and the grinding forces of tectonic crustal deformation have all taken their shots, yet the Columbia still flows to the sea. If you know where to look, you can see the evidence of these old heavyweight knockout rounds. This talk will be hosted by the Columbia River Gorge Chapter of Ice Age Floods Institute at the White Salmon Community Library, beginning at 5:30pm on Monday, April 28.
April 28 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm PDT

How the Ice Age Floods Changed the Course of the Palouse River

Moran Prairie Library 6004 S Regal St, Spokane, WA

Palouse Falls - Photo Glenn Traver Before the Ice Age Floods, the Palouse River would have flowed through present day Washtucna, Kahlotus, Connell, Mesa, and Eltopia before entering the Columbia River near the Pasco Airport. Today, it takes a fifty-mile shortcut to the Snake River at Lyons Ferry via the Palouse Canyon and Palouse Falls. In this presentation by Lloyd Stoess, President, Palouse Falls Chapter, IAFI, we look at the two factors that caused this dramatic shift—either one by itself would not have been enough. To examine when this happened, we look at some possibilities and clues recently discovered by scientists. Presented in partnership with Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI) (Registration required on SCLD website. Registration opens at 6:30 PM Monday, March 31, 2025.)
May 2025
May 2 - May 4

2025 IAFI Membership Meeting – Gorge-ous Gathering May2-3-4

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center 5000 Discovery Dr., The Dalles, OR, United States

Celebrating Ice Age Floods Institute's 30th Anniversary The annual IAFI Membership Meeting is coming to the Columbia Gorge this May 2-3, 2025, and all our members and their guests are cordially invited to come experience some of the best and most interesting features the Gorge has to offer. There’ll be opportunities to explore storied Gorge wildflowers and native plants, geology and winery field trips, whitewater rafting, a membership meeting/dinner and a presentation by the ever-entertaining Nick Zenter. Friday, May 2nd, will be action packed with activities during the day. Choose between a guided Spring Wildflower Walk, a Journey Through Terroir field trip, an Unveiling the Gorge field trip (repeated on Sunday, May 4). There are also opportunities available every day for full-day or half-day adventure whitewater raft trips on the Klickitat or White Salmon Rivers with Wet Planet Rafting, a local world-class rafting company. Friday evening will feature our members meeting and dinner, followed by an entertaining and informative presentation by the inimitable Nick Zenter exploring and geolocating J Harlan Bretz’s field notes. Jim O'Connor Richard Waitt Saturday, May 3rd, will feature the main Ice Age Floods Gorge Geology Field Trip – Explore evidence of the Ice Age Floods in the Columbia Gorge led by USGS expert geologists Jim O’Connor and Richard Waitt. This field trip will examine the geology of the Columbia River Gorge with emphasis on the effects of the Ice Age Missoula floods, examining key sites and discussing the latest research. Learn more about the Missoula Floods, explore dramatic flood landforms, and enjoy beautiful vistas, lunch at the Deschutes River Park (order a box lunch or bring your own), and a no-host afternoon recap at Maryhill Winery. Check-in begins each day at 8:00 AM at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center Find more detailed information here There is also plenty to see and do in the Gorge to keep you fascinated and engaged if you can stay another day. Visit iconic Multnomah Falls (I-84 access only) and spectacular Vista House at Crown Point overlook. Visit Timberline Lodge, a stunning 1930’s CCC project, on the snowy upper flanks of Mt. Hood. Travel the Hood River Fruit Loop or ride the Mt Hood Railroad Hike one (or more) of the innumerable and spectacular Gorge hiking trails Take Windsurfing and Kiteboarding lessons or just watch the action Enjoy fine dining, artisan wineries, breweries, museums and shops throughout the Gorge. There’s so much more to see and do that we can’t even begin to list it all.
May 5 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PDT

Canceled 1.5 Million Years of Climate Data from the Antarctic Drilling Project

(05Dec2024) The Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT), where the Pleistocene glacial cycles changed from 41 to ∼100 kyr periodicity, is one of the most intriguing unsolved issues in the field of paleoclimatology. Jerry McManus is an AGU Fellow who is Chair of Columbia University's Environmental School. He spent time in Antarctica as part in a European-led consortium project to drill down an existing drill hole to punch back another half-million years of climate data from ice in the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The goal of the project was to get a continuous ice record reaching back past the Mid Pleistocene Transition (MPT) to get a better perspective on the short cycle into the long cycle transition. At our May meeting, Jerry will present an early glimpse on what the team discovered. The May 05 meeting will be held in Bellevue College, Room B104. The program begins at 7:00 PM.

All IAFI

February 2025

Google Earth & the Field Notes of Bretz & Pardee

Oregon Gold – This valuable mineral is brought to you by Geology

March 2025

Terroir and the floods

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Escure Ranch / Towell Falls

April 2025

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Fishtrap Lake Scablands

Mapping the Pacific Northwest’s Glacial Legacy

Tom Pierson – Geology of the Gorge

How the Ice Age Floods Changed the Course of the Palouse River

May 2025

2025 IAFI Membership Meeting – Gorge-ous Gathering May2-3-4

Canceled 1.5 Million Years of Climate Data from the Antarctic Drilling Project

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