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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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

How Do They Know? Major Findings About the Ice Age Floods

Spokane Valley Library 22 N Herald Rd, A, Spokane Valley, W, WA, United States

  Maps Have you ever been watching a science program and wondered “How do they know that?” Dr. Gary L. Ford, President, IAFI, will briefly discuss the how and who “figured it out” regarding aspects of the Ice Age Floods, looking at five questions. These include: how we know there was a huge glacial lake in western Montana thousands of years ago, how we know it drained rapidly perhaps a hundred times, about how many floods there were and when they occurred, where the floodwater came from, and about how long it took the floodwater to get to the ocean. We also go over which answers to these questions are still being debated by researchers. Presented in partnership with Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI)

Sheila Alfsen – Mt. St. Helens May 18,1980 Eruption – Lwr. Columbia Chapter

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

The 1980 Eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington was the worst volcanic disaster in recorded US history. Geologist Sheila Alfsen, will bring the event back to life; detailing its onset and eruption sequence. She will illustrate its volcanic hazards with examples from other volcanoes and comparing their relative sizes. Sheila will discuss the advances in volcanology made as result of the eruption, and how they are used around the world to gain prediction and offer disaster mitigation. Thursday, May 15, 2025, In Person 7:00 PM (PDT) at Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, OR 97062 ALSO Live ZOOM from THC, Click for Zoom meeting, Meeting ID: 869 4651 3479 Passcode: 322382. Sheila Alfsen Sheila Alfsen's Background: *Current Instructor of Geology: Portland State University, Chemeketa Community College, Linn Benton Community College *Researcher *FEMA Earthquake Publication Reviewer *Paleontology- University of Oregon, Volcanology, Oceanography *Master of Arts in Teaching, Western Oregon University *Bachelors of Arts from Western Oregon University, Geology and Spanish *Oregon resident since 1970 - extensively traveled in US, particularly the Western states, Alaska, Arctic region, Iceland, Hawaii, Mexico, Puerto Rico * Thirty-five years in Education: Experience in interpretation for National Park Service

Free

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Palisades Park

Palisades Park 2-198 S Rimrock Dr, Spokane, WA, United States

The 3-mile hike will be led by IAFICS board member geologist Michael Hamilton. It will take place along Rimrock Drive, which has spectacular views of Spokane and the Spokane Valley. The Glacial Outburst Flood Story will include a lot of "arm-waving," pointing out flood features both along the trail and with views to the east. The geology discussion will include details of another kind of flood that hit the Spokane area 14 million years ago. The hike will then cut to the west along one of the park's trails to find mysterious Mima mounds, and then loop back to the parking area.    

Northeastern Waterville Plateau Field Trip

Leahy Junction Coulee City, WA, United States

2025 Ellensburg Ice Age Flood Institute Field Trip - "Northeastern Waterville Plateau". Topics will center around the Okanogan Lobe of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet and Ice Age floods in a now farmed and ranched landscape in a part of Central Washington few of us visit.  Trip will begin at Crown Point Vista north of Grand Coulee. Detailed schedule and the topics to be covered: 10:00  Stop 1—Crown Point Vista—Topics: Bedrock geology; Weather & climate; Biomes; Cordilleran Ice Sheet; Ice Age floods. 10:45  Depart 11:15  Stop 2—Northeast of Leahy Junction—Topics:  Advancing ice landforms (e.g., drumlins and flutes); Soil mounds & patterned ground. 12:00  Depart 12:30  Stop 3—Trefry Canyon headwaters—Topics: Glacial meltwater features (e.g., tunnel valleys and eskers); Farming & ranching patterns. 1:15  Depart 1:30     Stop 4—East of Osborne Corner—Topics: Stagnant ice landforms (e.g., recessional moraines and haystack rocks). 2:15     Depart 2:45     Stop 5—Strahl Canyon—Topics: Glacial meltwater; Glacial Lake Columbia sediments & terraces; Landslides. 3:30     Depart 3:45     Stop 6—Columbia River Overlook—Topics: Changing paths of the Columbia River; Crossing the Columbia River; River transport & rapids. 4:30     Depart for home Logistics: This trip is free and open to the public.  You will need a Discover Pass for Stop 1.  After Stop 1, we will drive on a mix of paved and good quality gravel roads.  A standard sedan should do fine on the gravel roads.  Carpool if you will make the loop back to Crown Point; otherwise, there should be lots of parking available at each of the stops.  We will take short hikes at Stops 2, 3 and 4.  By short, I mean 0.5 mi or less at each stop. The hiking terrain is fairly gentle but we will be traipsing through sagebrush and bunch grass.  There are no restroom or picnic facilities along our field trip route.  Therefore, you will need to use the great outdoors if you need to go.  Plan on eating lunch/snacks on the road or at the stops.  There won’t be a formal lunch stop  Dogs and kids are fine to bring as long as they are well-behaved.  Dress for the weather.  June weather here can be sunny and hot to windy & cool.  I will post a pdf of the field guide by 9 June on my CWU website at https://www.cwu.edu/academics/geography/_documents/karl-lillquist.php.  Scroll down the page to “Field Guides”.  You will find it under “Margins of the Eastern Cascades”.  Feel free to download and bring it on the field trip in digital format or print it out.  The Ellensburg Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute will also provide ~40 hard copies of the field guide for the trip.  There is no cost for the field guides.  However, if you are not a member of the Ellensburg Chapter, please consider making a donation to the chapter to help cover the costs of the field guides (each cost ~$12/each). Questions? Email me at lillquis@cwu.edu or leave a phone message at 509 963-1184.  Emails are best as I only check that phone a couple of times each week. I hope you can join us on Saturday June 14th. Karl Lillquist

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