?? - 7:30: Early Breakfast
7:30-8:30: Drivc a bit more than an hour to the Wildcat Canyon Cretaceous fossil beds.
Go west on I-70 to Collyer Exit 115; turn south and drive about 13 miles.
Look for the Niobrara chalk out-crops to the east (left). They will be close to the road.
7:30-8:30: Drivc a bit more than an hour to the Wildcat Canyon Cretaceous fossil beds.
Go west on I-70 to Collyer Exit 115; turn south and drive about 13 miles.
Look for the Niobrara chalk out-crops to the east (left). They will be close to the road.
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| Northern Ellis County Road
Photo by Tom Geyer |
Northern Trego County Road Photo
by Tom Geyer |
Why are these roads different? Which would you
rather drive on after a big rain?
8:30-12:30: The participants will be involved in fossil hunting and other field activities. There could be
environmental mapping, soil sampling, determining the height of formations using a Brunton
compass, or student-designed activities that fit their interest. There should be observations
about the differences between this area and the Konza Prairie. Get hot and dirty today.
8:30-12:30: The participants will be involved in fossil hunting and other field activities. There could be
environmental mapping, soil sampling, determining the height of formations using a Brunton
compass, or student-designed activities that fit their interest. There should be observations
about the differences between this area and the Konza Prairie. Get hot and dirty today.
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| Wildcat Canyon |
Soil and grass near Wildcat Canyon |
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| Full of oysters and clams with some
shark teeth |
Unknown vertebrate about 20 inches
long |
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| Wildcat Canyon Big Fossil?? Photo by Tom Geyer |
Someone found a larger fossil and started preparing
it for removal. The plaster and foam covering under the blue tarp was
about 10ft. long and 2ft. wide. They tried to build a protective shelter,
but they evidently did not understand Kansas weather. Professional
fossil hunters come here sometimes, but I'm not sure if these guys were pros.
Wildcat Canyon is private land and public access is allowed with
permission. Treat the place with respect.
permission. Treat the place with respect.
12:30-2:00: A 10-minute drive will
take us to the yard of the family farm of Pat Nichol and
Jeff and Lynette Withington. Go south on the county road;
go over the Smoky Hill River
Bridge; take the first left after the bridge and go a couple hundred yards; then take the first
left into the farmyard. We will have lunch in the shade of the farmyard and take a look
around. They do dry-land farming and run a cow/calf operation on range land. If their
schedules allow, we can talk to them about their operation and get a tour of the place.
This tour is tentative, particularly if the trip falls just before or during wheat harvest.
Bridge; take the first left after the bridge and go a couple hundred yards; then take the first
left into the farmyard. We will have lunch in the shade of the farmyard and take a look
around. They do dry-land farming and run a cow/calf operation on range land. If their
schedules allow, we can talk to them about their operation and get a tour of the place.
This tour is tentative, particularly if the trip falls just before or during wheat harvest.
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| Wheat |
Feed |
Range |
2:00-5:00: Return to Wildcat Canyon to wrap up
activities. A 10-minute drive takes us to the Castle
Rock Niobrara chalk outcrops. Go north from Wildcat Canyon and take the first road west
(left). Go about 4 miles until you see the sign for Castle Rock. Turn right.
Rock Niobrara chalk outcrops. Go north from Wildcat Canyon and take the first road west
(left). Go about 4 miles until you see the sign for Castle Rock. Turn right.
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| Castle Rock |
Niobrara outcrops above Castle Rock |
Yucca and dry soil |
Photos by Tom Geyer
This is private land, but public access has always been allowed. Continue with geoscience activities and remember to pick up after yourselves.
A word about Safety: Chalk is much more crumbly than granite, so you rock climbers keep that in mind. Don't walk out on anything that looks like it is an overhang. There are some rattlesnakes around here.
The chances of encountering one are not great, but keep your eyes and ears open. Learn to recognize the buzz of a locust and realize that it is not a rattler. Don't go reaching way back into crevices blindly.
5:00-6:00: Return to Hays.
6:00-8:30: Clean-up, go out to eat, and get provisions for tomorrow's lunch.
8:30-??: Go to Fort Hays State University, Albertson Hall for a star viewing. Stay in Hays.
This is private land, but public access has always been allowed. Continue with geoscience activities and remember to pick up after yourselves.
A word about Safety: Chalk is much more crumbly than granite, so you rock climbers keep that in mind. Don't walk out on anything that looks like it is an overhang. There are some rattlesnakes around here.
The chances of encountering one are not great, but keep your eyes and ears open. Learn to recognize the buzz of a locust and realize that it is not a rattler. Don't go reaching way back into crevices blindly.
5:00-6:00: Return to Hays.
6:00-8:30: Clean-up, go out to eat, and get provisions for tomorrow's lunch.
8:30-??: Go to Fort Hays State University, Albertson Hall for a star viewing. Stay in Hays.
