As part of my new graduate class this quarter teaching digital field mapping and high resolution topography from UAV photogrammetry, we had an excellent field trip to Rainbow Basin. We had a diverse group of thirteen students including undergrads and graduate students from all walks of earth sciences, environmental sciences, and even archaeology. With such a daunting challenge of teaching field geology to such varied backgrounds, the spectacular exposure and well-behaved beds of Rainbow Basin seemed like the perfect place to take the class. At the same time more subtle folds and faults provided plenty of complexity for the more experienced students. Generally the days went quite smoothly (much smoother than the initial undergrad class I took here last year) with few glitches, everyone very quickly picking up on the mapping, and the temperature warm but not overwhelming. We were in good company as four other schools chose to take classes here the same weekend as us!
A detour into the badlands
After a solid day of mapping we turned to the campground. The cooks cooked a tasty meal while the rest got an opportunity to fly the drone. By the end of the weekend everyone got a chance to fly. I got the students to work a little on their maps in the evening before trying out the solar generator (success!) and relaxing by a nice fire under a cloudless sky.
Sunday started with clearing camp and another half day of mapping in Rainbow Basin. I enjoyed chatting with the other professors (who I all by chance knew) and in seeing the students' maps continue to develop. I could not resist the urge to have a little fun: scree skiing the black diamond slopes and showing some of the class some of the mud cave features. By the time we piled in the cars everyone seemed to have gained confidence in creating a geologic map. It was a great trip! Thanks to the class!
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