About this Web Site:
Hiking is a personal adventure. Some hike to get away from it all, others like the exercise, others the scenery. Many hike to learn more about the land. And there are those who hike for all of the above reasons and more. This web site is an adventure along those lines but with an added dimension. We focus on hikes and trails that bring the hiker closer to the most interesting aspects and features of the following disciplines (sciences): geology, archaeology, anthropology, paleontology and astronomy.

Geology:

The study of earth, its history, life forms and material it's composed of and processes that affect its exterior and interior.

Paleontology:

The study of past life, works with geology to date rock formations.

Archaeology:

The study and reconstruction of history (life and customs of people) based on the material remains of past cultures. Archaeology is a branch of Anthropology.

Anthropology:

The study of humans, their biological and cultural characteristics and differences. The focus is on, but is not limited to, fossil remains; whereas Archaeology's focus is on material, artifact remains.

Astronomy:

The study of the material universe beyond earth's atmosphere.

 
Relating all of this to hiking:

The sciences (studies, disciplines) mentioned above inter-link in a physical and logical sense. When you hike and experience Geology, you may come across artifacts (arrowheads, etc.) which lead you into other studies, such as Archaeology. In limestone you may find a type of clam shell. Or if you're lucky enough, while studying a layer of sandstone, you may find a bone (fossil) protruding from the rock -- the realm of Paleontology. This may sound far fetched but it won't be once you start hiking with an open mind and are willing to get off the trail. As for Astronomy, how does it intersect with the other sciences? It does in the beginning of it all, the Big Bang, when the universe took its initial form. First the universe exploded into existence, then our solar system, then earth (the study of Geology). Hiking can take you to some pretty strange places and experiences. Some trails present a strong sense of energy and a feeling of closeness with what surrounds you. The destination and journey are critical to learning although often the journey itself is considerably more educational and enjoyable than the destination.

Please note: Much of the material in this web site is covered more extensively in my two hiking books (see Readings and Books ).

The picture on the home page (above) was taken at the southeast corner of the Colorado Plateau, looking west across the Chama Basin of northern New Mexico. The flat topped mountain on the horizon (left) is Cerro Pedernal. Some artists may recognize it (up closer) from the famous painting by Georgia O'Keeffe. Below that is sedimentary rock formations where ancient Native American artifacts have been found and the bones of woolly mammoths and bison they killed. Also, found in those formations were the remains of the earliest dinosaur in the southwest, Coelophysis. The light colored, ribbed, cliffs to the right are volcanic ash outcrops that mark a major fault line, a fracture in the earth that brought the cliffs up from a thousand feet down. The volcanic ash was carried to this location by streams coming out of volcanic centers in southern Colorado, and northeast New Mexico millions of years ago. The brown rock in the foreground is made of basalt, created by massive lava flows that once covered this area. It's all there: geology, paleontology, archaeology and, at night, 360 degree views of clear night skies with lots of stars and meteorites (astronomy). Northern New Mexico is a great place to begin.