Tour Announcement - Tracking Ice Age Floods (04-19)

[Jerry]

ANOTHER BACKROAD DRIVERS NORTHWEST TOUR
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/BackroadDrivers/


TRACKING ICE AGE FLOODS
April 19, 2008

This is the first of possibly many Backroad Drivers tours that will track the geologic devastation and resulting scenic panoramas created by Ice Age floods in eastern Washington. Continual build up and breaking of ice dams on 10,000 year old Lake Missoula created gigantic floods, cataclysmic in proportion to anything known by man. Floodwaters covered much of eastern Washington and flowed down the Columbia Gorge carrying topsoil, rocks and boulder laden ice burgs into to the Pacific Ocean and the Willamette Valley.

We will begin our tour series with the most visible and impressive geologic transformation; that being the area between Grand Coulee Dam and the community of Beverly at the lower end of Crab Creek Canyon.

We do not pretend to be experts in geology and would appreciate any help we can muster from folks more knowledgeable in the subject. Besides our usual invitation to members of Backroad Drivers Northwest we would like to extend an invitation to all members of the Ice Age Floods Institute to join us as well.
http://www.iafi.org/

This will be a day trip, a long one with many miles of driving, so bring snacks, a lunch and bottled water. We will make frequent stops, many with restroom facilities, and we will never be far from civilization. Most roads will be paved, but there will be one section of gravel in Crab Creek Canyon. High ground clearance vehicles will not be necessary.

Our plan is to meet in Moses Lake and drive backroads to Coulee Dam. From there we will follow the diverted path of the Columbia River as it carved it's way through Grand Coulee creating Dry Falls and several resulting lake beds, now recreational playgrounds, before the river emptied into the main channel near Beverly.

Meet at Perkins Restaurant in Moses Lake. Come early for breakfast or coffee and plan to leave at 9:00 AM. The restaurant is located at 412 Interlake. From Interstate 90 turn North at Exit 176 and the restaurant will be on your right. Tell the folks at the restaurant you are with Backroad Drivers or the Ice Age Floods group and they should attempt to seat us together. Otherwise look for our silver Ford Escape with Backroad Drivers Northwest stickers and we will monitor channel 22 on the C.B. radio.

RSVP is not necessary, but it would be appreciated.

Thanks, and we hope to see you there.

Jerry

_________________________________
BACKROAD DRIVERS NORTHWEST

[RidgeRunner]

Ok, Jerry.

Joey and I plan to be there. Looking forward to it. We're also http://www.iafi.org/ members, lower Columbia chapter.

Mick

[Jerry]

That's great, Mick. I am looking forward to seeing you. I will do some homework on local geology prior to the tour, but don't expect too much from me. I hope some real pros will accompany us on this trip. There is a lot to see!


Upper Grand Coulee featuring Dry Falls and Banks Lake.

[Albino94ltd]

Paul and I are very interested in this one. Our alternative for that weekend is Reiter trails but this one would be good for the Lincoln (I love driving the Lincoln)

We'll see if we can make it. It'll be a very early start for us to get to Moses Lake by 9

[Jerry]

Cool. Drive the Lincoln. At least you will ride in comfort! Small world, we received a tour announcement in the mail today from the Lincoln & Continental Owners Club; something about a car show in Issaquah. We are still members of LCOC, but no longer own a Lincoln.
Jerry

[Albino94ltd]

Originally Posted by soggymountain

Cool. Drive the Lincoln. At least you will ride in comfort! Small world, we received a tour announcement in the mail today from the Lincoln & Continental Owners Club; something about a car show in Issaquah. We are still members of LCOC, but no longer own a Lincoln.
Jerry

Actually, the seats in the '94 Limited are a little more comfy but the Lincoln rides much better.

LCOC on the 13th at the Triple X Drive Inn on Gilman Blvd. hmm? Just over the hill from us. We might have to stop in for a root beer float. I haven't been there in years. Thanks for the reminder.

[Paul]

Hi Guys,

My wife and I (and our Golden Retriever, "Molson") are planning to attend this event. Looking forward to getting out and meeting some of you and exploring some of the backroads. . .

Paul
'91 Explorer Sport

[Jerry]

Welcome, Paul. We are looking forward to seeing you!
Jerry

[Jerry]

ANOTHER BACKROAD DRIVERS NORTHWEST TOUR
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/BackroadDrivers/


TRACKING ICE AGE FLOODS
APRIL 19, 2008

Two weeks from today. Join us in following the diverted route of the Columbia River where it carved out the upper and lower Grand Coulee, Dry Falls and the Pot Holes. What a spectacular sight! We will have a few members of the Ice Age Flood Institute join us on our trek and their input should be most informative. If geology is not your bag then the scenic beauty of our surroundings should be enticement enough.



We are meeting in Moses Lake and will drive backroads to Coulee City. From there we will follow the shoreline of Banks Lake with a stop at Dry Falls.



Our tour will continue past Lake Lenore, Soap Lake and Moses Lake before entering the Pot Holes and Crab Creek Canyon.



Please refer to previous announcements for details and we hope to see you in Moses Lake on April 19th!!!

[OlympiaFJ60]

This looks like a real good trip. I grew up in Moses Lake but never explored to the north much, except cliff jumping as a youth at deap lake in the sun lakes state park. We can't make it over that weekend though.

I am visiting my Parents in Moses Lake and my mom just handed me a book title "Northwest Arid Lands, An Inroduction to the Columbia Basin Shrub-Steppe" that may be of interest. I has plant and animal pictures/identification, geology info and more.

Good luck with the trip, and I'm looking forward to reading the post trip writeup.