7 Day Earth Science Wilderness Tour
The Wild Calls invites you to enjoy a 7-day tour discovering some of the most fascinating geology in the world. Wyoming is known for its beautiful parks and wilderness and together with a Yellowstone/Teton adventure we offer a look into the earth’s past by exploring some of the most scenic and unique areas of the west. Known only to a few experts, these sites will take your breath away. Under the direction of our science advisor Professor Charlie Love, each tour will be geared for those with an adventurous and awe inspiring education in mind. Geology, History, Anthropology, Paleontology, and Archaeology are just a few of the subjects covered.
The Wild Calls offers a luxury ride filled with all the little things that make a road trip special. Individual attention is something we all enjoy and by keeping our tours smaller than most you can expect hands on treatment. With short mild walks off the beaten path, led by our experts, in each days itinerary you get the best of both worlds: A comfortable ride and a bit of exercise. Enjoy your evenings exploring some of our nightly destinations as well as make a new friends.
The Wild Calls, and we are ready to take you on a learning trip that you will remember for a lifetime.
Trip Route
Itinerary
DAY 1 Green River, WY 6100′
We depart Salt Lake City International Airport at 2:30 PM (MTN) for a quick trip up the canyons and into Wyoming. Our Green River evening will include a catered dinner and a meet and greet reception. We will also hold a short Geology class to introduce some of our week’s activities.
(D)
DAY 2 Rock Springs, WY 6388′
We leave Green River and head south for a day trip around the spectacular Flaming Gorge Reservoir. We will discover ancient fault lines, cross bedded sand dunes and more. A side trip into the Sheep Creek Geologic area will surely stun your senses. Finish the night with a trip to a museum.
(B,L)
DAY 3 Thermopolis, WY 4592′
After a night in Rock Springs we travel north visiting the Carissa Gold mine and the unbelievable Red and Sinks canyons. After a quick Casino stop for lunch, we continue on through the Wind River canyon complete with some fossil hunts and many camera opportunities. In Thermopolis we discover the Hot Springs as well as a visit a Dinosaur Museum.
(B)
DAY 4 Silver Gate, MT 7400′
On our trip towards the north entrance of Yellowstone we venture into the Beartooth Mountains for some amazing views. A journey to the Top of the World will leave you breathless. With some stops along the way our science leader will answer your questions. An early evening in rustic Cooke City, MT will give you a chance to relax at one of their quaint cafes and bars, shop at the historic general store or just walk around town.
(B,L,D)
DAY 5 Silver Gate, MT 7400′
Into Yellowstone we go. An early morning trip gives us the best chance to see some of the parks animals as they move through the meadows and trees. With amazing geology to discuss and several interpretive stops you will no doubt enjoy this day.
DAY 6 Jackson, WY 6451′
After a night in our rustic lodge in Silver Gate, MT we head back into the park for some more exploring. Old Faithful and a nice long walk off the beaten path make this a day to remember. Today you begin to realize that you are touring a live super volcano. The smell of sulfur in the air adds to the experience. Teton National Park awaits us as we make our way to amazing Jackson, Wyoming. The Grand Tetons dominate the view and geology is the name of this game.
DAY 7 Salt Lake City, UT 4327′
On our last leg we travel the Snake and Hoback Rivers back down onto the high plains. A stop at crystal clear and deep Fremont lake gives us a glimpse into the areas very recent glacial past. As we travel back to Salt Lake City we will discuss our trip and travel across the bed of ancient Eocene lake Gosiute. If time permits we will make a stop at Fossil Butte National Monument where most of the world’s museum grade fossil fish originate. Our last night will be spent in historic Salt Lake City as you prepare for your trips home.
(B,L)
The Wild Calls will be collecting passengers from the Salt Lake City Airport prior to our 2:30 PM (MTN) departure. If you arrive in SLC prior to the Sunday of the departure let us know and we will inform you of the location you need to be at for pick-up.
Gear list
To ensure a satisfying time we recommended the following:
A light jacket or windbreaker.
Most of our trip is done at altitudes above 7000ft. The weather can be in a word, tricky. While the summer months are usually very comfortable, temperatures at the upper elevations can be cool in the mornings and evenings.
Comfortable walking or hiking shoes.
We may encounter some wet ground or streams, especially in Yellowstone so be prepared.
A hat.
While optional, we will be in and out of the Tour Coach, so it may come in handy. We do have long walks at several Yellowstone stops and a little head cover is nice.
Sunscreen.
Most of the trip is spent at or above 7000ft elevation, the suns rays are less filtered by the atmosphere. If you are easily burned don’t forget sunscreen.
We are also available if you have questions about what to bring, just pick up the phone or e-mail us and we will be happy to help.
A good rule of thumb for Wyoming is “be prepared for anything”.
The definition of Summer in Wyoming is: “A 48-hour period sometime in July or August”
Charlie’s teaching Philosophy and Goals:
More than anything else I want to teach you to be observant and to ask yourself questions about the landscape, rocks, and fossils you see every day. I want you to see the connections to geology with your everyday life, and I hope you would take with you the scientific logic learned through geology and apply it to what you see and do in the future.
You simply cannot live in or visit Wyoming or the Rocky Mountain West and expect to reach adulthood without having had a geology course. You can of course, but who would respect you?
During the 7 days of your Geologic Wilderness Tour you will be examining some of the following subjects; some in detail and others in passing. This trip is about learning. It’s your chance to ride and walk along with an expert and ask questions to your hearts desire.
Things you’ll learn about…
Geology is the scientific study of the earth.
Interestingly, it is a science that encompasses just about every other science it touches. While one can surely argue that Biology is its own discipline, it only takes a few steps backwards to get to the basic elements that make up a cell and then again to the star that formed the elements in the first place. Now place those elements here on the earth, add a few billion years and presto, what do you find? Geology. This Geologic umbrella will cover many of the subjects we will encounter during our trip.
Paleontology is the study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric or geologic times, as represented by the fossils of plants and animals.
Since 550 million years worth of fossil deposition is represented here, Wyoming is a paleontologists dream. Additionally, the fossil record of the Eocene period between 58 and 38 million years ago is the most complete of any place in the world.
Volcanology is the study of Volcanos.
It just so happens that we will be travelling inside the largest super volcano on the planet. While in Yellowstone we will see some amazing results of past explosions and the rumblings of life that now exist under the Caldara floor. Our guide is a former park ranger, so you may see some things that are not on a normal tour.
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability.
You may not realize this but this is an important subject. We will discover the hazards of dam building, as well as, what happens when you build levees on a river. This discussion will open your eyes. The conversation on glaciers here in Wyoming is another very interesting topic that will make you think.
Mineralogy is the scientific study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.
Trona is the mineral you’ve probably never heard of but, as you will discover, may be one of the single most important minerals in the world. I promise you this; you would not enjoy most of modern life without it.
History
On our trip we will definitely talk about some interesting History and even visit parts of the Oregon/Mormon trail and a gold mine. Wyoming has some amazing firsts and really deserves to be called the Equality state.
Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity.
While these subjects are not the focus of the trip, our guide has spent a lifetime working in these fields and loves to strike up tales of the ancient peoples of the west. Just ask, he’s probably done it.
Archaeology is the study of the human past through its material remains.
Cultural Anthropology is the study of culture.
Physical Anthropology is the study of humans and non-human primates in their biological, evolutionary, and demographic dimensions.
Linguistics Anthropology seeks to understand the processes of human communications, verbal and non-verbal, variation in language across time and space, the social uses of language, and the relationship between language and culture.
Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time. More specifically Paleoclimatology, which seeks to reconstruct past climates by examining records such as ice cores and tree rings.
Why do we care? Well the climate of the past may tell us more about the environment of deposition and this concept is key to understanding geology and its structures.
