The Yellowstone Gateway Museum Present,

The Geology of Paradise: Bus Tour Adventure with Dr. Rob Thomas

WHAT: AN ADVENTURE THROUGH PARADISE VALLEY ON
A CHARTERED BUS FEATURING THE “BIG
HISTORY” OF GEOLOGY AND SOME OF THE
OLDEST ROCKS ON THE PLANET, RIGHT HERE IN
OUR BACKYARD. DR. ROB THOMAS, A
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA WESTERN, WILL LEAD THE
ADVENTURE. DR THOMAS IS THE CO-AUTHOR OF “ROADSIDE GEOLOGY OF
MONTANA” AND “ROADSIDE GEOLOGY OF YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY”

WEATHER PERMITTING, WE WILL VISIT A VARIETY OF GEOLOGIC SITES IN
PARADISE VALLEY. DR THOMAS WILL EXPLAIN THE EVIDENCE OF ANCIENT
SEAS, ESTUARIES, STREAM CHANNELS, MULTIPLE LAVA FLOWS, AND OTHER
VOLCANIC AND GLACIAL EVENTS.

SITES INCLUDE:
• THE CARBONITE CLIFFS OF LIVINGSTON CANYON AND THE STORY OF THE
ALLENSPUR DAM NEARLY BUILT TO CREATE A HUGE RESEVOIR IN PARADISE
VALLEY IN THE 1970’S.
• THE LIVINGSTON MOUNTAIN ANTICLINE THAT EXPOSES ROCKS THAT
WERE DEPOSITED IN TROPICAL SEAS WHEN PARK COUNTY WAS ACTUALLY
SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR!
• THE TERMINUS OF THE YELLOWSTONE OUTLET GLACIER.
• THE BLACK DIAMOND BASALT QUARRY.
• HEPBURN MESA HOME TO A 2.2-MILLION-YEAR-OLD BASALTIC LAVA FLOW
AND THE REMAINS OF THE EXTINCT PROTO-HORSE , MERYCHIPPUS.
• POINT OF ROCKS WHERE VOLCANIC FLOWS FROM THE ABSAROKABEARTOOTH
VOLCANIC SUPERGROUP CAN BE STUDIED.
• DEVIL’S SLIDE SHOWCASING AN EXTRAORDINARY INDEX OF GEOLOGIC
HISTORY.
• GARDINER/JARDINE TRAVERTINE QUARRIES AND MORE!

WHO: ADULTS, TEENS, AND OLDER CHILDREN WILL ENJOY THE STORY TELLING OF
DR. THOMAS AND THE CHANCE TO SEE THESE OUTCROPS AND LANDFORMS
UP CLOSE. SOME WALKING IS REQUIRED TO VIEW CERTAIN SITES, BUT THE
TRIP IS NOT PHYSICALLY DEMANDING.

COST: $125 PER SEAT. WATER WILL BE AVAILABLE. WE RECOMMEND BRINGING
SNACKS/LUNCHES AS THERE WILL BE NO FOOD STOPS.

TICKETS: PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE AT THE YELLOWSTONE GATEWAY MUSEUM, OR CALL

THE MUSEUM AT 406-222-4184 AND LEAVE YOUR NAME, PHONE
NUMBER, AND THE NUMBER OF TICKETS YOU’D LIKE TO PURCHASE.