Fort Worden Beach, Port Townsend and Tamanowas Rock, Chimacum, WA

My trusty field hand and I had a busy week. At Fort Worden State park we practiced proper hand lens technique and enjoyed the Port Townsend Marine Science Center's geologic exhibit.

I've been to the Marine Science Center's Geology Exhibit several times -- I recommend it as an excellent primer for learning about local geology: glaciers, plate tectonics, local fossils, ice-transported rocks (erratics) and beach sand. The gift shop sells an excellent fold-open water-proof guide for beach pebble identification.

Later, we visited Tamanowas Rock. This monolith is a sacred S'Klallam site in Chimacum, now under Jefferson County Land Trust preservation. The honeycomb (geology speak = tafoni) weathering pattern give the cliffs a very interesting texture. A volcanic block and ash flow eruption 30 million years ago created deposits of dacite/adakite composition. The trail is very steep, so be prepared. Dr. Jeff Tepper gave a great lecture on Tamanowas Rock Saturday June 11 http://www.saveland.org/Events/Event_Detail.aspx?processID=81

On the hike out, I saw several gorgeous foxgloves. Spring is here -- and with only a week left -- just in time.