In the Blink of an Eye
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Volcanoguy
N 44° 15.641 W 121° 48.093
10T E 595663 N 4901525
Sign about local geology. One of four signs at Dee Wright Observatory.
Waymark Code: WM4QKK
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 09/20/2008
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member TheBeanTeam
Views: 3

This sign is located at the west base of Dee Wright Observatory.

Marker Name: In the Blink of an Eye
Marker Text: Geologists look into the earth to reconstruct the past. For example, this landscape formed “in the blink of a geologic eye.” In human terms, thousands of lifetimes passed while these scenic mountain peaks formed.
Take Mt. Washington. About 300,000 years ago the rocky head we see today was its heart. Trapped inside the volcano, magma cooled into a huge, solid mass. Gouging glaciers and eroding streams have revealed the hard, inner rock heart.
Island of Life
Captured by gravity, lava flows downhill. Like water, it follows the path of least resistance. The tow “kipukas” (Hawaiian word for island) to the west just escaped lava flows from Little Belknap.
Easy Age Test
Most Cascade mountains 10,000 years or older have been carved by at least one glacier. Loose ash and rocks were scoured off mountain flanks by glacial ice. Compare the rounded summit of Belknap Crater with the rock-spire peak of Mt. Washington. Which is younger!
Answer. The smooth sides of Belknap Crater are younger. No glaciers have ripped away its loose outer layers.

Historic Topic: Geological

Group Responsible for placement: Forest Service

Marker Type: Roadside

Region: Central Oregon

County: Deschutes

State of Oregon Historical Marker "Beaver Board": Not listed

Web link to additional information: Not listed

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Recent Visits/Logs:
Date Logged Log User Rating  
skramble visited In the Blink of an Eye 08/31/2012 skramble visited it
Volcanoguy visited In the Blink of an Eye 09/22/2008 Volcanoguy visited it

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