PEDD 9617 - The Geology and Natural History of Kings Canyon National Park

Course Description

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are the home of awe-inspiring geological features and resources. The parks contain a significant portion of America?s longest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada. Included in the Parks? mountainous landscape is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mt. Whitney, which rises to 14,491 feet above sea level. Eleven additional peaks taller than 14,000 feet are also found along the parks? eastern boundaries at the crest of the Sierra Nevada. This course will include discussions of the origins, uplift, and sculpting of the Kings Canyon landscape. The geologic history of the 400 mile long Sierra Nevada mountain range will be discussed along with the many glacial features responsible for the Kings Canyon scenery. Other discussion topics will include plant and animal adaptations and Native American history. Online presentations will be followed by a 2 day field trip. Field trip stops will include: Panorama Point, Junction View, Horseshoe Bend, Chevron Folds, Roaring River Falls, Zumwalt Meadow, Roads End, Muir Rock, General Grant Grove, Giant Forest Museum, Moro Rock, and Crystal Cave.

For 3 PDUs - Register for Section 012

Non-credit - Register for Section 011