OSHER 957 - The Magic of Little Cottonwood Canyon

The course will begin with the bedrock geology. Along the way we will explore the “Snowball Earth” that occurred 850 million years ago, when most of the earth froze over, and sedimentary rocks from this event are well represented on Mount Superior. Then we will consider Pleistocene glaciation, what caused it and its effects. We will examine the Wasatch Fault, its history of earthquakes, and the likelihood of those in the future. From there, we will look at the early history of Alta, beginning with the discovery of silver in 1865 and the building of the town, which burned down in 40 minutes in 1875. We will explore the eight climate zones that we see going up the canyon, from desert steppe in the Salt Valley to alpine tundra at the top of Mt. Baldy. Then we will look at the great transition, from mining to skiing. All of this will hopefully give you a new appreciation for Little Cottonwood Canyon, one of the most remarkable places in the world.