Why Do I Want to Study Geology?

Why do I want to study geology, you might ask? Well, here are a few reasons (this post is very picture heavy):
WyomingWyoming
Jackson Lake, Grand Tetons National Park, WyomingCanyonlands National Park, UtahYellowstone National Park, WyomingYellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Colorado National Monument, ColoradoColorado National Monument, Colorado
Colorado National Monument, Colorado
Colorado National Monument, Colorado
Arches National Park, Utah
Near Moab, Utah


These are just a handful of the photos I have from places we've traveled over the years. I've left out the volcanoes (Mount Rainier, Seattle, Washington) and other assorted mountains, other than the Tetons, that I have photos of, including Pikes Peak

All of these were taken within the last 10 years while we've traveled on our Home Ministry Assignments. BUT each place is a place we visited before Mel and I joined the mission group for which we work. We traveled to these States and most of these places many years ago and knew they were there already and wanted to see them again. In fact, my family took us to Yellowstone and to Colorado National Monument when I was just a kid. (Should find a couple of photos of the Sand Dunes to put on here, too!)

All of my life, from the time I got my glasses in 2nd grade at least, I have been looking at geologic formations and wondering about them, thinking about them, enjoying them. Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, hogback ridges along the front range of the Rockies, mountains, prairies, different colored rocks I'd find, striped rocks, funny shaped rocks, and on and on it goes. Why I didn't want to be a geologist when I was in school - I have no idea! No, at that point I wanted to be a National Park Ranger, with the uniform and hat and badge and boots. Why I didn't go that direction - well, I went to Alaska instead. And maybe I was just too lazy to persue the education I would need to do either job. I flunked out of chemistry (well, I got a D in the class, same thing) because I didn't understand it from the first class on. Loved biology instead.

So now, at age 56, soon to be 57, I am finally studying geology. Who knows where I'll go from this introduction class? Maybe someday I'll earn my hammer and helmet! Maybe someday I'll understand what those rocks there on the side of Highway 24, just after 31st Street, are and why they stand straight up in multi-colored layers that are eroding at an alarming rate!

If geology is boring here in this part of Ukraine (think almost pancake flat dark brown dirt with nary a mountain in sight for a hundred miles and more), then I can get out these photos (I literally have THOUSANDS of them!) and look at them .... and remember .... and begin to understand.