PSA: Mapping that shale formation nearly broke my patience

I was out in Utah last summer trying to chart a shale deposit for a school project. Thought it would be a quick weekend thing, lol. But the layers were all messed up from erosion, so nothing lined up easy. I kept having to go back to the same spots over and over, taking notes and photos. Three weeks in, I was still guessing at the boundaries. It felt like the rocks were messing with me on purpose. Finally got it done after a month, but man, geology sure teaches you to wait. If you're not ready for slow, painful detail work, maybe pick a different hobby.

3 comments

3 Comments

miles_fisher2mo ago

Ugh, been there! Always check for recent erosion patterns first, it saves so much headache.

grantw322mo ago

That sounds like advice from someone who has never been in a hurry. Last time I skipped checking erosion patterns, I ended up with mud up to my knees. It was a REAL mess, let me tell you. But yeah, looking first does save a lot of trouble. Just don't make it sound so simple next time.

lunaf672mo ago

Hey @miles_fisher, ever tried using a stick to test the ground first? I did that last hike and it SAVED me from a TOTAL mud bath.