Ice Age Glaciers of the Lakes Basin

Dates: July 2 - 4, 2023
Instructor: Martin Sirk
Fee: $300.00
Term: Summer 2023

 

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Course Description

In this two-day workshop we will learn what glaciers are, how they work, what governs their growth and decline, and what effect they have on the landscape.  On our daily outings we will learn how to recognize the evidence of former glaciers that once occupied the Lakes Basin region.  We will also learn what glaciers can tell us about past climates, and why their study is important to understand climate change and global warming.  Contact Martin at: sirk@ssl.berkeley.edu

trees in front of glaciers on peaks

Instructor Bio

Martin’s life-long appreciation for glaciers began in high school during a mountaineering trip on Mt. Rainier, WA. He has spent many days tromping across glaciers and glaciated terrains on hundreds of trips to the Sierra Nevada as well as the mountains of three other continents.  As a member of the Juneau Icefield Research Program he spent six weeks surrounded by ice.  A formal training in physics and astronomy has given him the tools to understand how glaciers work, and how small changes in the Earth’s orbit can have major effects on climate.

Course Details

Course Schedule

First class meeting Sunday, July 2 after dinner, then two full days July 3 and 4. Optional Wednesday morning session to discuss the future of the course, and get hiking tips as to where to find additional glacier phenomena in the area.

Supplies List

Bring a notebook, pens and pencils, and sturdy hiking shoes.

If you have a hiking compass bring it as well.

Lodging and Camping Supplies

Camping gear if you are staying on campus:

  • tent and sleeping pad (unless you are staying in our tent with a cot provided)
  • warm sleeping bag
  • pillow, toiletries, and towel
  • flashlight and lantern
  • alarm clock

Field gear for everyone:

  • day pack
  • sunscreen
  • insect repellant
  • water bottles
  • plastic containers for packed lunches
  • sense of humor

You might also want to bring:

  • camera
  • binoculars
  • hand lens
  • camp chair

Clothing:

The weather in the Sierra Nevada can vary greatly, even in a single day. Be prepared for chilly temperatures at night, even below freezing early in the summer. Rain is a possibility any time, whether forecast or not. Variable weather clothing that can be layered is best: long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, warm sweater and jacket, t-shirt and shorts or skirt, sturdy shoes or hiking boots, sun hat, rain gear, and a warm hat or gloves for cold weather and/or night activities. And, if you come later in the season, bring your swimsuit for afternoon dips in the lakes!