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Cuesta Carlotta (the 2007 Big Event)

on the schedule for Tuesday, 09JAN07

Our trip shall largely be a fossil hunt, but collecting data, not samples.  Under no circumstances will we remove, collect, or disturb fossils in any way.

cephalopod, Permian Reef Trail	cephalopod, Bear Canyon Trail
"barnacles", Tejas Trail	bivalve, McKittrick Canyon
echinoid, McKittrick Canyon	fusulinids, Tejas Trail
trilobite, Permian Reef Trail	At Guadalupe you should see many classic fossils of the Permian era, and earlier.

At Big Bend most fossils are Cretaceous or later, and the Permian through Jurassic layers are absent.  Big Bend fossils are thus much younger than those of Guadalupe.

brachiopod, Mariscal Mountain	cephalopod, Mariscal Mountain
quadruped, Cuesta Carlotta	quadruped, Cuesta Carlotta

While still fresh after replenishment at Alpine, we will undertake our main data excursion, which may entail several days.  Plan on NO water beyond whatever we carry.  Our purpose is to locate and document fossils in the Cretaceous beds near Tornilla Creek.  Under no circumstances will we remove, collect, or disturb fossils in any way; we will locate, count, and measure in-place only (unobtrusive measures).  We also will immediately leave any other research sites that we might encounter.

I anticipate some steep ravines near Tornilla Creek, but roughly equal elevations overall.  The afternoon returns will be tiring, however, due to aridity and fatigue.

If time permits, we may try to visit Big Bend Ranch State Park. See below a sampler of where previous 393W teams have visited.  You will encounter similar travel conditions.