Fieldtrip

Devil's Backbone

204L Required Fieldtrip April 12th-14th, 2024

Destination: Sites of Geological Interest in western Virginia and eastern West Virginia’s Valley and Ridge province

Leaving: Friday April 12th, 9:00am  from behind LSRC

NOTE: You will miss other course work on Friday afternoon – you MUST receive permission to miss this work from ALL of your affected instructors/teaching assistants DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASS OF THE SEMESTER!!!  If permission is not granted, you will be asked to do the fieldtrip make-up assignment instead.

Returning: Sunday April 14th, 11:00pm, behind LSRC

Camping Location:

Blue Bend Campground and Recreational Area – First Night

Blowing Springs Campground – Second Night

Campsites have pit (vault) toilets, firepits, and picnic tables.  No showers.

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Meals provided: Dinner on Friday, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, on Saturday, Breakfast and Lunch on Sunday

Supply yourself with these meals for the road on Friday: Lunch!

Bring money for fast-food dinner on Sunday

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What to bring:

  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad (required!)

If you are unable to supply yourself with each of these we will rent equipment (see Duke’s Outdoor Equipment Rental) for you.  Same goes for tents – we will discuss the tent situation later in class.

  • Warm clothes to be worn around bonfire at night
  • Layered clothes for temperature fluctuations throughout the weekend
  • Day backpack
  • Water Bottle (there will be refill stations)
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Flashlight or Headlamp (the woods are dark at night)
  • Bug Spray
  • Camera (lots of gorgeous scenery and spectacular outcrops)
  • Hat to wear during the daytime
  • Warmy wool hat to wear at night – believe me when I tell you that this can make the difference between a warm toasty night and a miserable freezing nightmare
  • Raingear (we’ll check weather report beforehand)
  • Comfortable hiking shoes/sneakers (ABSOLUTELY NO HIKING SANDALS) – they must be closed-toed!!! Absolutely no NO FLIP FLOPS by the fire!!!
  • A notebook and pencil for notes – your field notebook will be collected at the end of the trip on Sunday evening
  • Any personal medications

Please pack lightly.  Duffelbags or similar – no hard suitcases – space is limited in the vans!

There will be absolutely no alcohol consumption in the campgrounds (STATE LAW)…