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2009 Annual Alumni Field Trip

The 23rd Annual SDSU Geology Field Trip/Campout was at the Picacho State Recreation Area, California, about 25 miles north of Winterhaven, CA. Jon Sainsbury, who is completing his Master's Thesis in the area, graciously agreed to be the 2009 Field Trip Leader. His work involves mapping an anticlinorium that has been re-activated by strike-slip faulting. By correlating age dates for the Black Mountain Basalt and the Quechan volcanics, which are incorporated into the Bear Canyon conglomerate, evidence for much younger folding than previously interpreted has been inferred. The area also contains the Chocolate Mountains and Gatuna Fault which are detachment faults. These are offset by numerous San Andreas related strike slip faulting in the Eastern California Shear Zone. Some of these faults have displacements of near 0.5 km. These detachment faults separate the Orocopia Shist, a basement gneiss and the Winterhaven Formation.
The Field Trip started from the "Group Campground" at 10:00 AM on Saturday February 28th, 2009.

DIRECTIONS: From SDSU take 1-8 eastbound for 172 miles to the 4th Ave/Winterhaven exit (about 3 hours non-stop for timing purposes.) Make a left turn at the stop sign off the freeway ramp and go about ½ mile to next stop sign. Make right turn onto S-24, cross the canal and in about 300 feet make a left turn staying on S-24. Follow S-24 and the signs towards Picacho SRA. Several miles up the road S-24/Ross Rd. will turn to the right but you will go straight for another 6 miles until the pavement ends. You will follow the main gravel road across the canal and in 18 miles you will reach the campground. Watch for the group camp sign directing you to the left, it is several hundred feet past the park check in stop. GPS coordinates are N 33-01-11.5, W 114-36-58.6. The AAA Colorado River Guide Map (best) and the AAA Imperial County Map (good) both have the roads delineated well for finding the Campground.