DATE: Sunday, April 27, 2025
LEADERS: John Hankla and Tom Knopick
FEE: $15/pp
LIMIT: 23 participants
TRANSPORTATION: Carpools from Durango and New Mexico
REGISTRATION LINK: Click HERE
WAITING LIST LINK: Click HERE
PRE-TRIP ORIENTATION: Saturday, April 26th, 4:30-5:30pm at the DSNGRR train station. Participants are invited to a brief introduction to the trip held at the DSNGRR train station, where John Hankla and FLC geoscience student Lacey Miller are building a cast skeleton of a tyrannosaurus for visitors to Durango to admire. The original was collected in Utah in 2012. They will also give an overview of the upper Cretaceous stratigraphy and paleo-biology of the San Juan Basin.
DESCRIPTION: The San Juan Basin has been a hotspot for paleontological discovery for over a century, with fossils from this region shaping our understanding of the dinosaurs that roamed North America just before the mass extinction. On this trip, we’ll step into the role of field paleontologists, exploring how scientists reconstruct ancient ecosystems using vertebrate fossils, sedimentary structures, and plant remains. We’ll also dive into the history of fossil collecting in the area, from the first museum expeditions in 1920 to the latest research shaping our knowledge today.
Our 4-mile loop hike will take us through the stunning badlands of the Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area, where we’ll see dinosaur fossils in situ, key geological contacts, and historic discovery sites. The terrain is uneven, so sturdy hiking shoes are essential. Bring plenty of water, a lunch to enjoy in the heart of the badlands, and a sense of adventure as we uncover the past in one of the most scenic and scientifically significant landscapes of the region.