Wed, Jul 14
|French's Mountain
Geology Hike Part One with Mel Croft
Join geologist Mel Croft for a short hike where we will unravel the geologic history of the Belgrades by observing the local rocks. Geology Hike Part Two with Pete Kallin July 16 (see event).
Time & Location
Jul 14, 2021, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
French's Mountain, Watson Pond Rd, Rome, Maine 04963
Guests
About The Event
The French Mountain overlook offers spectacular views of Whittier and Long Ponds. If you’ve joined Mel before on a Kennebec Highlands geology hike, on this trip (July 14th) he plans to focus less on the science and more on how the landscapes have changed – evolved – over the past 400 million years, all due to fascinating geology which can be read in the rocks and sediments that we’ll be observing. Deep oceans, volcanoes, earthquakes, spectacular cloud piercing mountains, ice – it’s all there in the rocks.
We’ll end up about 13,000 years ago with a naked landscape devoid of living plants or creatures. Two days later, 7 Lakes Alliance board member Pete Kallin will lead a hike on July 16th(11 AM: bring a lunch) on the Long Pond Loop of the Mountain Trail where he will explain how life returned to the Belgrades and the bare rocks and melted ice water evolved into the vibrant, forested landscape and lakes teeming with life that we enjoy so much today. He will discuss concepts of ecological succession and explain how pioneering lichens, plants, fish, and animals (including Homo sapiens) gradually created soils, plant communities, and complex ecological communities that continue to evolve today.
Sign up for both hikes, bring your lunch and enjoy a fascinating trip through time.