By Jack Holt, PTYS 590 instructor, Spring 2024

In spite of a very windy first day and rain on the second, PTYS 590 had a successful trip to Death Valley and its vicinity. We visited and discussed a multitude of planetary-relevant sites including dunes, playas, alluvial fans, volcanics, a phreatomagmatic crater, paleo-shorelines, ventifacts, Snowball Earth glacial deposits, stromatolites, hot springs, and more. There was still a giant shallow lake at Badwater Basin, which was quite a sight. UArizona Regents Professor Victor Baker provided great insights at many stops and LPL Research Scientist Dr. Joe Schools supported the trip. 

Perhaps the most amazing, unprecedented outcome is that we had zero flat tires on the road to Racetrack Playa! 

Support the LPL Graduate Field Trip by donating to the Wilkening-Sill endowment.