Nick & Back Country Gary ! Geology at its finest. In the field, Walking the walk and talking the talk... 36 minutes of heaven! Thank you Nick & Gary. Wonderful informative video.
I've lived most of my life in Monroe and this is wonderful! Thank you. FYI if you go upriver where the valley narrows, even bigger rocks are regularly rolled along in our HUGE high water events (we've had several "hundred year" floods in the last few decades) Year round cabin residents have reported they can hear the boulders crashing together (while nervously watching the water rise) This has been going on for thousands of years, so...
Holy smokes I just noticed Nick has over 90 thousand subscribers I have be following Nick for well over 4 years.Nick really doesn’t promote his channel The content and the community is what is bringing people here.Gary is one of them .
Excellent video! I happened to be in Index recently to climb and noticed that the index granite has occasional blobs of more fine-grained granite. I found a reference to this phenomenon in Dave Tucker's "Geology Underfoot in Western Washington" when talking about its use in the Smith Tower (p. 215) that attributes this to a hotter more mafic magma mingling with a more silica rich magma and forming enclaves in the rock. If you do another video about Index's geology, I would love to hear more about this. 😁 Also, love the idea of Volcanoes A-Z in the Cascades.
Ive done the Persis-Index traverse. Its a beautiful area. It feels like a much taller, more alpine mountain than its summit elevation might suggest. I remember a lot of variety of rock. Ive also done some climbing at the Index town walls. Its good climbing, although some of the areas on Icicle creek near levenworth are much more picturesque. Its cool seeing you explore areas close to home.
OMG Gary Paul! This is great! What fun it would be to follow these two around. My family is from that area, and I lived and worked there in my early adulthood. I sure miss it. This is a real treat.
Are there actual hot springs at Garland? As I went there in the scouts as a kid and we were told that it was Garland Mineral Springs and the springs we were shown seemed as they should accordingly to be of mineral almost carbonated seltzer springs and now later in life i hear of them being reffered to as hot springs of which I do not recall at least not to the similar hot springs I've experienced at scenic which were truely very hot. I'm not saying that they are not hot springs or mineral springs either way I'm simply trying to understand of my own experiences is all and it seemed to me that you maybe of agood person to ask? Thx for any info if you happen to respond.
@@williambrodmanvi5944 I was about 5 years old at time ... He had like a little hippie commune going on 🤣 any who ... Yes your correct it's mineral springs alot of iron in water .... I was told it was built as a training camp .... Winters were tough had to snowmobile in and out .... 🥰
I love watching you explain the mountains, I have been up a lot of them logging, always enjoyed the views and beautiful rocks you'd find in the streams or logging roads blasted from the mountains.
Gorgeous day. Lake Serene is a lovely hike, and the falls. WOW, Fascinating info, Gary. I didnt know the names of most mountains in the Skykomish area. I drive Hwy 2 west often, so thank you very much. I love it!❤
Do the hike to Lake Serene, you will not be disappointed, used to be a glacier right at the lake. When the Skykomish floods it has some amazing power and can move the course of the whole river, those rocks would be easy for it to move. Thanks for the video of Index. 👍
My family had a mining claim on mount Index in the 1990's, 2 square miles of the mountain. East on Hwy 2 from the town of Skykomish is an ancient town called Scenic. There you will find the Scenic Hot Springs. These are non-Sulfuric hot springs coming from the source at upto 120 F. I am looking forward to learning more about this region and can't wait for the fall!
More Gary is always a good thing, his ability to put 2D information in to 3D is a stunning asset. We don't know the Cascades so someone who can contextualise the geo map blobs gets three thumbs up from us.
You were near the spot on the railroad where, back in the late 80's, my friends and I (accidently) broke off a huge chunk of rock from the hillside. It rolled down, going through trees like toothpicks; rolled up to the tracks, then rolled back. It sounded like thunder echoing off the valley walls. The rock has since been shoved off the grade.
My my my. I so am enjoying this. I hiked this area back in 1978 and was awestruck by the amazing geology. After 43 years in the O&G industry as a well log analyst, it is still jawdropping. Thanks Nick for all the work you've put in to enlighten the world. Dean.
OMG NEW A TO Z ANNOUNCED, IM SO EXCITED!!!! CASCADE VOLCANOES, HERE WE COMEEEEE!!!! Love Gary by the way, thank you for introducing him to us. He looks like such a gentle and generous soul.
Some beautiful granite specimens and gorgeous views. I always loved traveling to the PNW. I used to look for loads up there just so I could stop and study the geology.
The North Cascades ain't the Tetons. The range is almost entirely hidden from highways. Hiking to highpoints will always yield unique views. Take us there! Rugged peaks, hidden cirques, hanging glaciers, waves of ridges - the reason we love these mountains, the American Alps.
Awesome video and would love a video on Mount Index and the area! I’ve climbed there a couple times and always so fascinated in the rock, it is very impressive. If you guys walk around and find a couple of the routes like “Toxic Shock” it is a super cool splitter crack.
Have you considered also going to the Index Mine? It's a spur off the Lake Serene trail and you can see inside the Index granite and also see the veins of copper ore they were trying to mine. That would be an interesting perspective as mining was a big part of settlement in the area, and it also shows some more of the local geology. The mine is fairly stable, but there is one open shaft to watch out for.
You 2 get into the best adventures. Wish Backcountry Gary was available to come look at and give us advice on our public access trails into our Limestone forest restoration project. 11 acres on Guam, Community Forest. We have spent 8 years cutting paths to clear invasives and establish natives. Its time to think about how the public are going to access our wonderful park.
I hiked it about 45 years ago, in the root grabbing days. There is a trail now with about 350 steps, which were built for, apparently, people 8 feet tall. About wore out my legs. Also, Gary said they were about "3000 feet there" [ on the river]. The forks are at about 750 feet.
doing 'episodes' around places like lake serene, which is a popular place, makes the science relatable - the audience has some context, and that will help draw a broader audience. I think that Gary is gonna be a good field producer, as he understands what will make compelling content.
Your reaction to the big boulders in the Sky got me thinking. Could it be that we get so captivated by the spectacular geology of eastern Washington that we tend to overlook the interesting stories in western Washington rock?
Very cool! When I came to the Bretz A to Z I drove Hwy 2 threw Monroe and several of those small towns. I would pull over at the bridges and even stopped at two of the small towns. Had coffee and a danish plus a couple little antique shops. Glad to know I stumbled bumbled threw a possible Zentner movie site! lol It's a absolutely gorgeous drive. I only did this because some of the roads south of I90 were still closed for snow(or so I thought) by the big volcanos.
I love that area. I had a memorable post hike meal at the Index Cafe after a four day hike up in the Alpine Lakes/West Foss. While you're in this area, I'd like to know more about the marble found in the Foss area. Cheers!
My home crag. Did you notice all the freshly broken boulders and trees at the base of the quarry area? Late last year it came down. If you poke around the sand you will see many river spuds that came down from the top of the cliff. And even higher up by the Upper Town wall I find lots of river stones. When I think about the large very well rounded granite boulders on the river I imagine the river being higher and eroding down so some of those boulders might have been 1000-2000’ higher but in the same spot. Also did the continental ice sheet come up river this far?
For some really stunning examples of large polished boulders in the area you should take a look at the boulder drop. Really unusual polished heucos and some 20ft+ rocks
Take the trail to the top of the upper town walls to get a great shot looking up valley. Also “Hueco Rock” of the index river boulders is a beautifully sculpted 20ft tall, riverside boulder that would make an impressive backdrop
Right when Mr Paul was holding up that piece of granite...... Around 6:00 plus minutes into your video..... I was noticing what a good listener he is..... There's reasons why you guys are so smart ....... He didn't interrupt you. Extremely interesting listening to both of you. I remember up there by Snoqualmie pass you said Denny mountain was part of the plumbing for the volcanic rise... Because it had marble exposed...
you'd probably be amazed at unchecked floods on rivers, Nick. Those boulders are just tossed around like nothing by the water. They make the loudest bangs as they're bashing against each other.
I love this stuff 🎉 you really bring forward degrees of comprehension that lacks everywhere else. Just wish you could do other states as well. Colorado, Utah, new Mexico, Arizona.
34:17 Well it sure seems to me that the granite boulders had to be a result of glacial outburst flooding. What else could have sent boulders this size tumbling down for miles and getting them rounded out like river cobbles? Even accounting for what might be age-old granite? They couldn't have been rafted in on the glacier nor drop-stone, otherwise they'd be much more jagged. That's as far as my thinking goes.
I have to ask, how is the fishing? Such a nice spot. Wild rivers and rugged peaks. Thanks for the geology Nick, I really like the energy the two of you bring.
My cousin RIP was the leading salmon gill scale scientist and he used to take me "counting" on various riviers right there and further north. What an amazing place, the PNW.
Got a fishing pole? Lots of good fishing here, fish behind those big rocks. Toward the end I noticed a shelf, that is eroding looked like some big rock in that too. Thank you looking forward to NEW A-Z stay safe ALL
So... what was that 'big blue blob'? I've been fascinated by this type of stone on the Upper Cowlitz - another west-side river with really big boulders.
Come climb Mt Adams (or at least part of it) with me Nick. Lots of Cascade Volcano stories from many different ages and incredible visuals from the gorge going north up 141 to Mt Adams. Can figure out housing for you and whatever crew you might want to bring. I’ve summited Adams over 40 times. Imagine the content!! 😎
Hey nick just a thought from someone very familiar with that area around mine 34 35 your wandering how the rocks were so polished…look at the sand between those boulders..garnet everywhere from further upstream crushed very fine
If you went upstream (up highway 2) a couple of miles, at Eagle Falls, the bedrock is dished out from the erosive activity of the river and the material it moves. It's pretty amazing. Probably still part of the Index Granite. Avoid on weekends!
My wife and I bought a piece of ground in Index 30 years ago. I’m on the edge of my seat because Nick came to explore and reveal some secrets.
Gary Paul is amazingly knowledgeable. He deserves an award of some kind.
Nick & Back Country Gary ! Geology at its finest. In the field, Walking the walk and talking the talk... 36 minutes of heaven! Thank you Nick & Gary. Wonderful informative video.
Gary Paull is a quintuple threat! Geologist, geographer, photographer, historian, raconteur!
I've lived most of my life in Monroe and this is wonderful! Thank you.
FYI if you go upriver where the valley narrows, even bigger rocks are regularly rolled along in our HUGE high water events (we've had several "hundred year" floods in the last few decades) Year round cabin residents have reported they can hear the boulders crashing together (while nervously watching the water rise) This has been going on for thousands of years, so...
Absolutely love these field location scouts w Gary Paul... so magnificent.
Holy smokes I just noticed Nick has over 90 thousand subscribers I have be following Nick for well over 4 years.Nick really doesn’t promote his channel The content and the community is what is bringing people here.Gary is one of them .
Videos with Gary are pure gold!
Excellent video!
I happened to be in Index recently to climb and noticed that the index granite has occasional blobs of more fine-grained granite.
I found a reference to this phenomenon in Dave Tucker's "Geology Underfoot in Western Washington" when talking about its use in the Smith Tower (p. 215) that attributes this to a hotter more mafic magma mingling with a more silica rich magma and forming enclaves in the rock.
If you do another video about Index's geology, I would love to hear more about this. 😁
Also, love the idea of Volcanoes A-Z in the Cascades.
Ive done the Persis-Index traverse. Its a beautiful area. It feels like a much taller, more alpine mountain than its summit elevation might suggest. I remember a lot of variety of rock.
Ive also done some climbing at the Index town walls. Its good climbing, although some of the areas on Icicle creek near levenworth are much more picturesque.
Its cool seeing you explore areas close to home.
I grew up in Index in the 60’s. Thanks for talking about my old stomping grounds!
OMG Gary Paul! This is great! What fun it would be to follow these two around. My family is from that area, and I lived and worked there in my early adulthood. I sure miss it. This is a real treat.
Very much appreciated walk and talk. This is why geologists are so important.
You guys are just great . It is wonderful to learn from the two of you . Much appreciation to you both..
You should include Bridal Veil Falls as well. I snowshoed there many years ago.
In 1968 my family owned the Garland Hot Springs .... This is so exciting to sit back and watch ... 😮
Are there actual hot springs at Garland? As I went there in the scouts as a kid and we were told that it was Garland Mineral Springs and the springs we were shown seemed as they should accordingly to be of mineral almost carbonated seltzer springs and now later in life i hear of them being reffered to as hot springs of which I do not recall at least not to the similar hot springs I've experienced at scenic which were truely very hot. I'm not saying that they are not hot springs or mineral springs either way I'm simply trying to understand of my own experiences is all and it seemed to me that you maybe of agood person to ask? Thx for any info if you happen to respond.
@@williambrodmanvi5944
I was about 5 years old at time ... He had like a little hippie commune going on 🤣 any who ... Yes your correct it's mineral springs alot of iron in water .... I was told it was built as a training camp .... Winters were tough had to snowmobile in and out .... 🥰
I love watching you explain the mountains, I have been up a lot of them logging, always enjoyed the views and beautiful rocks you'd find in the streams or logging roads blasted from the mountains.
Gorgeous day. Lake Serene is a lovely hike, and the falls. WOW, Fascinating info, Gary. I didnt know the names of most mountains in the Skykomish area. I drive Hwy 2 west often, so thank you very much. I love it!❤
That Persis rock shows up again 30 miles downstream at Lord Hill in Snohomish according to the USGS maps.
Do the hike to Lake Serene, you will not be disappointed, used to be a glacier right at the lake. When the Skykomish floods it has some amazing power and can move the course of the whole river, those rocks would be easy for it to move. Thanks for the video of Index. 👍
My family had a mining claim on mount Index in the 1990's, 2 square miles of the mountain. East on Hwy 2 from the town of Skykomish is an ancient town called Scenic. There you will find the Scenic Hot Springs. These are non-Sulfuric hot springs coming from the source at upto 120 F. I am looking forward to learning more about this region and can't wait for the fall!
Wow! Mount Index is stunning!
Aside from the geology, the visuals are STUNNING!
What a treat it is to see a beautiful clear river vs. the murky kind I only get to see in the East. Love these field videos!
More Gary is always a good thing, his ability to put 2D information in to 3D is a stunning asset. We don't know the Cascades so someone who can contextualise the geo map blobs gets three thumbs up from us.
You were near the spot on the railroad where, back in the late 80's, my friends and I (accidently) broke off a huge chunk of rock from the hillside. It rolled down, going through trees like toothpicks; rolled up to the tracks, then rolled back. It sounded like thunder echoing off the valley walls. The rock has since been shoved off the grade.
A drone shot with someone climbing the upper town wall with Index and Persis in the background would be a stunning intro!
My my my. I so am enjoying this. I hiked this area back in 1978 and was awestruck by the amazing geology. After 43 years in the O&G industry as a well log analyst, it is still jawdropping. Thanks Nick for all the work you've put in to enlighten the world. Dean.
Welcome to the wet west side! Thanks Nick and Gary!!
Ok... I'm only at 2:22..... and loving this. Nick ; you , Gary and the rest of the " Ned Zinger Rock Posse " are motivational / inspirational.
OMG NEW A TO Z ANNOUNCED, IM SO EXCITED!!!!
CASCADE VOLCANOES, HERE WE COMEEEEE!!!!
Love Gary by the way, thank you for introducing him to us. He looks like such a gentle and generous soul.
Love the Gary episodes and I cannot wait for Cascade Volcanics a-z! Thank you!!
Some beautiful granite specimens and gorgeous views. I always loved traveling to the PNW. I used to look for loads up there just so I could stop and study the geology.
Very interesting walk with Gary Paull but they always are when he shows up. Fantastic scenery for sure here! Thanks Nick.
The North Cascades ain't the Tetons. The range is almost entirely hidden from highways. Hiking to highpoints will always yield unique views. Take us there! Rugged peaks, hidden cirques, hanging glaciers, waves of ridges - the reason we love these mountains, the American Alps.
Awesome video and would love a video on Mount Index and the area! I’ve climbed there a couple times and always so fascinated in the rock, it is very impressive. If you guys walk around and find a couple of the routes like “Toxic Shock” it is a super cool splitter crack.
Have you considered also going to the Index Mine? It's a spur off the Lake Serene trail and you can see inside the Index granite and also see the veins of copper ore they were trying to mine. That would be an interesting perspective as mining was a big part of settlement in the area, and it also shows some more of the local geology. The mine is fairly stable, but there is one open shaft to watch out for.
Always a fun time to watch you and Gary Paul team up! I always learn something new about the N Cascaded.
You 2 get into the best adventures. Wish Backcountry Gary was available to come look at and give us advice on our public access trails into our Limestone forest restoration project. 11 acres on Guam, Community Forest. We have spent 8 years cutting paths to clear invasives and establish natives. Its time to think about how the public are going to access our wonderful park.
I hiked to Lake Serene as a kid. I remember grabbing onto a lot of tree roots to climb the trail. You'll want to be hands free.
I hiked it about 45 years ago, in the root grabbing days. There is a trail now with about 350 steps, which were built for, apparently, people 8 feet tall. About wore out my legs. Also, Gary said they were about "3000 feet there" [ on the river]. The forks are at about 750 feet.
Really looking forward to November... thanks for your work fellas
Thank you Nick, and Gary Paul for sharing your expertise. It is pure gold to me.
Very nice scenery. Reminds me of a TH-cam channel called “Outside&Stuff”. Young couple hiking and summiting numerous peaks in the Cascades.
doing 'episodes' around places like lake serene, which is a popular place, makes the science relatable - the audience has some context, and that will help draw a broader audience. I think that Gary is gonna be a good field producer, as he understands what will make compelling content.
Your reaction to the big boulders in the Sky got me thinking. Could it be that we get so captivated by the spectacular geology of eastern Washington that we tend to overlook the interesting stories in western Washington rock?
That is beautiful country, wow!
Very cool! When I came to the Bretz A to Z I drove Hwy 2 threw Monroe and several of those small towns. I would pull over at the bridges and even stopped at two of the small towns. Had coffee and a danish plus a couple little antique shops. Glad to know I stumbled bumbled threw a possible Zentner movie site! lol It's a absolutely gorgeous drive. I only did this because some of the roads south of I90 were still closed for snow(or so I thought) by the big volcanos.
An excellent guide, this Gary Paull. Thank you Nick and Gary for the reveals.
I’m looking forward to this A-Z series! Beautiful spot.. 😁
What an excellent partnership.
I love that area. I had a memorable post hike meal at the Index Cafe after a four day hike up in the Alpine Lakes/West Foss. While you're in this area, I'd like to know more about the marble found in the Foss area. Cheers!
Awsome. Quarry for up close. Perspective from ridge. Scenic lake up close hike.
My home crag. Did you notice all the freshly broken boulders and trees at the base of the quarry area? Late last year it came down. If you poke around the sand you will see many river spuds that came down from the top of the cliff. And even higher up by the Upper Town wall I find lots of river stones. When I think about the large very well rounded granite boulders on the river I imagine the river being higher and eroding down so some of those boulders might have been 1000-2000’ higher but in the same spot. Also did the continental ice sheet come up river this far?
The terminal morraine from the continental glaciers is down valley a few miles, just east of Zeke's drive in.
For some really stunning examples of large polished boulders in the area you should take a look at the boulder drop. Really unusual polished heucos and some 20ft+ rocks
Thanks Gary and Nick for another field trip with spectacular scenery and interesting geology!
Nick, Gary, I'm pretty sure that this would make a great episode of Nick on the Rocks
Take the trail to the top of the upper town walls to get a great shot looking up valley. Also “Hueco Rock” of the index river boulders is a beautifully sculpted 20ft tall, riverside boulder that would make an impressive backdrop
I love this reconnaissance format. 👍
I’d be interested in learning more about Persis! Fascinating
Please confirm: was Index granite used for paving Seattle streets or perhaps for ballast in ships?
Right when Mr Paul was holding up that piece of granite...... Around 6:00 plus minutes into your video..... I was noticing what a good listener he is..... There's reasons why you guys are so smart ....... He didn't interrupt you.
Extremely interesting listening to both of you.
I remember up there by Snoqualmie pass you said Denny mountain was part of the plumbing for the volcanic rise... Because it had marble exposed...
Another great super informative video. Thanks to you both.
Love Gary and love these hikes
That was rather interesting and fun watching you guys work on planing a possible upcoming episode, a little inside look, Thank you!
So cool--I love the theories, and the scenery can't be beat! So many things going on in Nature, all of the time!
This guy is just super Nick. Really enjoying this.
Great program. It’s always good to have Nick and Gary together.
you'd probably be amazed at unchecked floods on rivers, Nick. Those boulders are just tossed around like nothing by the water. They make the loudest bangs as they're bashing against each other.
Gotta Love It! Cascade Volcanos A to Z. Looking forward to watching!
Can you include the polished granite of eagle falls just up the road by baring?
Impressive geology and gorgeous scenery. Easy to like this. ❤
I love this stuff 🎉 you really bring forward degrees of comprehension that lacks everywhere else. Just wish you could do other states as well. Colorado, Utah, new Mexico, Arizona.
34:17 Well it sure seems to me that the granite boulders had to be a result of glacial outburst flooding. What else could have sent boulders this size tumbling down for miles and getting them rounded out like river cobbles? Even accounting for what might be age-old granite? They couldn't have been rafted in on the glacier nor drop-stone, otherwise they'd be much more jagged. That's as far as my thinking goes.
Pretty decent office you guys have. And, geology lessons for those who want to learn. Very nice video.
I have to ask, how is the fishing?
Such a nice spot. Wild rivers and rugged peaks.
Thanks for the geology Nick, I really like the energy the two of you bring.
My cousin RIP was the leading salmon gill scale scientist and he used to take me "counting" on various riviers right there and further north. What an amazing place, the PNW.
Great video and looks like awesome new videos to come in the future.
GREAT episode!
love love love
Beautiful views in the backyard of a small town America.
I am looking forward to the volcanoes this coming winter.
At 11:29.... YES ! 😎😎😎😎😎. [ " So Let It Be Written, So Let It Be Done. " ]
Exciting stuff, can't wait..!
More excellent content on this channel
Lake Serene is like a freaking highway. So busy. Be ready 😂
Can’t wait for Cascade Volcanoes A-Z…! I’ve been to the top of them all!
Definitely no.1
Stunning!
Great story, the older drydocks at PSNS are built with giant blocks of granite mabe from the cascades.
I'll be watching that show on volcanoes. 👍
Hello Gary and Nick.
Got a fishing pole? Lots of good fishing here, fish behind those big rocks. Toward the end I noticed a shelf, that is eroding looked like some big rock in that too. Thank you looking forward to NEW A-Z stay safe ALL
So... what was that 'big blue blob'? I've been fascinated by this type of stone on the Upper Cowlitz - another west-side river with really big boulders.
My guess is a blue sandstone.
Come climb Mt Adams (or at least part of it) with me Nick. Lots of Cascade Volcano stories from many different ages and incredible visuals from the gorge going north up 141 to Mt Adams. Can figure out housing for you and whatever crew you might want to bring. I’ve summited Adams over 40 times. Imagine the content!! 😎
There is frequent HEAVY flooding of this river off the mountains. I think boulders tumbled often, yes.
Looking forward to the volcano series
More please!!!
I'm sure I could see trout hiding in the shade of the cut bank on that river. reed scott
A to Z with GP!
I'm guessing the big boulders were landslide material that haven't moved very far.
Hey nick just a thought from someone very familiar with that area around mine 34 35 your wandering how the rocks were so polished…look at the sand between those boulders..garnet everywhere from further upstream crushed very fine
If you went upstream (up highway 2) a couple of miles, at Eagle Falls, the bedrock is dished out from the erosive activity of the river and the material it moves. It's pretty amazing. Probably still part of the Index Granite. Avoid on weekends!