Master's Thesis - need cool field site

So, I just started a Master's in Geomorphology in NH. My area of study is quantifying alpine erosion processes - landslides, avalanches, creep, solifluction, etc.

Where should I study this shit? It's gotta be out West and hopefully be near to some good touring lines.

A pond/lake that gets landslide and avalanche debris would be handy.

Other possible topics:
Couloir formation in the Southern Sierras
The effects of late-season snowfields on erosion rates
Dirty Snow avalanches - their relative geomorphic importance in an Alpine landscape

Maroon Bells Lake

http://aspenvalleyfilm.com/images/as...sno400vert.gif

Jackson Hole?

Reasons:
- Gros Ventre slide in the B-T Forest

- Plenty of avies & a top-notch local avalanche institute

- Plenty of ponds/lakes up in the high alpine zone within the National Park that will have avy debris.

- Togwotee Pass area is heavily studied although I don't remember why.

Convict Canyon.

Just south of Mammoth Lakes

Home site of the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Lab (so computing and lab space can be arranged)

Several active slide areas in close proximity.

World class skiing both resort and bc.

edit: to add the pic.

http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix...LakeRoad-m.jpg

Pinner- Good thought, but I need a lake directly @ the base of some slides, more like a tarn. As I recall the Bells are set back a ways from the lake.

13 -Gros Ventre slide is rad, was there last fall; good point on those alpine lakes in the park as well. I'll look into Togowtee.




Thanks and keep 'em coming, guys

Quote:

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Originally posted by nhtele
I need a lake directly @ the base of some slides, more like a tarn

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Gotcha PLENTY of those in Colorado. Just about every peak in the Gore Range, several in the Elks, Mosquito and San Juans. not so much in the Collegiates or Sangre de Christos.

Does Lassen NP fit any of the criteria? Lots of geologic stuff on there.

Wherever, you'll be stoked.

I was looking into doing a similar thing NHtele, and found that University Utah has a program using the avy pilion at Alta. Not a bad place to study. Also there are some programs in the calgary area. UNH and UMO have a good snow studies unit also. The Utah program was more engineering related I think, calculating run off in the spring, stability, effects on buildings (civil engineering stuff).

I've got a friend that graduated last year and now is in antarctica doing research. Last january he got a big grant to go to Japan and study snow pack for a month. the opportunities are out there...

-Zack

Edit: crap, realized you needed a lake

Why not a trip East to the Alps?

drC

Quote:

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Originally posted by nhtele
Pinner- Good thought, but I need a lake directly @ the base of some slides, more like a tarn. As I recall the Bells are set back a ways from the lake.

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i believe maroon lake is a tarn and i think slide paths off of pryimid hit the lake. in any event the next little lake up of the valley certainly has these characteristics.

rocky mountain national park might have some potential.

On the madison river west of west yellowstone montana. Early snow, great touring, get a sled and you can go for miles to hit shots no one skis.

http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~ues...es/quakelk.jpg

Then you get to fish the maddy all summer too.

http://www.bigskyfishing.com/River-F...lake_slide.jpg

The lake at St. Mary's Glacier would be perfect. A steep face that slides into a lake, easily accessible, tons of touring, only about 30 minutes from Denver, and a coloraggot title to boot.

Maybe check out Slumgullion Pass, CO?

700 yr. old landslide that still creeps a couple yards a year - rich and well-known geological study area. The region, uh, lacks a little in the culture/chick department, but insofar as erosional geo-academia goes, there's nothing finer.

Lake City is the local town. Maybe 30 miles from Silverton as the crow flies - kinda long to go around via road, but kickass (and serious) winter touring in the area if yer so inclined.

Killer ideas, all. Thanks a bunch

Now maybe I'll have something to show when my advisor gets back into town on Monday after [cough] a seminar [cough] in Cali.