Reading the Rocks: Geology of the North Cascades - Online

Why are the river canyons of the North Cascades cut so deeply, while the surrounding peaks rise in jagged spires? What makes the rocks here so diverse—and why has the geology of this mountain range attracted scientists from around the world?

Join naturalist and educator Gina Roberti for a virtual journey through the remarkable geology of North Cascades National Park. Gina’s passion for field-based education has taken her across the West, from the Colorado Plateau and Snake River Plain to the Klamath-Siskiyou and North Cascades. She earned her master’s degree through Western Washington University and North Cascades Institute’s graduate program, specializing in field-based natural history education, and today works with the Mount St. Helens Institute.

From ancient rocks shaped deep within the Earth to glaciers and rivers still sculpting the landscape, we’ll explore the forces that have built and transformed these mountains over millions of years. Using popular hiking destinations and scenic overlooks as our guide, Gina will reveal the geologic stories hidden within familiar landscapes.

Along the way, we’ll examine the distinctive rocks of the North Cascades and learn how tectonic activity, uplift, erosion, ice, and water have contributed to the dramatic terrain we see today. You’ll also learn some of the basic tools geologists and naturalists use to read a landscape and recognize clues to its history.

Whether you’re a hiker, naturalist, rock enthusiast, or simply curious about how mountains come to be, you’ll leave with a new lens for interpreting the landscape—and a deeper appreciation for the geologic history written into the rocks, ridges, and river valleys of the North Cascades.

If you can't make the specific date or time of a class you want to take, you can still register and we will send you a link to view the program on your own time! All registrants will have access to the class recording for a limited time to re-watch too.

Photos by Gina Roberti