Explore the Layers of Time: Geology Beach Walk at Fort Flagler

Join us for a fascinating geology beach walk of 4 miles round trip at Fort Flagler State Park, timed perfectly with a minus tide to reveal hidden natural features and ancient stories embedded in the land. Led by Professor Ralph Dawes and assisted by Carol Serdar and Scott Minor from the Quimper Geological Society (QGS). This walk begins at the lower campground and proceeds to Marrowstone Point and follows the beach trail westward along the base of the bluff.

This walk is a unique opportunity to witness Fort Flagler’s geologic wonders up close and to learn how tides, glaciers, and time have sculpted the landscape we see today. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes suitable for uneven, rocky beach terrain, and bring your curiosity for this one-of-a-kind coastal adventure!

Ralph Dawes: Originally from Edmonds, Washington, he has a degree in literature from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, OH, and degrees in geology from WWU (BS) and the UW (MS, Ph.D.). He taught at Wenatchee Valley College for 26 years and now lives at Cape George with his wife, Cheryl Dawes. He is passionate about sharing how the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest gives insight into the landforms, landslides, floods, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes. In recent years, he has been involved in research on volcanic rocks near Wenatchee and glacial landforms in north central Washington. Keeping it local, he is now transferring his focus to unanswered questions about the geology of the Olympic Peninsula and Puget Sound.

Carol Serdar Tepper: Born and raised in southern Puget Sound, Carol’s master thesis included a description and analysis of a large landslide and related salmon impacts. She is a Licensed Geologist; retired from Washington State regulatory work (surface mine reclamation, landslide mapping, forest practices regulatory, and water quality compliance); and formerly WA State Secondary Science Teacher, 10 years which included developing a middle-school science curriculum based on Pacific Salmon life history and habitat. Carol gleefully retired from state service with 32 fun-filled years in February 2022.

Scott Minor: BSc at UC Santa Barbara and MSc in Geology at the Univ. of Colorado. Retired Research Scientist at USGS—Denver. Focus on geologic framework, fault kinematic and paleostress histories of strain transfer and accommodation zones of the Rio Grande rift. Experience with fault-related fluid flow within poorly consolidated sediments as well as geologic mapping and geologic framework characterization.

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