Field trip, "Mojave River and Lake Manix"

On Saturday, May 14, Curator of Paleontology Eric Scott will lead a day trip into the Mojave Desert to see evidence of the ancient Mojave River and Pleistocene Lake Manix. Departing from the Victor Valley Museum in Apple Valley, this trip is organized by the San Bernardino County Museum Association, and reservations are required by May 6.

            “This trip is an opportunity to travel back in time and envision the Mojave Desert as it appeared more than ten thousand years ago,” said Scott. “During the Pleistocene Epoch—the ‘Ice Ages’— the area now known as the Mojave Desert was populated by an amazing variety of strange and wonderful large mammals. These great beasts visited the ancestral Mojave River and Lake Manix frequently during the Pleistocene, making use of the abundant fresh water and its attendant forage. Early humans are interpreted by some to have inhabited the region towards the latter part of the last Ice Age, but the evidence for these ancient peoples is far more inconclusive.”

            Scott will lead participants along portions of the Mojave River drainage to the ancient shoreline of Lake Manix, exploring the ancient lake beds. The trip will then proceed to the Afton Canyon region to see where the ancient lake drained away thousands of years ago. Scott will discuss fossils of extinct animals and the geology of the region, relating the Lake Manix site to other localities throughout the Mojave Desert.

            Participants will leave the museum at 8am and return at about 5pm. Wear sturdy and comfortable shoes for moderate to strenuous hikes. The cost of $50 per person ($40 for Museum Association members) includes transportation and snacks. Participants are to bring their own lunches. Space is limited, and pre-paid registration is required by May 6, 2011. Call Melissa Sanchez at (909) 307-2669 ext. 250 or visit www.sbcountymuseum.org for more information.