The October landscape of PLAYA! In this 4-night Experience, enjoy a field trip focused on the geology of the northern Great Basin, plus geology discussions and a dinner prepared by PLAYA’s house chef.
Be introduced to this dynamic landscape and its geologic history as we experience the “science of scenery” in the low golden light of fall. Through field trips and discussions, this weekend will briefly acquaint participants with the spectacularly rich and scenic convergence of geologic history, climate change, and the ice-age peopling of western North America–all in the area surrounding PLAYA. Discussions will cover the regional geologic history as well as how geologists decipher landscape clues to create understanding of landscape form, history, and process.
Depending on weather and interests, we’ll visit such places as Fort Rock (where volcano met lake), Picture Rock Pass, Ice-age lake sediments and shorelines at Ana Reservoir, and the Paisley Caves (an early North American lakeside camp). Participants will be carpooling to geology sites in personal vehicles. Plenty of unstructured time will provide participants a chance to ponder, explore, and perhaps create your own stories.
PLAYA Experiences offer you time and space on the PLAYA campus for your own creative, restful, or exploratory pursuits as well as time spent learning from an expert! Experiences are like Self-Directed Residencies, but elevated with a dinner and a field trip, evening presentation, and/or special event.
Details and Agenda
Instructor: Jim O’Connor
Dates: Thursday, October 22 – Monday, October 26, 2026
Arrival: Thursday, October 22, 2026 1:00-4:00 PM
Departure: Monday, October 26, 2026 11:00 AM
Skill Level: All knowledge levels welcome.
Mobility: Most levels of mobility can participate. Participants will carpool to sites of interest in personal vehicles and take short walks. This will include walking on dirt, gravel, and uneven terrain. While PLAYA is accessible, the sites off campus are not.
Materials List to Bring:
- Materials and clothing for hiking in the landscape
- Binoculars
Agenda
Day 1 // Thursday, October 22, 2026
1:00 – 4:00 PM: Arrival
Day 2 // Friday, October 23, 2026
Day for your own restful, creative or exploratory pursuits.
3:00 – 5:00 PM: Geology walk on PLAYA property
6:00 PM: Group dinner provided by PLAYA
Day 3 // Saturday, October 24, 2026
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Fort Rock, Picture Rock Pass, Ana Reservoir, Paisley Caves; subject to change depending on weather and group interest (bring lunch).
Day 4 // Sunday, October 25, 2026
All day for your own restful, creative or exploratory pursuits.
Day 6 // Monday, October 26, 2026
Depart by 11:00 AM
Instructor Bio
Jim O’Connor is a Pacific Northwest native long interested in the processes and events that shape the remarkable and diverse landscapes of the region. Following this interest with a Geological Science major at University of Washington and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at University of Arizona, he has spent most of the last 30+ years with the U.S. Geological Survey in Portland, Oregon, focused on understanding and describing the geology of the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
No pets allowed. Thank you.
