BounceBounceBam

Once, on a flight over Utah, I remarked to my captain, "I wish I'd taken a geology class in college. I'd like to know what I'm looking at when we fly over these beautiful vistas." He recommended Shelton's _Geology Illustrated_. I'm glad he did.

Shelton was an excellent writer and scientist, but he was a pilot. His book is filled with aerial photographs to help the reader understand macroscopic geologic concepts. I found this to be particularly useful, like a lexicon to help me understand the story being told below me.

This book was published in 1966, before plate tectonics had become a widely accepted concept. Consequently, geology nerds may find it outdated. Nevertheless, I can't recommend this book highly enough if you fly airplanes for a living. You'll love your new ability to read the terrain while you gaze out over your glare shield.

Sam York

I had a student back in the mid 90's that was a geology professor at Rutgers. Some days all he'd want to do was fly up and down the Delaware River and Hudson River valley. I thought it was cool. He showed me things like how and why the glacier turned or stopped at some point. Or how some twisting under ground formed a certain hill/mountain.

When I flew for the commuter across the same area I'd keep Vfr sectionals with me and mark certain land features. Then when I was bored in the hotel I'd look them up on the web (dial up back then). I was able to pick out the farm/hill where the original Woodstock took place - around RAGER intersection just past Huguenot VOR.

BounceBounceBam

Now that's cool! I'll keep my eyes open near RAGER!

Panzon

I'm waiting for Shelton's book to arrive in the mail - should be any day now.

I also bought "Over the Mountains, An Aerial View of Geology" by Michael Collier, and it arrived yesterday. It is full of great pictures he's taken from his C-180, and it explains a lot about the geology of the US. You might like it, too.

Collier's photos mostly illustrate the effects of plate tectonics. I'd love for him to drill down a bit and photograph some of the smaller details of geology - the way broken rock flows downhill like the sand of a sandcastle, the way freeze-thaw cycles create rock patterns in the tundra, coastal movement of sand, the effects of thawing permafrost, etc. Lots more to understand and learn!

BounceBounceBam

Collier's book sounds fascinating. I'll add it to my list.

Thanks for the tip!