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| Go to Geography Course Pages Fall 07
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| The Geography Field Course – 2007 |
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The Geography field course was offered for over 30 consecutive years, many of the trips led by the legendary Doug Powell. Many geography alumni remember it as their favorite course. The field course will be offered in Fall 2007 as a series of three weekend field trips, plus once a week class meetings. The class concludes in the middle of the semester. This is a “looking at landscapes” class, exploring the amazing diversity of natural and cultural landscape features in northern and central California. To understand a landscape one must look at the natural environment, human history and cultural features, plus political issues and change. This class examines topics as diverse as the history of place names, dendrochronology, recreational climbing, sand dunes, water supply of Los Angeles, California literature, endangered desert fish, volcanic landforms, and Japanese relocation camps. The field trips are oriented to landscapes, not to destinations — the subject matter is all along the route, not just at selected stops or the end of each day. Much of the time is spent driving, with continuous commentary and discussion using two-way radios. Most days will include one or more short to moderate walks. There are also a few more challenging hikes. Camping in remote and beautiful locations and camaraderie around the campfire are part of the field trip experience. |
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This class is open to all U.C. Berkeley students, but preference may be given to geography majors/minors and graduate students. Instructor approval is required. Prospective students should contact Don Bain during Welcome Week or the first week of classes (August 21 - 31), and attend the orientation session on August 30, 4-6 pm in room 535 McCone Hall. A list of students admitted to the class, and a waiting list, will be posted outside room 515 McCone on Wednesday, September 5. There is a mandatory class on Thursday, September 6, 4-6 pm, room 535 McCone Hall. This will cover practical matters: rules and procedures; camping equipment; fee payment; drivers; cook crews; and assignment of report topics and book reviews. Bring your driver's license and checkbook. |
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Students are required to attend all three trips in their entirety, and the classroom sessions. No auditors will be allowed. Students will participate in teaching the course by each researching two topics and presenting them to the group at appropriate places along the route. Topics available range over the entire gamut of geography: physical geography, biogeography, history, management issues, place names, regional literature. A list of report topics will be provided. Each student must make an appointment to meet with the instructor (Don) to plan each of their talks. Students will also be assigned to read one book of classic California literature (fiction or biography) and submit an oral report on it during a trip or in one of the classroom sessions. |
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NOTE: All trips start at 4 pm of the previous day — Thursday afternoon for the first and second trips, Wednesday afternoon for the last trip. We may return late at night on the last day of each trip. Students should confer with instructors of their other classes: they will be missing two entire Fridays and one entire Thursday.
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The department will cover transportation costs but participants must share the cost of breakfast, dinner, and incidentals. Total cost this year is estimated at $8 per travelling day ($80 total) per person. Bring cash or checkbook to class on September 6, or see Dan Plumlee before the first trip (room 519 McCone). Everyone buys their own lunch and beverages. Dinner on the first and last nights of each trip will be at a drive-in or restaurant on the road. Sunday breakfast on the Redwood Highway trip will be at the Samoa Cookhouse. Transportation consists of the department’s truck (the Beast II) and one or two rental vans, for a total of 13-15 participants, including the two leaders. No guests or "drive-alongs" except by special arrangement. Each night will be spent camping. There is a chance of rain and some nights may be cold, but conditions in general are comfortable at this time of year. Most nights will be in campgrounds, with restrooms and picnic tables, but one night will be spent “open desert” camping, with no facilities. The department provides all cooking equipment but participants must have their own sleeping bags, etc., and arrange to share a tent if necessary No camping experience is required. A list of suggested personal equipment will be provided. Students should have sturdy walking shoes or boots, and dress in layers to adjust to widely varying conditions. In addition to a duffel bag or small suitcase, sleeping bag, tarp, pad, and tent, each student should have a day-pack for anything needed during the day, including beverages and lunch. Other luggage will NOT be accessible during the day. Students will be assigned to cook crews, which will plan, shop, cook and clean for breakfasts and dinners in rotation. Each student must provide their own bag lunches – be prepared with one or two days lunch at the beginning of the trip. There will be at least one grocery stop in the middle of each trip to re-supply. |
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Prof Kurt Cuffey’s geomorphology class will be travelling along with this field class on the third trip. They will be camping with the main group each night, but taking separate routes during most of each day. A special arrangement has been made for students to enroll in both classes for 1 unit credit each, and participate in all three trips. |
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Don Bain graduated from Berkeley Geography in 1972 and currently manages the Geography Computing Facility. He took the classic Doug Powell field class in 1971, and has since led dozens of trips for various colleges, the Sierra Club, and the geography department. He also teaches computer cartography. His work in virtual reality photography (including images from the field trips) can be seen on the web at http://VirtualGuidebooks.com. Dan Plumlee graduated from Berkeley Geography in 1996 and is now its Equipment and Collections Manager. He provides leadership and logistical support for both the fall field trips and the spring semester class in physical geography field methodology (Geography 180). |
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 Go to Geography Course Pages Fall 06 |