What an awesome comment! You may find some enjoyment in my videos as well. I do a lot of the same things but I'm no Nick. The "Illegal Gate Drop" video I put out a few weeks back was actually not far from Smith Rock.
Got to love Smith rocks “Misery Ridge” hike :) I love my hometown :) I was born in 93’ during a massive snowstorm in that area about 20 miles away. Thank you for sharing!
Just telling my girlfriend about what a weird anomaly Smith Rock is. Told her about the miles of high desert flatland and then there's Smith Rock seemingly from out of knowhere. Grew up in the foothills of the cascades my whole life watched life return to Saint Helens literally daily for thirty years. And here I am in my mid forties learning more about the ground than a lifetime of hiking, hunting, and spelunking ever thought me. Thank you professor your videos have breathed new life and love into home.
I sure miss being physically able to go out hiking in places like that. It's been 8 years since a person messing with their cell phone while driving pulled out right in front of me on my motorcycle I was on a county road going 45mph. I woke up 27 days latter all broken. My passenger my dearest friend died... The person told the cops that they were messing with their cell phone and didn't see or hear me... SO PEOPLE PLEASE DON'T BE MESSING WITH YOUR DAM CELL PHONE WHILE YOUR DRIVING!!! That's for sharing your videos with us I really enjoy them... Some day this old bike will once again get back out there and enjoy hiking once again. I praise God for all the years I rambled across our great country before the wreck.... Be blessed in Jesus name... BBE...
Nick, allow me to just state that I've lived in the state of Washington my whole life. Yet I've learned so much more from your content than I ever had from any institutional center. I'm really grateful and appreciative of what it is that you do by informing the general public about our geology
I owned a farm about 5 miles from here for 42 years. Still miss it. I love Smith Rocks. Been on every trail there. Nice to learn about things I had no idea about. Thanks for the great lesson.
Ain't that the truth! PNW old-timer since 1975 when I moved here by choice. Love geology and now I see Nick Z intrigued by the climbers. ...I can hear him thinkin'..... Lessee, I can drop about a hundred and start looking at rocks on high close-up!! Always enjoy Nick's views on the "latest thinking" among geology pros. I'm an old guy, so I appreciate the pressure that J. Harlan Bretz was under when proposing his catastrophic theories about the floods that shaped eastern Washington. Give me a reply, maybe you can show me the trails and I can record our adventures!
Definitely worth watching more than once.... the feeling of being "there" was powerful and the views stunning. I really got a better sense of how this caldera is connected to the Yellowstone hot spot. Thanks for sharing!
During one of Nick's earlier lectures from a few years back, as he was explaining the path of the Continental Plate over the Yellowstone hot spot, I started to gain an understanding of how the clockwise rotation of the plate in the PNW around Pendleton would distort what would've been an otherwise straight path toward the Cascade Range and the Cape Mendocino triple junction. It all would appear to fit. I think there's substantial enough evidence her at Smith Rock to elevate theory to axiom.
Much as I enjoy the downtown lectures and your interviews, these field excursions are truly wonderful, exposing me to beautiful vistas I am not likely to see in person, even if I were able to mountain goat my way up some of those trails! I'm grateful for the effort you make, and the explanation of how a jagged fragment of limestone you spotted can wind up embedded in a volcanic tuff.
Many times I've passed Smith Rocks but never stopped. Thanks, Nick, for bringing to light the astonishing birth and formation of this beautiful geographic landmark. John Wayne once did a movie with Smith Rock as a backdrop.
Nick my friend you are one sure footed mountain goat! But thank goodness you are because the views you recorded where certainly awe inspiring. The energy that it took to do these things is nearly unbelievable. Thanks!
cannot tell you how much i appreciate all your videos, you made my son love geology (he's thinking of going to CWU, a freshman now in HS in Portland). We visit all these places after we see your vids, and have learned so much. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and time!!
Hi Nick I just want to thank you for your teaching about PNW Geology.. I've lived in WA State 58 of my 60 years in WA State and never understood all the out crops of Geo Strata that appears along the Hwys in our state.. until you so kindly shared your knowledge. Never heard of Smith Rock State Park until now.. My God its so beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing it...
1:36 into watching... I'm a freeloader on RU-vid since 2020 and revived my favorite college class geology 101 because of a wonderful teacher, Nick Zentner! Wow Nick, thought I'd been everywhere in Oregon! Never seen Smith Rock area... it's gorgeous! And this vid is 2 yrs old? Man, lockdown is brutal on us old folks.
Western rattler. Actually not being too nervous. They usually strike first and ask if you"re food later, like a white shark. Professor, thank you so very much for all of these. The inside of a supervolcano crater is absolutely stunning!
It makes me so happy seeing a new video from you professor. I'm from the UK London and it's my dream to come and see your beautiful country the USA. When I watch these videos I'm transported right there with you thank you so much.
My entire life as far back as I can remember I used to cross country walk like this, early 60's to mid 70's very rural south-central Kentucky my Grand Father, and I barely walking at first, would head out in the wilderness for miles, special times in my heart, only recently have I had to obey nature and stop. I can watch your exploits and somewhat know what the the air feels like, or the humidity that wears you down etc. Thanks
I love the views in these 'Nick on the fly'. Thank you for doing this. Putting this together is great. Amazing strides in understanding at the level humans have come. It seems that the clockwise rotation vs the counter clockwise rotation could be associated with with a forearc vs a back arc and that the paleomagnetism not being a fixed location could account for the earth's tilt, wobble and ellipse which could factor into the polar reversals (during an ellipse perhaps). Things in motion. It takes soil, sun and water to grow vegetation. It takes farmers and agriculture workers to grow and harvest the crops. It takes transportation and producing and distributing to get the food to the stores for people to purchase. It is all a process. :)
So, I think this video seals it. New, additional name = National Geographic Nick -- what SPECTACULAR scenery in this video to go along with the fascinating geologic history!!! Absolutely breathtaking! And I love the tie-in to the Baja theory. It actually made sense to this non-geologist. "Am I worrying you?", Nick asks, while continuing to climb up and down and over and out where there did not seem to be any visible evidence of a path! By the time you fielded the question I'd been holding my breath for so long that I now qualify for membership in the Pearl Divers Assoc. And that lovely snake, wow! It has the markings and size of a desert King snake. They're similar to the diamondback Rattler, but the tale (stripes all the way to the end and couldn't see a rattle) and head (not big enough for a poisonous snake of that size and there was no narrowing of the neck), and at least 4+ feet in size (mature desert Kings easily get to 4-6 ft.). What a beauty! Another great adventure with Nick, On The Fly!!!
It is unlikely that the snake is a Desert King Snake (Lampropeltis splendida) for two reasons: 1) Wikipedia says the range of the Desert King Snake is Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, quite far from Oregon and Smith Rocks 2) The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says there are 15 species of snakes native to Oregon, and the Department does not include the Desert King in that list. If the snake shown here was not a rattle snake, it was most likely a Gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer), but Mr Zentner had at the best view. Can you tell us what it was?
We were at Smith Rock last month during that freak pre-Easter snowstorm. I was just in complete awe of it’s beauty. It was raining at the time so all the rocks were wet which made the colors stand out even more. We didn’t hike up to the rocks but even just from the viewpoints at the parking lots it was so beautiful. Completely unexpected. It’s good that you got there during a quiet time because apparently it’s quite popular with rock climbers. Ambulances standing by lol. I love when you venture down to Oregon. I live just southwest of Mt Hood so this is only a few hours away.
That trail looks terrifying. However I am not so steady on my feet and still getting used to progressive lenses. I’m sure the trail is wider than it looks but from here it looks like a mountain goat path.
Oh man! I was on the edge of my seat!! Do not like heights, but loved the whole lesson. Thank you for taking me where I could never go. 280? All muscle. 😂 Thank you once again.
Even without the fun & interesting geologic story to learn, this is magnificent scenery about which I never would have known without you. Thank uou so very much! (LTB, age 77)
Such a gorgeous day at Smith Rock! Thank you Nick for including so many of the highlights of a visit to the park from rocks to river to junipers and wildlife (climbers included). Watching this Nick on the Fly after watching Nick from Home livestreams #11, 20, 25, & 55 (Olympic Peninsula/Siletzia, Super Volcanoes, Plate Tectonics, & PNW Plate Tectonics) really helped me better understand the Crooked River Caldera and its (current) location in Oregon. THANK YOU! It's so fun to learn all this.
Spectacular scenery. In fact, being an small town Englishman I'm just slightly amazed you're not All geologists over there!!?! Amazing. Thank you for all of your posts. Cheers. The UK.
I appreciate your videos. I learn so much! I had a math teacher in Highschool named Mrs. Zentner. I can’t help but think of her when your videos pop up :)
WOW! Another great story told by the geo-evidence...a tiny chunk of limestone reveals an amazingly huge event! Thank you Nick for sharing & educating us.
This popped up on tv, nice. Oh geez, I was just there and know exactly where you are, with gizmo in one hand. Teeth tight. Gosh, how gorgeous;. canyon wrens; and I only saw a garter snake . Your son rock climbing...that's really something else. Good to see this again. ❤️
Thanks. I will be going there the end of September as long as there’s no smoke from fires! That whole area is amazing! Great video, beautiful lighting!
Just accomplished this hike today! We hiked Misery Ridge, the Mesa Verde trail and then the trail back around the river. I blame you…you are always inspiring my love of exploring.
Hi Nick, As long as you are cruising around Oregon it would be interesting to hear your take on the differences in the amount of coastal uplift due to the Cascadia Subduction Zone. If you compare Hwy. 26 going west to the coast it has 3 hills, 1300 feet high, 1600 feet, and 1600 feet. Compare that to taking Hwy. 126 west from Eugene to the coast. Relatively flat in comparison. Perhaps the Hwy. 26 west gets a lot of the rotational folding in addition.
Oh this was fantastic. Now I know a new word too, clasts! I love in the nogeology land of Florida, but came from the Rockies, so to me this was not only educational but a nice visit back to rocks and volcanoes and pokey up rocks, lol. Thank you, bless you, Nick!
Love your videos. I live in Central Oregon and just returned home from the MacArthur Ridge area. As I explore more of Central and Eastern Oregon I see things in a different view now. Keep the videos coming.
Have always loved your video's, and recently have been re-watching them as part of my prep for my RG test(s) this coming October. Smith Rock is one of my more beloved spots in the state, grew up hiking it with my dad, and in 2018 did a walking field trip for a couple of second grade classes out of Madras Elementary School. One of my favorite of your short PBS videos is on Smith Rock and you feature one of my colleagues with DOGAMI, Jason McClaughry. Just wanted to commend you on all the wonderful videos you do and for your ability to connect the nuances of "why's behind the how's" for this and so much more, you make it very relatable and interesting.
A beautiful day to be on an excursion. You've got to have great balance to be able to scramble over the rough terrain holding that gizmo. Wow! That was one big snake!
Hi Nick, love your videos. I visited Smith Rock a few months back on a whim and holy cow what an experience. got a tip from a kind stranger in Bend and went to check it out. I hiked around the entire place stayed until sunset. it was incredible. happy to learn more about the place now.
You've done it again Nick, well done. I've run this one through 4 times and I'm coming back again tomorrow, on to the big screen! Thanks, Pete on the Isle of Wight.
Very interesting place and beautiful. Not sure I can hike up there (scary), but watching and listening to you I may be able walk along the crooked river.
Will catch this later - church starts same time and it sure would look funny if I left and snuck back in in 30 minutes 🤣🤣🤣🤣 thanks Nick! Wondered if you’d slow down once the school year started ...
A FANTASTIC video from the amazing geology teacher, Nick Zentner!! I took geology in 1971. Did quite well in physical geology but really fell apart in historical geology. Of course, historical was the one, being here in Texas. If you were going into the petroleum field, historical geology was super crucial. Of course I was NOT, unlike my cousin Bill, who went on to a lifelong career as a geophysicist and computer programmer. That dude was, is, a brilliant guy and he retired years before I did, with a lot more money. I, on the other hand, was an artist from birth (was I making art at age 2? Don't remember. But right now I have paintings in progress, and they have geologic features as a part. I love Nizk Zentner's videos because of my lifelong interest in geology, and because these wonderful videos give me ALL KINDS of painting ideas!! There you go, a whole lot of information you aren't information. Well, nobody is gonna read this comment probably. Anyway, LOVE this video, Nick!! An inspiration to me on many levels, as are so many of your videos :)
It is a futile task for me to express the value of this content. I just drove thru MN from Fargo-Moorhead to Luverne (Seat of Rock County, no less). Different stories, for sure, but the connections are there. Thanks for sharing 🙏
Great content.. Moved from Janesville, Wisconsin to the PNW. I live in the foothills of the Cascades in Central Willamette Valley. Found your videos and I've learned a ton about the PNW from your videos. Thank you for the content.
