Join professor Thom Davis on an academic geology walk at Taft Gardens where you will discover an ancient story told under your feet. Our geology walk will view and discuss the rocks, faults, and folds of the Taft Gardens Nature Preserve and adjacent Ojai area. You will travel back in time to the Oligocene (16-34 million years ago) and Eocene (~36-38 million years ago) to learn about the origins of our local rock formations, the Sespe Formation and Coldwater Sandstone. The Sespe Formation is characterized as a non-marine deposit of sandstone, conglomerate, and siltstone with a distinctive red color. The Coldwater Sandstone is a shallow-marine deposit formed in beach, estuary, and sub-tidal paleo-environments making it rich in fossils. Learn how these rocks were seismically uplifted and then downcut from the erosion of Santa Ana Creek to form the narrow valley where we are situated.
This walk is for anyone who wants to discover the story of the land and no prior geology knowledge is needed. Bring a notebook to take notes if you wish or questions if you have some geology knowledge already. This walk will take place in the Nature Preserve and cover uneven ground. Please bring trekking poles if you wish and be prepared to walk 1.5 miles of hilly terrain.
About the guide:
Thomas Davis serves as President and CEO of the Geologic Maps
Foundation (geologicmapsfoundation.org). He is a California State registered geologist and
author on a number of geologic publications. Davis has worked as a
consultant and researcher worldwide, specializing in structural
geology, oil & gas exploration, and earthquake hazards. He holds a
PhD in Geology from UCSB and previously worked at Davis-Namson
consulting geologists and the Atlantic-Richfield Corporation, starting
in 1978.
What to Bring
For comfort:
- Walking stick
- Insect repellent
- Layered clothing
- Water and snacks
- Closed-toe walking shoes
Personal items:
- Portable phone charger
- Necessary medications, such as an EpiPen