Customer Reviews

Roadside Geology of Oregon (Roadside Geology Series)

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Mention "Oregon" and the average traveler thinks of Crater Lake, the Columbia Gorge, and miles of trackless evergreen forest. The more seasoned may be familiar with Newberry Volcano, Mount Hood, and the Oregon Dunes along the Pacific coast. But there is much more, and this is the book to show it to you, give you good directions, and explain why the secenery looks the way it does. Once you read this book, even if you never get there, you will know why Oregon is the Unknown Gem of the West.

The writing is clear and concise, and the routes along which the reader is taken are well chosen. Photography is black and white, and this detracts a bit, but is easily overcome.

Oregon has more geologically recent sites of volcanism than any other state in the Lower 49, and you are directed past many of these. So for anyone into volcanoes, as I am, the book is a must. The various volcanic processes and minerals that formed thse features are excellently explained.

The book also addresses Oregon's many spectacular canyons, as well as its matchless seacoast, its waterfalls, and its sand dunes. Virtually unknown facts, such as the largest U.S. meteorite being known, but not found, near Port Orford, are brought to light, along with a thousand other facts of the same genre.

I would be remiss if I did not praise authors Hyndman and Alt, along with Mountain Press, for this fine book, and others of its kind, covering other states, mostly in the West. All are highly recommended, and will make any tourist's time more well spent and enjoyable.

A nice addition to anyone's geology library. Alt and Hyndman cover every corner of Oregon, and explain the major players in the shape of the landscape clearly and succinctly, as well as local aspects of geology. There's the added bonus of being able to jump in the car and find what they've written about as they provide regional maps, indicating formations, special interest items and more.

If you've ever driven along a highway or road and noticed the different layers of rocks and soils on the "cut-bank", then this book is for you! Just pick a main road in OR between two points, such as HWY 101 from Tillamook to Florence, and the geology along the way is spelled out for you. It gives a basic geology of the entire state as well, with a few unusaul graphics that work well with the author's explanations.

The book is exactly what I expected it to be! I run a paranormal research team in Portland Oregon/Vancouver Washington, and we needed to know what mineral deposits and what not were located in specific areas of the state. This book really accomplished that for me! The seller was quick and the book, although used, was in practically brand new condition. Great job!!!!

Love this series. Too bad this title is out of print... An update for current road conditions would be super. This title - and the edition for Washington State - go on the road with me when bumming about. Good explanations of what you see from the road, plus simple, clear illustrated explanation of plate movement, vulcanism, etc. that tell how things got that way in geologic history.

Having previously purchased the Idaho version, I am pleased with the Oregon version as well. This book series is a must for those wishing to understand the geology seen from our roads. Written in mostly easy to understand layman terms, it provides a wealth of useful information without too much deep-thought scientific prose.

The Alt/Hyndman Roadside Geology series lets you think about geology at your own pace, with the subject matter right in front of you. I love them. They give you the broad outlines of the Big Picture--how what you're looking at got that way--and relate it to what you actually see, touch, and feel right there. It makes geology real and concrete in a way textbooks and classrooms simply cannot. I have several for the western states, but the Oregon volume I know best and use most because I live here, and I find that every time I take it with me and let it inform my experience I get something new out of it and my understanding is enriched. A lot of information lies within the breezy text and diagrammatic maps.

That said, the routes covered are typically only on the main roads; to make sense of what you might see on secondary/tertiary roads, you'll have to do a bit of extrapolation, interpretation, and--if you're like me--just plain guessing. And the maps mostly diagram the geology: they are not a substitute for a good touring atlas.

A word of warning: doing geology from the driver's seat is dangerous. (But you know this, right?) Despite the everpresent temptation, pull over and park before taking a gander at that fascinating exposure!