Most hikers Maine probably don't think much about the ground beneath their feet. I know that I have never given much thought until I took a book of geology on my thru-hike in 1994. I bought the book "underfoot: A Geologic Guide to the Appalachian Trail" by v. Collins chew ferry, w. Va. Harper and led all the way to Maine.
The book was easy to understand, with maps that clearly represented as mountains were built, combined with descriptions of the various phases of geologic time. As soon as I got home I bought several books on geology, but with attention to Maine.
Hiking through our landscape offers a fascinating look at how the time spanning hundreds of millions of years to form this earth under our boots. The evidence found in soil and rock outcroppings. Once you start looking and familiarize yourself with some commonly used geological terms, it is possible to identify the story of how these mountains were created.
Here's where you have a geology guide helps. Most have a glossary and break concepts into language sometimes difficult-to-understand that even a nongeologist like me can understand. Here are three of the most complete guide to the geological landscape of Maine. They are all available locally or online.
"Roadside geology of Maine" by d. w. Caldwell, mountain Press, $ 18. 00.
Despite the title of this book, there are some descriptions of the trail, in particular in Baxter State Park. The book also describes in detail the forces that shaped Maine, and as most of them can be seen along the main roads that are cut through the rock.
Most of the rock outcrops along the main highways and roads in the State are described. Illustrations and maps of each of the main important building events are included in the book. The catastrophic periods of time that created the landscape are portrayed in a language easily understandable. Throughout the book is several photos showing examples of the types of rock that lie along the roads leading to retrieve. The book has great diagrams and cross-sections of the landscape. There is a glossary of terms that makes it easier to understand the most difficult concepts and theories.
If you buy only one book on the geology of Maine, make sure it's this one.
"Glaciers and granite," by David l. Kendall, North Country Press, $ 19. 95.
This book is known to write easy to understand, explaining the effects of the glaciers in the mountains of Maine. But it is not only limited to glaciers. The age of mountain building that occurred hundreds of millions of years before the glaciers are also clearly diagram and depicted.
There are clear maps of rock and soil covering Maine. There are color plates in the middle of the book depicting landscapes of Maine by Popham Beach to Katahdin. Of the three books, this is the easiest to use. The explanations are written using examples that make understanding plate tectonics, fault lines and visual clues less difficult than the other books.
This book also contains descriptions of the road cuts along many major highways and secondary roads throughout Maine.
"Under your feet: a geological Guide to the Appalachian Trail," v. Collins chew, published by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, $ 12.95.
Underfoot describes all forms of rock under the entire length of the Appalachian Trail runs from Georgia, Maine, United States. The diagrams are drawn and clearly depict every period of geologic time. There is a complete glossary. The best part of this book is that it is the only one who looks at the geology of Maine from the path.
Even though there is only a small part of this book that describes the Maine, is one of the most complete. Different rock types are clearly mapped and descriptions are written in a way that is easily understandable.
After reading through any one of these guides, never examine the rocks beneath your feet. Bring one of these guides with you on your next trip and you will understand why there is so much bare ledge in Acadia. You'll know why there is so much slate on the trail North of Monson Appalachians. And because the rocks look like they have been merged, then solidified, on Bigelow.
Evidence of continental drift, earthquake fault lines and ancient volcanic activity is everywhere you look, once you know what to look for. All you need is a guide to geology to understand concepts. Then, get out and hike, look at the ledge beneath your feet and find out for yourself. And unlike trying to watch the movement of wildlife, rocks are stationary and are everywhere. Choose a path and head out. There is an ancient history in rock and soil just beneath his boots.
