Logan, Utah contains some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen; the USU campus sits at the foot of the Bear River Mountains which are located within the Wasatch Mountain Range. Logan is the closest city in Utah to these mountains, and it is the main source of access for hiking and studying the Utah sections of the Wasatch Range. Not only are these mountains breathtaking, but they are filled with an amazing geographical history.
There are various types of rock layers throughout the mountains, each of these have their own unique pattern, age, and thickness. The most prevalent rock layers in the mountains are composed of carbonate rocks (there is more than 3,000 feet of limestone and dolomite in the Bear River Mountains alone!) but quartzite and shale can also be found scattered around the range. According to water.usgs.gov, “The sequence is composed of eight principal geologic units, all of which are capable of transmitting water along dissolution-enhanced fractures, faults, and bedding planes. The formations make up the upper part of the Logan Peak syncline, a large regional structure that influences the movement of groundwater in much of the region” (USGS Office of Groundwater).
The mountains bring a heavy attraction to the northern Utah area because of the many caves that are hiding in and around the Bear River Mountains. These caves are mainly due to the erosion that has taken place over many, many years. These caves are also accompanied by many ponds, sinkholes and streams that disappear and reappear as you hike around the area. Due to the large amount of erosion taking place on these mountains, hikers often find themselves confronted by large holes both on and off the trails.
Sources of Research:
1. Gazelle, Mountain. "Bear River Range:." Www.summitpost.org. The Summit Post, 18 Oct. 2006. Web. 15 May 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.summitpost.org%2Fbear-river-range%2F236453>.
2."Wasatch Range." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Sept. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasatch_Range#Geography_and_geology>.3."Basin and Range and Bear River Range Carbonate Aquifers." USGS Groundwater Issues. USGS Office of Groundwater, 30 Jan. 2012. Web. 15 Sept. 2014. <http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/karst/aquifers/basinrange/index>.
