ABSTRACT
On this trip, we traverse the central Appalachian fold-thrust belt from west to east. Starting at Blackwater Falls State Park, we pass through the Valley and Ridge, Great Valley, and Blue Ridge. We examine roadcuts, quarries, caverns, and overlooks to see the different formations, structural styles, and weathering effects that characterize the region. We will touch some of the oldest rocks exposed in the area, at 1.2 billion years, and wander through relatively recent caverns. The traverse ends in Shenandoah National Park along the majestic Blue Ridge.
