There was no better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Ice Age Floods story than with a bunch of Floodies exploring the Grand Coulee. On June 1-3 over 80 members and guests of the Ice Age Floods Institute celebrated the 100th anniversary of J Harlan Bretz’s initial paper proposing the Ice Age Floods story. The attendees enjoyed a weekend of Floods-related hikes and field trips, presentations, meals together, and an in-person chance to renew old friendships and establish new ones, in the uniquely majestic setting of Dry Falls and the Upper and Lower Grand Coulee.
The event kicked off with Sun Lakes State Park Ranger David McWalter giving an evening presentation about the historical development of the Grand Coulee, and the ranchers and researchers who led to the recognition and development of Dry Falls, the local towns and the state park.
The next morning Ranger McWalter talked with a local elementary school class under the historic Vista House Overlook, also attracting a number of Floodies attending the Jubilee. He then moved the Floodies to the Visitor Center for a presentation using the WA-DNR/Geological Survey’s “Washington’s Ice Age Floods” storyboard and his amazing 12’x35’ immersive view screen (the Visitor Center windows looking out on Dry Falls).
Afterward the attendees gathered at the Camp Delany Retreat Center where Dale Lehman led a hike along the east side of Umatilla Rock to view the plunge pools below Dry Falls. The line of hikers stretched out for a quarter mile, but with the heat that day everyone was happy when it was time to return to the cool shade at Camp Delany.
Then began the perfectly prepared salmon barbecue dinner for IAFI Board members. The dinner also gave board members a chance to get together in-person for the first time in several years. The dinner was followed by a regathering of all attendees for reelections of 4 board members, a short presentation by several chapter presidents of significant recent and future chapter activities, and finally by a photo-rich slideshow of Ice Age Floods Features by Bruce Bjornstad.
The next morning most attendees gathered for a simple continental breakfast before heading out on one of three car caravan field trips exploring key features of the Grand Coulee system, led by either Dale Lehman, Brent Cunderla or Bruce Bjornstad. Stops included the Dry Falls Visitor Center, Crown Point above Grand Coulee Dam, Northrup Point, Summer Falls, Soap Lake, and, for some, a stop at the trail to Lake Lenore Caves. Click here to check-out the field trip guide.
Afterward everyone returned for the final Members & Friends Appreciation Dinner of burgers and brats, and a talk by Jim O’Connor and Isaac Larsen about the GSA Penrose Conference on Massive Outburst Floods that convened the following week at Camp Delany. That was followed by closing remarks from the Jubilee organizer, Dale Lehman, and the IAFI President, Gary Ford.
It was great that so many members could get together in-person again to enjoy each other and a full program of Floods-related activities. Plans are already in the works for the next two years of membership meetings in 2024, organized by the Cheney-Spokane Chapter, and 2025, organized by the Columbia River Gorge Chapter. Keep tuned to the website for more information as plans progress.
We’re collecting images from the event that you can look through in the album below. If you have images you’d also like to share please send them to us at IAFInstitute@gmail.com so we can add them to the album.
Enjoyed all aspects of gathering! It was run very well I thought, dinner was very tasty!!
Forgot to mention was the meeting people and making new friends!
Good catch. That indeed was real highlight of the event.