An ordinary looking Nevada mountainside reveals extraordinary geology and beauty.

I had a terrible childhood. My immigrant father made us get out at roadside rock cuts on Sunday drives and identify its strata. While my friends took vacations to Disneyland and Hawaii, we drove to Moon Rock Nat’l Park and Mount St Helen’s ~a year after it erupted. I was not impressed. It was the 70s; the end of Elvis and the beginning of disco when I got a rock hammer for my 13th birthday. (I’m a girl…) Now I’m 60, and I still stop at rock cuts. I plan my vacations around geological features. I love that I have a deep curiosity about geology and nature all taught to me by my father. Thanks for the videos Myron. It’s like being back with my dad while he explains the landscape to me. All I need is a caraway cheese on rye bread sandwich washed down with warm buttermilk to complete the experience - haha. Please keep making videos. They are wonderful.

An astute follower, Avana Vana, noticed that I had the age of the overthrusting wrong. I misspoke and said it was 180 million years old and should have said it occurred about 95 million years ago during the Sevier Orogeny. Thank you, Avana!

Good lord... Sir, you are a plethora of knowledge. I could sit, listen, and learn from you all day long. Thank you for sharing such insights!

No human creation comes close to the beauty of Nature, one of life's greatest gifts

Those kids are really lucky to have an archeologist uncle. Good times and good memory's being made there as well as education. Great work.

Another rocksolid, heavy hitter from the Baron of Beds, the Sultan of Strata, the Fuhrer of Faultlines, the Alpha of Anticlines, the Senator of Synclines, the Pope of Plutons, the Saint of Sediments, the Emperor of Erosion, the Mæstro of Metamorphics… I’d like to send you a sincere thank you from the rolling Franciscan melánge of Marin County. I am in a difficult state in my life, going through some hard changes, and recently watching you wander through the your hills, expressing your passion and wonder for the natural world reminded me of being a kid and walking around my own hills, the only place I found peace, picking up rocks or looking at the landscape and wondering how it all came to be… Id get books at the library, read them through, then go hiking with my dog. Through my imagination and knowledge, geology made sense when few things in life did. Watching your channel has been the most heartwarming experience. I just signed up at the local community college for a geology course, it’s the first thing I’ve looked forward too in years. Thank you for reminding me how beautiful the world is Mr Cook. Skål

Another winner! PBS should give you your own show…

Myron, you're a wonderful storyteller. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and love of geology.

Great geology lesson on my native stomping grounds. I've been hiking and exploring all over these mountains around my hometown of Las Vegas for over 40 years. This was great insight on some of the interesting geology I see every day here. Everyone here spends time at Redrock but few have ever ventured out around the Muddy mountains. But I was just out there last weekend myself while everyone else was watching football. I love exploring these areas that are not commonly visited by most others. Thanks for a great video!

I could listen to you for days. You make me feel so much more confident when I go out with my little pickaxe looking for rocks! Hubby is a nature photographer and we frequent all over Wyoming, Nevada and Utah...while he takes photos, I rockhound ❤️

I enjoy the way you explain how geologists think and how you explore alternate models to explain the observations you're sharing with us.

I have fallen back in love with geology. It was my third choice going into college for my major. Your videos and Milo's from Miniminuteman rekindled my love for rocks ❤

You are an excellent teacher.

I'm slowly watching geology videos, and each one teaches me more. I've bought 3 geology textbooks. I will soon be reading them more formally. I have found 3 other geologists doing teaching videos. I've been hit and miss learning for 18 months. Last fall, I started the Baja to BC series, I'm sure you may have heard of it. That finished this last weekend. During that series, I decided to become more organized in my learning. That is the reason I searched out books and geologists making videos. In my life, I have traveled and / or lived in the Rockies and the PNW. Now, as a retired teacher, I am making myself get organized in my studies. Dr. Cook, you are not only covering the Rockies, but you are also teaching me how to look at a landscape to analyze what I am seeing. And also teaching me how to ask myself questions about the features. I now have more resources to then go learn about the geology of the features I see. I'm fairly stuck in a recliner because of age and health. You and these resources are allowing me to learn and travel virtually while I learn. I thank you so very much for your virtual teaching.

Amazing story! Geologists are like detectives. Pulling together incongruous clues, going back to where they know what's happening and adding it all together to find the perpetrators! Subscribed and looking forward to more exciting tales.....

I so enjoy your puzzle solving technique in your episodes. This area is one I feel fortunate to have wandered through on foot, on bicycle, in an automobile, and flying above in a plane. Since it's so arid and there is so little plant life, the geology is right out where you can see it and solve the puzzles. You put together a lot of the history of this area. Thanks.

glad you made it to my hiking grounds - adding to the awe I experience daily - I am also in awe of geologists who can spot similar limestone layers many miles apart

Just clicking on "like" does not do justice to the delightful, extensive lesson provided here. The rare quality of an expert discussing his specialty with the attitude of speaking to a peer is part of the attraction, as is the enthusiasm with which the teacher presents his findings. I am honored to be the student of such a gifted teacher.

I really enjoy these histories coming from the ordinary land shapes we take for granted. If only there was a Myron Cook for Australian formations!

You are extremely good at explaining geology, you found a way to mix emotions and information in one good bundle👍