2019 Conference

50th Anniversary of Hurricane Camille in Nelson County – New insights into landslides, meteorology, and geology

Anne Carter Witt, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, & Energy

Dick Whitehead, Wiley | Wilson Engineering

Friday, November 15th – Saturday, November 16th, 2019

VGFC2019

This year’s field trip will focus on the events of August 19-20, 1969 and will discuss the history and impact of Hurricane Camille on the local community.  The 2019 conference will highlight new insights revealed by recently released high-resolution LIDAR data and a re-evaluation of rainfall totals in the hardest hit areas. The conference will include stops at Fortune’s Cove Preserve to examine undisturbed debris flows from Hurricane Camille and the Oakland Museum to explore the history of Nelson County.

CONFERENCE INFORMATION

The 2019 Virginia Geological Field Conference will meet in Nelson County at the Rockfish Valley Community Center auditorium. There will not be an official hotel for this meeting, although several options for housing and camping are located nearby.

EVENTS

Reception, Business Meeting, and Field Trip Introduction– 6:00PM to 8:30PM at the Rockfish Valley Community Center, 190 Rockfish School Lane, Afton, VA 22920.

The Field Trip– Saturday, November 16, departure at 7:30AM from the parking lot of the Rockfish Valley Community Center.

The field trip will traverse many areas in Nelson County with multiple stops to discuss the unique features associated with debris flows and flooding in the area. Participants should wear sturdy shoes, and dress for fall weather in the Blue Ridge. There will be some walking over rough terrain and optional steep hikes to examine landslide features; the longest walk will be about 1/2 mile.

The 2019 VGFC is now FULL

COSTS

Friday Night Presentation ONLY – $5        Professionals – $75 or $80           Students – $30 or $35

Participants can pay beforehand with check for $75/$30 students (payable to Virginia Geologic Field Conference, c/o Mark Carter, 3391 West Old Mountain Road, Louisa VA, 23093), or use Eventzilla for $80/$35 students. Register early as there will not be on-site registrations. Students, be prepared to show a current Student ID at check-in.  If you are paying by check, please let Mark Carter know what you want for lunch – ham, turkey, roast beef, veggie, or other dietary needs.  

Registration fees for the field trip include food/drink at the reception, transportation for the field trip, lunch, beverages, and snacks on Saturday.

LODGING/CAMPING

Several reasonably priced chain hotels are located within 20-25 minutes of the meeting site in Waynesboro, off Exit 94 on Interstate 64. Wintergreen Resort is only 20-minutes from the meeting site, and has a variety of housing options including condo and housing rentals. The Nelson County Tourism website also maintains a list of potential accommodations, including camping options.