Acknowledgements

This project would not be possible if it were not for the support of Cerritos College, which has allowed me to pursue an academic endeavor that I feel serves to benefit our students as well as the students and instructors at other institutions of learning. Writing this manuscript has also allowed me an opportunity to deepen my knowledge of California geology, which in turn will help me better communicate content in my courses and in turn be a better teacher.

Thank you to my colleagues in the Earth Science Department, Dan DeKraker, Ryan Goode, Olivia Hinton, and Raymond Villalba, who encouraged me to undertake the project and provided valuable input. Thank you to Bob “DK” Kreger, who helped me develop the concept of writing a “how to” field trip guidebook and for providing astute observations and editing to the introductory chapters. Thank you to Dee Trent, whose suggestions on the Joshua Tree chapter provided invaluable guidance at the start of my writing. Thank you to Nate Onderdonk, who invited me to join his students on field trips and through doing so, provided me with fresh insights. Huge thanks to Glenda Greene, grammar queen, for her editing prowess and for providing valuable suggestions about adding content to enhance clarity. Finally, thank you to my wife Hilda for being completely supportive throughout this entire process.  

I would also like to thank the authors of guidebooks from which I’ve learned a tremendous amount, resulting in the addition of meaningful and instructive content to this document: Art Sylvester and Libby Gans and their Roadside Geology of Southern California and Edward Sharp and Alan Glanzer, whom authored Geology Underfoot in Southern California and Geology Underfoot in Death Valley and Owens Valley.