Here, in simple, straight forward language, is an exploration of the events and geologic processes responsible for the stunning beauty of the deserts, plateaus and mountains in the American Southwest. After a brief look at the basics of geology and archaeology, the reader is taken on hikes that feature the most interesting geologic structures and the sites inhabited by Paleo-Indians thousands of years before Christ. The twelve hikes range from desert preserves in the middle of Phoenix, Arizona to remote mountains in northern New Mexico. The spectacular scenery tells a story of volcanic...