A geologist and his staff

“On TV the other night, there was a geologist hiking down into the Grand Canyon carrying a hiking staff unlike any I have seen. I'm curious if anyone knows what it was and how was it supposed to be used.

It was about 1.5 in diameter, red and white stripes, appeared to be metal, fairly light (unless he was very strong), about 5-6" long. The top was a cast piece, rectangular about 4" high, 3" wide with at least one fine wire running vertically in the opening.”

“Sounds like a surveying tool”

“It was probably a jacobs staff. used for measuring deposit heights. You can also attach things like levels and what not to them


last edited: 4/04/07 3:58:51 PM”

“And if you hold it just right at sunrise the early morning rays point the way to...... oh wait.... wrong top.”

“It looked much like the photo except for the top. I think you nailed it. Thanks much”

“It sounds like something I could use as a hiking or walking stick. I need something for extra balance, to help carry my weight and to hold me when I stumble. Without the extra width my fingers will cramp up severely. And it has to be strong to hold all the weight I can put on it when I stumble.

Currently, I am using a martial arts staff. My hiking stick of six years broke last year. And a strong hiking stick can be used to slow up some of those horses in GSMNP.”

“I wonder if the cast top might be used in a similar manner as the wire in a lensmatic compass. Used to sight formations or something along that line.”

“I giant candy cane”

“anybody taking bets on how many posts till this thread hits the gutter?”

“when it does, for a change I will have at least one worthwhile post before it slides downhill.”

“Hyway, would you mind highlighting it, or using some sort of tag, so we will know which one it is?
last edited: 4/04/07 5:58:10 PM”

“ummm, I know this is a rarity on TT, but it was the one that actually provided an answer to the question asked in the opening post.”

“I don't care for the blind on our trails. They already think they are special with secret elevator signs”

“Candy Striper? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_volunteer

There, that should run this downhill fast.”

“Orogeny causes uplift!”

“uplift and separate!!!”

“downhill
[img]
http://www.onesheetindex.com/pix/5170_1.jpg[/img]”

“now we're talkin!

you guys seriously disappointed me with such tame discussion.”

“I've got one of these:


http://www.minerox.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1669”