Abstract This field guide examines Quaternary volcanism in the Canadian Cascade arc informally known as the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt. During the first day, the trip proceeds along the Sea-to-Sky Highway corridor from Vancouver to Pemberton and focuses on Quaternary glaciovolcanic deposits and lavas. Interactions between volcanoes and ice in the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt have been common during the past two million years, which has resulted in a diverse array of landforms, including subglacial domes, tuyas, impounded lava masses, and sinuous lavas that exploited within-ice drainage systems. On Days 2 and 3, the trip heads northwest of Pemberton, British Columbia, along logging roads to see deposits from the 2360 yr B.P. eruption of the Mount Meager volcanic complex. The eruption began Plinian-style, generating pyroclastic fall and density current deposits (Day 2) and ended with the production of welded and nonwelded block and ash flows by explosive (Vulcanian) collapse of a lava (Day 3). The guide will examine the deposits of the temporary lake impounded by a block and ash flow deposit dam, and the evidence of the catastrophic failure of the dam and the generation of a huge outburst flood and lahar. Many of the traits of the deposits seen on this three-day trip are a reflection of both the style of eruption and the nature of the surrounding landscape. In this regard, the trip provides a spectacular window into the nature and hazards of effusive and explosive volcanism occurring in mountainous terrains and the role of water and ice.

Abstract Here we describe a two-day field trip to examine Quaternary volcanism in the Canadian Cascade arc, named the Garibaldi volcanic belt. Day 1 of the trip proceeds along the Whistler corridor from Squamish to Pemberton and focuses on Quaternary glaciovolcanic deposits. Interactions between volcanoes and ice in the Garibaldi volcanic belt have been common during the past two million years and this has resulted in a diverse array of landforms, including subglacial domes, tuyas, impounded lava masses, and sinuous lavas that exploited within-ice drainage systems. On Day 2, the trip heads northwest of Pemberton, British Columbia, along logging roads to see deposits from the 2360 yr B.P. eruption of the Mount Meager volcanic complex. This eruption began Plinian-style, generating pyroclastic fall and flow deposits and ended with the production of block and ash pyroclastic flows by explosive (Vulcanian) collapse of lava domes (e.g., Soufriére Hills). Many of the traits of the deposits seen on this two day trip are a reflection of, both, the style of eruption and the nature of the surrounding landscape. In this regard, the trip provides a spectacular window into the nature and hazards of effusive and explosive volcanism occurring in mountainous terrains and the role of water and ice.