Destination: Crew's Choice -- Muddy Creek Overlook Duration: 12:00-16:14 (4 hours, 14 minutes)

Participants: Jason Schwier, Amy Blank, Daniel Hegeman

Equipment: digital camera, GPS device, tripod, compass

Route: WGS84

1. 12S 0518165E 4250931N to 12S 0520698E 4257097N [Muddy Creek overlook]
2. to (coordinates withheld) [Lithe Canyon]
3. to 12S 0518165E 4250931N [Hab]

Objectives/Work Done: RST decided early on that they wanted the Crew to eventually EVA to a site of their choice and collect samples as a way of promoting independence and scientific autonomy. As the last EVA, the crew chose to follow this approach and headed to Muddy Creek, a fluctuating river about 6 km north of the Hab. After spending the morning figuring out what exactly they were going to do, the EVA crew suited up and ATVed to an overlook. We traveled along the path to Lithe Canyon (EVA 15) but went right this time at a fork in the road and followed it to a little cul-de-sac overlooking the creek's edge. We weren't sure if we'd be able to descend down the cliff to the basin because the topographic maps indicated a steep drop, but as college students we knew we had to try. We hiked along the edge for about half a kilometer, searching for the right spot to descend but knew that we probably wouldn't be able to get back up. Making the best of the situation, we figured that we could take two conglomerate samples from the top (which would only eventually fall to the riverbed below) and enjoy the tremendous view. We could see for miles in every direction and paused to consider the fact that Muddy Creek had been eroding away at the desert for millions of years. Wouldn't it be something if a time-lapse video (over the course of eons) could be taken of this creek, or a mountain, or even the Grand Canyon!

Determined to break the record for the longest EVA of our rotation, we decided to then revisit Lithe Canyon, with RST's new sample coordinates and greater confidence! At first we walked around the area we had been in on EVA 15 in case we had overlooked something but then decided to just travel to the GPS coordinates provided. At the entrance to the Canyon we found a stagnant pool of muddy water at the base of a multilevel rock drop. Instead of descending down this drop we decided to walk around and find an easier entrance to Lithe Canyon. Jason noticed a large sample site of what appeared to be chipped wood roughly 3 square meters, but upon further inspection it was discovered to be petrified wood of shades ranging from beige to reddish to burnt.

Some of the samples were as large as baseballs so this was definitely a great find. The crew then descended into the Canyon and searched along the walls and in partial caves for signs of previous life or fossils. We didn't find anything concrete, but if we'd had a Geiger counter then we could have searched for the presence of radioactive material in old fossils. The appeal of being fossil hunters soon was replaced with fatigue, and we ATVed back towards the Hab. However, we still had time to kill to beat the record and traveled down Cactus Road to a 150 ft cliff near Candor Chasma. We enjoyed some final photographs of the area and headed back to the ATVs. All in all, it was a very productive day and Jason, Daniel, and Amy thoroughly enjoyed the final crew EVA.

Weather: Clear

Maximum distance from Hab: 6.70 km (total distance from Hab to Site along road was 9.8 km, total distance traveled today was 24.8 km)

Lessons Learned:

1. The ATV must be in neutral when starting it (doh!) or it will roll away on its own.
2. A helicopter such as a Black Hawk or an Apache Longbow or a VTOL aircraft such as a Harrier would be incredibly useful in descending into the Muddy Creek valley from the ridge 250 ft above. Hint hint. Since this is theoretically supposed to be Mars, we wouldn't have to worry about the government enforcing aircraft permits, should they be necessary.
3. Crews of highly active college students who are at their physical prime can go for a long time (greater than 4 hours) without liquid nourishment. Since it is our Spring Break though, we enjoyed several libations when we returned.
4. Despite Daniel and Jason's naive optimism, no traces of gold or diamonds were found in the desert. Further testing by them in the future is necessary and would be beneficial.