Myron Cook wants to show the world the wonders of Wyoming’s geologic features. His YouTube page is allowing him that opportunity, getting millions of views from his nearly 140,000 subscribers and making him a literal rock star on the platform.

“It’s actually turned into a thing,” he said. “I did it just for the joy of geology and communicating geology and it just kind of took off.”

A former petroleum geologist, Cook wanted to share his love for the science with the world after retiring. His 35 years of professional experience and genuine personal interest gives him a high level understanding of how the geological features of Wyoming and the world came to be.

Cook, who now lives in the small northwestern Wyoming town of Burlington, spent the last few years of his career working in Saudi Arabia when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Due to the rampant lockdowns there, he spent much of his free time watching YouTube videos on photography.

He quickly discovered there was very little geology on the platform, which surprised him. Much of what existed were one-off videos.

After retiring and returning to Wyoming about six months later, Cook took up making YouTube videos to showcase the amazing natural rock features that make up the state and region.

“It almost seems everything was set up perfect for me to do it right at the right time,” he said.

He considers Wyoming as having some of the most interesting geology in the world because it’s easily accessible with the naked eye. Even though geology is everywhere, in order to see the most geologic action, an arid desert landscape is usually required, Cook said.

“Wyoming, especially in the Big Horn Basin area, has just a super high diversity of geology,” he said.

Viral Success

Cook quickly gained a following on YouTube for filling a niche not occupied by many other videographers. Now Cook estimates he gets about 20,000 views per day.

His presentation is rather sophisticated, using multiple cameras and drones to showcase his topics in a visually inviting way to his audience.

“I do everything on my own, every last bit of it,” he said. “The technology to be able to do that … all has come together to not only give people the opportunity to learn, but people like me to produce something.”

Even though his topics could be seen as dry if presented the wrong way, Cook leaps over that hurdle by physically going out to the geologic formations he is discussing, walking and touching the feature.

He expresses genuine enthusiasm while showing off the natural wonders of the world, easily recognizable by his white bushy beard and yellow sun hat.

He also highlights features from different locations to bridge a connection over a single concept.

For instance, in a video released in June, Cook visits a mysterious rock wall in the Badlands. In the same video, he shows how some of the rock formations around the North Fork and Clarks Fork, two visually distinctly different areas outside Yellowstone National Park, were created in the same manner.

He also spends a 90-minute episode explaining the creation of Heart Mountain outside Cody, which came about as a result of an incredible super volcanic explosion and one of the world’s largest landslides, causing the mountain to travel through the air at more than 150 mph until landing in its current space.

Many of the places Cook documents are little known. Sometimes he branches out from Wyoming and the West, doing videos on the geology of Hawaii and the Appalachian Mountains.

His most popular video, which got about 4 million views, showcased a massive salt glacier in the Gulf of Mexico. Cook said less than 1,000 people likely knew about this glacier until his video was released.

“That one I felt really confident about because people like geology in their backyard,” Cook said.

Another extremely popular one was an episode on giant petrified trees outside Worland. In this video, Cook walks the viewer through all the signs that show how the dusty hillside the petrified trees now lay on used to be a muddy creek that eventually ensconced the fallen timber.

Although he does make money off the videos, Cook said he doesn’t want it to feel like a job, so he only makes about one video a month.

What’s It For?

Cook said it’s his primary goal to get people interested in geology to think and see the world around them differently, which he considers the greatest compliment he could receive. The comments he’s received on his videos, he finds extremely gratifying, with some saying the episodes have changed their lives.

“I’ve had people reach and out say, ‘I was extremely depressed, struggling in life, gone through divorce, whatever it might be, and you’ve inspired me to get out, hike and see some geology, enroll in school,’” Cook related. “It’s been extremely gratifying.”

Although his biggest audience is older adults, he still gets a wide variety of views. One person commenting online who identified herself as a 13-year-old girl from Chicago remarked on how much she loves Cook’s videos.

“I don’t understand why most people in my generation have such little interest in the natural sciences,” she said. “I love all of them, geology in particular. It makes me feel like something as every day as a rock has its own unique story behind it, and that story can be brought out through careful investigation and curiosity.”

The fact that both geologists and regular members of the public follow his videos, he also believes is important.

“I feel like I’ve kind of found that right space where it’s good for everybody,” Cook said.

Contact Leo Wolfson at leo@cowboystatedaily.com

Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.

SAN FRANCISCO – A stunning glow-up of the San Francisco skyline and Bay Bridge drew photographers of all skill levels and those looking to snap a social media moment to gather along California Street at sunrise on Monday.  

The biennial phenomenon known as the “California Henge,” offered a view of the sun over the bridge as it perfectly aligned with San Francisco’s California Street cityscape. The event happens only twice a year. The last time the “California Henge” occurred was in April, around the total solar eclipse, as reported by the San Francisco Bay Times and photographer Stu Berman.

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According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, astronomers say these “henge” events are created by the sun’s path aligning with city streets. They typically take place at sunrise or sunset. Similar occurrences happen in Manhattan and Boston.

In San Francisco, large groups of photographers were seen set up along California and Gough streets to catch a glimpse of the rare event at sunrise on Monday.

“This phenomenon is HIGHLY location specific of California Street,” explained Rick Baldridge a local amateur astronomer who also works as a telescope operator at UC’s Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton in the South Bay.

Baldridge was among the photographers who gathered to catch the henge. He said more than 20 photographers set up their equipment along California to capture the solar event.    

Photographers gathered along California Street in San Francisco on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024 for the biannual phenomenon known as “California Henge.”  (Rick Baldridge)

How to best capture the California Henge

Bay Area photographer Pankaj Bhargava, who has documented previous celestial events of this kind, including last April’s henge, also advised that spectators can get the best and clearest view by gathering around California Street. 

He suggested photographers shoot from various intersections along California Street, keeping in mind how prominent they want the sun to appear in relation to the Bay Bridge. Experienced photographers understand the challenge of capturing the sun, and Bhargava recommended using a neutral density filter or another technique to reduce the sun’s brightness.

Monday’s henge resulted in awe-inspiring images, but if you missed it, you may get a chance to catch the rare phenomenon again on Tuesday.  

“I suspect tomorrow will be a bit of a zoo out there,” Baldridge said. “As expected, the sun was a bit higher today over the Bridge column than it will be tomorrow… Alignment should be very good tomorrow morning.”

On Tuesday, sunrise in San Francisco is set for 6:42 a.m. 

“California Henge” captured the alignment of the sun over the Bay Bridge on Monday, Sept. 2. 2024. (Rick Baldridge)

Photographers gathered on Monday, Sept. 2, 2024 in San Francisco for the biannual phenomenon known as “California Henge.”  (Rick Baldridge)