Hammonds Rocks is a wall of rock rising 13 to 20 feet above ground
level that allows visitors to view the Precambrian-age (over 543
million years old) Weverton Formation, among the oldest sedimentary
rocks in the state. About 0.3 miles to the north is an extensive,
15 ft. high rib of the Weverton, known as the “Chinese Wall”. This
exposed rock is an example of a conglomerate – a coarse-grained
sedimentary rock containing pebble-sized rock fragments. From atop
the highest point on Hammonds Rocks it is possible to see parts of
five physiographic regions. Looking across the Cumberland Valley to
the north, Sterretts Gap, the most noticeable notch in the Blue
Mountain, is visible. To the south and east, one can see the
Mesozoic (65-248 million years old) Lowlands and beyond to the low
hills of the Piedmont in the York Valley. Pole Steeple on Piney
Mountain to the southwest is also clearly recognizable.
To reach the posted coords you will pass a place where a ladder
was once affixed to Hammonds rocks. To log this cache, please
email the number of exposed bolts (click for address) still
visible from the original ladder location. Ample parking is
available at a large pull-off area on Ridge Road.
In order to meet new Earthcache guidelines, we've added the
following question for response as well... The older the
rock, the more time it has had to be squashed, cooked, bent and
folded. As this is one of the oldest rocks in the state, to log
your visit describe what the rock materials looks like in an email
to me.
PLEASE NOTE: Ridge Road is not maintained in the winter.
Be aware that snow and ice will make access to this location much
more difficult.
The information in the cache description was derived from “Your
guide to the geology of the Kings Gap area”, Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, J. H. Way. 1986. 31 p. Available free from the PA
Geological Society as described here: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/pub/freepubs.aspx