Debsconeag Ice Cave EarthCache
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Come visit and find out if these caves are true ice caves or just a geological quirk that allows the cave to appear to have perpetual ice formations.
Come visit and find out if these caves are true ice caves or just a geological quirk that allows the cave to appear to have perpetual ice formations.
When the last continental glacier moved through the area it was traveling generally to the south in this area. During the Ice Ages the temperatures became lower and, probably more important, the amount of rain in the area increased. So there was a lot of snow, which did not melt during summer and formed increasing shields of ice, the glaciers. As ice is not as hard as rock, it starts moving under pressure, and with the several thousand foot high shields of ice, the pressure of the its own weight was more than enough to move the ice. So the ice of this northern glacier was kind of flowing south, always melting at the tip and compressing the earth as it traveled.
As long as the amount of new ice was greater than the amount which melted at the head, the glacier increased, moving south, covering valleys and hills. The moving glacier pushed the fragments of rock like a snow plough. During a warm period, the glacier became shorter and left the rocks only a short distance from their origin. These rock piles are very angular and are called talus. This cave is a talus cave, which means huge boulders of rock lying in a heap do not really fit, and so there are crevices and cracks between them. The shrinking glacier, leaving huge boulders which came from the north, formed these caves. Talus caves are rather rare, especially the big ones.
The average yearly temperature in this area of Maine is about thirty-nine degrees Fahrenheit, which is not cold enough to support a true ice cave. While the ice appears to be in the cave year round it is generally replaced each year with new ice very late into the fall. Even though this is not a true ice cave it is an interesting place to visit. As you explore the ice cave in the late fall it becomes apparent why the ice stays in Debsconeag Ice Cave that much longer. Above the caves at the top of the ridge is what appears to be a large pseudo-sink in the granite which is right above a small hole about 30 cm square in the very back of the cave. This hole appears to have great seasonal flows of water. The inlet is above the floor of the cave with the outflow about 2 meters above the floor of the cave. One would speculate that as the spring approaches and the cave is at its coldest the water enters the cave. The ice is formed from the bottom of the cave up with the heaviest water flow being allowed to leave the cave after the formation of the floor ice.
This is referred to as a static ice cave, which is simply a deep hole with a small entrance with limited air drainage out the bottom. The cave acts as a cold trap where the cold dense air is trapped and the warm air is excluded. While it does not prevent the ice from melting it does slow the process. Most years this cave contains ice late into the fall with extreme winters causing the ice to persist for several years before it disappears. This cave is unique because the water flows into it as soon as it starts to melt in the spring allowing a greater build up of ice in the cave that is protected in early summer by snow cover. Because most people visit the cave in the heat of the summer or early fall and find ice they assume that it must therefore contain ice year-round.
The Debsconeag Ice Cave is located in a beautiful old open Pine/Spruce forest along the side of a wilderness lake. It can be reached by canoe then hiking from Debsconeag Deadwater or a hike from the gate at the end of the Abol road. The cave is about 60 meters in length and can be safely explored. If you decide to explore the cave make sure to be prepared for 39 deg F (4 deg C) temperatures and bring you own light source (several would be preferable in case one goes out). Inside the cave, the rocks are slick and jumbled and often covered with snow and ice. The ice cave can be entered from either of two entrances but one requires a rope while in the other rope only adds that margin of safety. Once inside you are in a large room with three choices. The passage to the right goes up and finally reaches a small skylight. The passage to the left appears to be the main drain for the cave and is a low flat room slope downward until it becomes packed with rocks. The last passage headed to the north go from a crawl to a room three times before finally ending in a small passage where it appears that the water enters the cave.
To log this Earthcache: Send an email to me through my profile with the following information: What is the area of the main entrance for the caves and what is the height of the left passage where the overflow water leaves the cave? Please begin your email with the name of the earthcache and make sure your log includes the number of people in your group. If for some reason you do not want to enter the cave make sure to explain the reason and you still can log the cache. It also would be nice if you would post a photo so others would know what they have to look forward to at this earth cache.
This Earthcache is located in the Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area, which The Nature Conservancy in Maine has worked hard to protect. Site visitation hours are from dawn to dusk with camping permitted in designated parts of the preserve. Detailed site information with a downloadable visitor’s map can be found on their website:
(visit link)
Preserve Guidelines
• Hunting and fishing are allowed according to state laws and regulations.
• Vehicles are restricted to designated roads.
• Horses, pets, and other domestic animals are not permitted.
• Fires are allowed by permit only in existing fire rings at designated locations. Use only dead and down wood.
• Do not collect or remove plants or animals.
• Camp only in designated campsites. No reservations or fees required.
• Camping at any one site is limited to a two week maximum stay.
• Please use the latrines installed at campsites.
• Carry water for washing at least 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap.
• Pack it in, pack it out! Remove all trash and leave your campsite looking better than when you arrived.
If you enjoy this earthcache you may want to check the Maine Geological Survey located at (visit link)
They have developed a number of information sheets or field localities giving a great deal of information about geologic features. They also have a number of books and maps about Maine’s natural history/ geology that you might find interesting.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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