IATCC Polk Kame, Cedar Lakes Segement EarthCache
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IATCC Polk Kame, Cedar Lakes Segement
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ABOUT THIS LOCATION: This EarthCache is on the Ice Age Trail along the Cedar Lakes Segment. Parking lot available. Trail-head
N 43 21.188 W.088 16.270. Dogs available on a leash. The posted coords will bring you to a geological sign.
GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION:
The Ice Age Trail’s entire route through the county is within the margins of the Kettle Moraine. These ridges formed by rock debris deposited where the Green Bay and Lake Michigan lobes butted up against each
other often atop the Niagara Escarpment. To either side of the Kettle Moraine are drumlins and till plains left behind by each of the lobes. Wisconsin’s most distinctive geological landform is the glacier-formed
kame. Kames are the result of glacial streams that flowed down through cracks or shafts in the ice sheets that were thousands of feet tall above
the current land. Several prominent kames, such as Holy Hill, Powder Hill and a cluster known as the Polk Kames, dominate this narrow
landscape with panoramic hilltop views.
More specifically, Kames are large or small cone shaped hills. Kames are formed when glacial melt water carrying debris such as rocks, gravel, dirt, cut holes vertically through the glacier. As the water slows at the bottom of the hole, the debris piles up and after many years a conical hill is formed. Kames can form either directly on top of a moraine or anywhere behind it.
EARTHCACHE INFORMATION: Bring your camera. To receive credit for this EarthCache please do the following six requirements (enclosed text and posted geological sign will help you):
1)From the trail-head coords, hike the ice-age trail until you get to the geological marker labelled Kames. Read this marker and answer the following question based upon your observation of what you see before you.
Is the Kame you see before you on top of a Moraine?
2) Hike to the top of this Kame and take an elevation reading. ________feet
(coords on top N43 20.502 W088 15.824.)
3) Hike down to the pond below and take an elevation reading at the edge of the pond_________ft. (if the pond has disappeared, take a reading at the lowest point).
4) What is the total height in feet of the Kame measuring from the pond/water level to the top of this Kame? Hint, subtract the elevation level of the edge of the water/pond from the elevation at the top of the kame______________ft.
5) Take a picture with your gps at one of the ice age trail markers and post the coords of that trail marker (the trail marker needs to have the yellow marking on top of the post). Post this picture with your "found it" log and also post the coords were you took this picture. If by yourself, it is okay just to have your gps'r in the picture with the yellow trail marker.
6) With the knowledge you've gained from learning about Kames, please answer the following questions.
a)Wisconsin’s most distinctive geological landform is the glacier-formed
_______.
b)You are witnessing the cluster of Polk Kames here, name two prominent closeby kames. ___________and_________
You do NOT have to wait for confirmation from me before logging your find. Please do not make any reference to these answers in your log.
Please be advised, failure to complete the six tasks listed above will result in log deletion without notice.
Lastly, Please stay on the trail and observe all Private Property signs.
DNR forms sent in August 6th to Terry Jensen.
IATCC is the cache designation to highlight a series of EarthCaches along the ICE AGE National Scenic TRAIL grouped into a special category called "COLDCACHE."
The Ice Age Trail is one of eight National Scenic Trails designated by the National Park Service. This unique trail is entirely within the state of Wisconsin and follows along the terminal moraine of the most recent glacier.
This project is supported by the Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA). The goal is to bring more visitors to the trail and promote public awareness, appreciation, and understanding of Wisconsin’s glacial landscape. For those who have the Ice Age Trail Atlas, this site is located on map 85f.
More information on the Ice Age Trail Atlas, the ColdCache Project and Awards Program is available at: (visit link)
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)