History of the Chuckanut Formation
Some fifty million years ago, much of the Pacific Northwest was
covered by a giant swampy flood plain, spanning the area between
where the cities of Vancouver BC and Everett are found today. Over
time, layers of sediment were deposited in this flood plain, which
became the Chuckanut Formation. The Chuckanut Formation consists of
a nearly four-mile thick deposit of sedimentary sandstone deposits,
the largest formation of its kind in North America! Over time, this
deposit has been broken and fractured through the motion of the
earth’s tectonic plates -- you’ll be able to see a
great example of this phenomenon at this Earthcache. As you
approach the Earthcache along Chuckanut Drive, you’ll be able
to see that the rock is now in pieces that tilt and point in
directions different from the horizontal layers of sediment that
were originally laid down in the rivers and swamps.
What did this area look like fifty million years ago when the
Chuckanut Formation formed? During the Eocene era, the dinosaurs
were already gone, but other animals like the Dawn Horse and
ancient relatives of the Tapir roamed this area, which was also
home to a wide array of tropical plants. Many of these plants,
including their seeds, nuts, and leaves, became trapped in the
river sediment, forming fossils over time.
Logging Requirements
In order to log this Earthcache, you’ll need to email me with
a description of at least three different fossilized objects that
you find at this location and their approximate sizes, and post a
photo of your group with your GPS in front of the fossil area. Take
only photos -- do not collect the fossils or disturb the area in
any way. Be sure that you don’t include spoiler comments or
photos in your log entry. As required for Earthcache listings,
incomplete logs will be deleted or changed to a note until all
logging requirements have been completed.
Parking and Access
Parking is available in a small pullout about 150 feet north of the
fossil location. This road can be busy at times -- be careful
crossing the road and watch small children carefully.
