Tall Trees Grove earth cache will teach you about Pacific Coast Range Mountains, how it was formed and the characteristics. Also it will take you on a pleasant journey to visit some 2000 year old inhabitants of the earth.
Pacific coast range facts
The North Coast region, which includes Redwood National Park and the adjacent offshore area, is the most seismically active region in the United States. As a result of frequent earthquakes, rapid uplift rates have led to landslides, actively braiding and shifting rivers, and rapid coastal erosion. The reason for all this activity is the geologic setting of the North Coast region. Three tectonic plates (thin pieces of the Earth's crust which float above the mantle) known as the North American, the Pacific, and the Gorda contact each other at the Mendocino triple junction. This junction lies offshore near Cape Mendocino, which is about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Redwood National and State Parks. The rocks themselves that comprise the mountains are of a great variety and widely varying geologic ages. Most of the rocks were formed during the Tertiary, Cretaceous and Jurassic periods. Most were deposited on the sea bottom as sediments, but in many places also had the cracks, crevices and other gaps infused with molten lava or other masses of igneous rock, which were forced in molten condition into the sedimentary rocks. All of the range has been folded and faulted during several periods, with erosion of the softer rock giving much of the current appearance.
Categories of Rocks Found Here
The rocks found in Redwood National and State Parks are part of this crumbled belt of sediments and generally fall into one of three categories: Sedimentary Rocks - sandstones, mudstones, and conglomerates. Conglomerates are formed from assorted pebbles cemented together in a sand matrix. The porous and permeable structure of these rocks makes them important aquifers (reservoirs and conductors of ground water) for the redwoods. Metamorphic Rocks - such as Redwood Creek schist, are formed when sedimentary rocks are subjected to enough heat and pressure to recrystallize some or all mineral components. This can also occur locally when rocks are crushed as a result of faulting. Transitional Rocks - sedimentary rocks that have been slightly metamorphosed. For example, pebbles in a conglomerate are deformed, but the rock still has the appearance of a conglomerate.
Tall tress grove facts.
The cache site - Tall Trees Grove - is near a riverbed in the Pacific coast range. What you will discover here is 2000 year old redwood trees that benefit from the unique climate here. The range it self is play a big part in creating the growth conditions for these trees. The range rise above sea level high enough to make the shrub take the salt spray out of the moist air, so the fog that will still reach the grove is moist and salt free. Another factor is the rock bed that will draw water to it and hold water for the trees to use in dry periods. Just next to the cache site is the Redwood Creek riverbed, what you will discover here are lots of stones and gravel, but no dirt, as the river has washed all the sediment away and out in to the ocean, but left the stones behind. Pay attention to the stones.
Getting here.
Decide from home if you want to do the 8.5 or 1.3 mile hike. The long hike is open to all with no visitors per day limits, and have camping facilities. To do the shorter 1.3 mile hike you need a free permit at the information center that enable you to enter the access road to the trailhead. A limited number of permits given every day, 1st come 1st served. The long hike is pretty tough, and the shorter one even though not long, still strenuous due to elevation changes.
EDIT: Trail permits are now issued on www.nps.gov - not on same day - must be requested in advance!
To log this cache...
1. Go to the riverbed and have a look at the stones there - see cache description and tell me what type rock you see in abundance. (by email - not in log please)
2. Take a picture of yourself holding GPS at the bench with big redwood behind you and add it to your log.
3. Write at least a short note about your experience to share with fellow geocachers.