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Soils of RI #15: Agawam Traditional Cache

Hidden : 6/11/2011
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This is the 15th in a series of caches honoring the 58 different types of soils found within the State of Rhode Island. Soils were a major factor in the settling and early farming of RI, and soils continue to influence our industry, recreation, wildlife, and homes. As you complete this series, please take note of how the soil is determined in-part by the landscape position (summit, sideslope, drainageway), which in turn affects the vegetation.

This cache is located within an extensive area of Agawam soil. Agawam soils were formed from sandy materials deposited as glaciers melted in the area 14,000 - 18,000 years ago. As the glaciers melted, the water sorted the materials by size. Some layers of this soil will contain gravels, other layers will consist of finer sands. Because of this stratification, gravel companies typically find these areas and mine them because nature has already done most of the sorting.

Agawam soils are well drained. Because they are typically flat outwash plains with a deep water table, they are well suited to community development and farming. Crops include hay, silage corn, tobacco, potatoes, and truck crops. Areas that remain forest are composed mainly of white pine, gray birch, red maple, red, white, black, and scarlet oaks.

The cache is located within a small tract of woods that contains trails connecting the atheltic fields behind the St John Vianney Church and the Diamond Hill Cemetery. The Diamond Hill Cemetery is actually three historic cemeteries (CU024, CU025, and CU038). The cemetery contains members of the Whipple Family, a prominent Cumberland family. CC contains a full description of Agawam soil and some swag. Please rehide well.

High fives to KATnDOGZ for the FTF!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Rire ohvyq n ubhfr jvgu Yvapbya Ybtf?

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)