Soils of RI #44: Gloucester (FINAL!)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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This is the 44th (and final) in a series of caches honoring the 57 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.
Here it is... the final cache in the "Soils of Rhode Island" cache series. There is the possibility of a new series (Westbrook) being mapped in the state within the next year, but as of now, this is the end of the line!
I found it fitting that this cache series end with the Gloucester soil series. This series was first established in RI, and more importantly, Gloucester is the predominant soil series found within the Charlestown Moraine. The Charlestown Moraine is a long string of hills and boulders deposited directly by glaciers approximately 15,000 years ago. During the last glacial advance, the Laurentide ice sheet reached its southern maximum a few miles south of Block Island. As the climate eventually warmed, the glacier began retreating. A period of stagnation persisted for quite some time where the glacier neither advanced or receded. This period of stagnation produced the Charlestown Moraine, which extends from South Kingstown west to Westerly and Connecticut.
The Charlestown Morain had a profound impact on the landscape of southern RI. The meltwater coming off the stagnant glacier produced the flat outwash plains directly south of the moraine. These flat fields became excellent farmland in southern RI. The hilly terrain of the moraine captured large blocks of ice, creating the numerous kettle ponds that speckle the moraine. Once the ice retreated further north, meltwater was dammed by the moraine, forming what would become Worden Pond and Great Swamp. The Charlestown Moraine is the reason why the Pawcatuck River flows west instead of south.
Other moraines exist in RI, but none are nearly as extensive nor have had such an impact as the Charlestown Moraine.
As for the soil itself, Gloucester soils are classified as somewhat excessively drained soils on slopes that range from nearly level to very steep. Most areas are forested. Cleared areas are used for hay, pasture, and silage corn, or are idle. Common tree species are oaks, gray birch, eastern white pine, maples, and eastern hemlock. Unimproved pasture and idle land contain juniper, sweet fern, hardhack, and blueberry. Some areas ar eused for community development, although the sandy soil requires careful septic system design to prevent the contamination of groundwater.
This final soil cache is located within land protected by the South Kingstown Land Trust, on the DuVal trail system. BBWolf placed a cache near the start of the trail, so I'd like to thank him for leading me here with his cache! The trail system is well maintained and easy to follow. The trail is hilly and steep in some parts, so please be careful. The up-and-down terrain is a classic example of moraine topography. Boulders are common as well.
There is a spectacular view of Trustom Pond and Block Island Sound just before the trail bears north. Be sure to stop and take in the view! The woods here are rich with wildlife and quite peaceful. I don't think there could have been a better place to end this cache series.
CC is a small tupperware with the usual swag, logbook, and official series description. GZ is only about 25 feet from the trail, so the limited bushwhacking will be a relief for many of you! The undergrowth that is present is light.
This may be the end of the series, but be on the lookout for a SoRI bonus cache or two in the near future... better find those caches if you want to be first!
Permission for placement of the cache was granted by the SKLT.
Congrats to BBWolf+3Pigs on the FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Arne n cerfrag yrsg ol gur tynpvre