The other day Sugar and I were talking about the natural beauty of
Eastern Washington and what geological forces were responsible for
it.
In case you are not already aware, two major geologic forces
molded the eastern Washington landscape. First there were the
massive Columbia River basalt (lava) flows that occurred from 17.5
million to 6 million years ago and formed the major river beds and
mountain structure. Then sometime between 15,500 – 12,700
years ago more than 40 massive floods swept across Washington from
the periodic discharge of glacial Lake Missoula. These floods laid
bare the basalt formations and created the channeled scablands that
Sugar and I find so fascinating.
This cache is hidden along the Columbia Plateau Trail (formerly
the Scablands Nature Corridor Trail). This trail is a 130 mile-long
Spokane, Portland, and Seattle (SP&S) railroad bed and when it
is fully developed it will provide hiking and mountain biking from
Ice Harbor Dam (near Pasco) to Fish Lake (near Cheney). The trail
has four trestles (all National Historical Landmarks) and a 2000
foot-long railroad tunnel. The trail offers several views of the
Gingko and Palouse Falls flows of the Frenchman Springs member.
Have a great time. - - Sluggo and Sugar
Adopted by YeOleImposter on 10/26/2007
