As a growing glacier extends, it picks up sand, soil, rocks, and
boulders. A "moraine" is the hill and ridge formation left by the
debris when the glacier melts. A "kettle" is a crater-like
depression that is left behind when large chunks of ice melt.
As recently as 10,000 years ago, much of Wisconsin was covered
by glaciers from the ice age (as much as two miles thick!). You can
still see several moraines around the state, and one of the best is
at the Kettle Moraine State Forest along the Ice Age Trail.
The moraine here was formed where two "lobes" of the glacier
squeezed together and left their debris in a long ridge.
When you visit this site on Bald Bluff, you'll get a good view of
the ridge of the moraine on your left, heading off into the
distance to the south. It can really give you an idea of the scale
of ice age activity.
You'll also find that this bluff has other interesting history
surrounding it. Indians used the hill for sending smoke signals and
performing ceremonial dances. And in 1832, General Atkinson's
troops (including presidents Abraham Lincoln and Zachary Taylor)
camped by the bluff. Check out the brochures at the start of the
trail for more details!
UPDATE - To conform to the new Earthcache rules, the
requirements for logging this cache have changed . . .
As you hike up this trail, take a look at all the rocks -
remeber this is really a big pile of rocks that were pushed along
by glaciers. If you are from the area, you'll probably noticed that
the rocks here are very different than most Southern WI rocks -
they were ground and ground until they were round. To log this
find, you must find one of these glacier-ground rocks on your hike
up, and display it in a photo while standing next to post #5 at the
above coordinates. There MUST be a picture in your log which
includes you, post #5, and a recognizable example of a
glacier-rounded rock. If not, your entry will be deleted.