GC14NNW The Boulderfields (Earthcache) in Alabama, United States created by Redleader

This cache has been archived.

Geocaching HQ Admin: It has now been over 30 days since Geocaching HQ submitted the disabled log below and, unfortunately, the cache owner has not posted an Owner maintenance log and re-enabled this geocache. As a result, we are now archiving this cache page.

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GC14NNW ▼

A cache by Redleader Message this owner

Hidden : 7/27/2007

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

The Moss Rock Preserve is a great place to get away from the rush of the city. Come take a break from it all and get a cache too!

So where did these things come from?

These rocks date back to the Paleozoic Era (290-350 million years ago) and are part of the beginning of the Appalachian Mountians. These rocks were formed when different layers of the earth's crust pushed together and created these formations and the area foothills as well. As tall as these rocks are, they used to be much taller! They have been weathered down since they originally pushed out of the swamps that were in the area. (The swamps helped lead to much of the coal that is found in the state today.)*

The giant boulders in this area are one of the highlights of the Moss Rock Preserve in Hoover Alabama. These boulders have been used by rockclimbers since the 1960's as practice for climbing the Appalachian Mountains. Today boulder-climbing is a sport in itself and many climbers come here to enjoy the challenge that these boulders represent. There are over 100 mapped out routes in this area for climbers to enjoy.

Several years ago the area was threatened with new construction in the area, but locals banded together and the city passed an ordinance making the Moss Rock Preserve what it is today.

CACHE REQUIREMENTS:

1) Post a picture of yourself with your GPSr at one of the boulders here.

2)Email me the answer to the following questions. There is a tunnel that goes through the nearby boulder. Approx. how wide is the tunnel? What are these rocks composed of?

*Information gathered from The Alabama Mineral and Lapidary Society (From “Geology of the Birmingham Area”, copyright 1993)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ab uvag arrqrq. Rawbl gur nern!

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)

The Boulderfields EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

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Geocache Description:

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