Lost Brook Caves EarthCache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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The Lost Brook area is found west of Hillsborough near Albert
Mines. The Lost Brook area is on the edge of a synclinal basin
located on the south side of Wilson Brook. The rock in the area is
limestone that is laminated.
This lamination is clearly visible in the exposed rocks on the
valley cliffs and caves of the area. Lost Brook Cave itself is
difficult to find but is well worth the effort. It has several
interesting passageways and a small waterfall inside the cave. The
area is accessed from a dirt road just south of the abandoned
Albert Mine quarry. The dirt road is locally known as the
"Underground Lake Road." The road is in excellent shape but the
ruts indicate that it is subject to change according to the
weather. The road goes over a small hillup a hill and within two
kilometers crosses Wilson Brook. The road is followed in a straight
line until it makes a right turn. The lost brook area is to the
southeast of this turn. about one kilometer off the road. A painted
line is followed to a brook that leads up a stream until the stream
splits, this is the Lost Brook vally. Both stream valleys lead to
many cave features. There are a number of caves in the area and
several disappearing streams. There are also two large resurgence
springs in the area. These features indicate that the area offers
many possible locations for new caves.
Cave formation begins when rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide as it
falls through the atmosphere. Rain water must have carbon dioxide
to become acidic. It must be acidic to chemically react to the
limestone bedrock. Rainwater is absorbed by the soil into the
ground. As rainwater comes through the soil it absorbs more carbon
dioxide that is being produced by plants that are dead. This
changes the ground water to a weaker form of carbonic acid(H2O +
CO2 = H2CO3). As it travels down through the ground it comes to
solid rock. When the rock is limestone or dolomite caves can form.
The water reacts chemically with limestone and slowly a larger and
larger space will form. This happens because the rocks are made of
calcium carbonate (CaCO3). This is what you call chemical erosion.
As the space becomes larger and larger the water can flow through.
As it flows it erodes . Physical erosion washes away rock and sand.
This is what makes a cave larger and forms an underground stream.
Finally over hundreds of thousands of years or even millions of
years the cave is formed.
Here is an activity that you can try. Mix a mild acid (vinegar)
with a base (baking soda). The reaction of the two substances
illustrates the process carbonic acid dissolving limestone, but
actual limestone solution by carbonic acid is a weaker, less
noticeable reaction.
For specific directions on finding the caves, first get yourself to
Albert Mines and take the dirt road (same one for Underwater Lake
Cave earthcache) at N45 51.839 W64 39.724.
Take the road in and over the bridge that crosses Wilsons Brook.
Drive straight on the road after the bridge until it starts to turn
right and park and find the head of the marked walking trail at N45
51.477 W64 41.245.
Now set your GPS for N45 51.298 W64 41.162. Follow the trail to
this point. The trail follows along an old barb-wire fence that is
intertwined with the path. Please use caution. You will pass over
one brook and then reach a second brook. The trail along here has
many beautiful wild fliwers including trilliums and lady slippers
(both pink and white). Please enjoy them but leave them for others
to enjoy as well. Now follow the brook upstream to the cave and the
cache (the cave is on the right brook where the stream splits).
Please be aware that the stream AND caves are NOT equally safe
at all points of the year. Do NOT enter the caves alone. Entering
the caves is not a requirement for this cache!
Do NOT log this cache without permission of the cache owner
first! To log, please do the following three things;
1)Please take a photo of yourself at or near the entrances of both
cave locations with gps in hand and post them after approval (see
samples). Depending on recent rainfall and time of year, you may
not get incredibly close. Use your judgement!
2)Measure or approximate the size of each of the two openings.
Email the owner your findings.
3)Do a little research on caves of this nature. Where would the
lost brook leading into this cave system be going? Email your
answers to the owner.
Happy and safe caching!
Additional Hints
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Treasures
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