Massanutten Mountain is a mountain range within Blue Ridge range of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia. The range bisects the Shenandoah Valley and is divided into northern and southern sections. 
The northern section consists of 3 roughly parallel ridges, forming 2 valleys. The wider, main valley, is called Fort Valley, while the smaller one is known as Little Fort Valley. The ridges of the northern section converge at New Market Gap. The southern section consists of a series of closely gathered ridges, separated by precipitous creek gorges.
The geology of the Massanutten Mountains is dominated by sandstone and supported by shale. Erosion of the underlying shale in some areas of the mountain caused the sandstone to break and slide to form talus slopes. Generally the Massanutten Sandstone is folded into a syncline, and it outcrops at the ridge tops. The synclinal structure of the mountain gives it its characteristic shape. 
A syncline is a downward-curving fold, with layers that dip toward the center of the structure. On a geologic map, synclines are recognized by a sequence of rock layers that grow progressively younger, with the youngest layers at the fold's center or hinge followed by progressively older layers outward. Therefore, a reverse sequence of the same rock layers occurs on the opposite sides of the hinge. You can find illustrations about the formation of the Massanutten Mountain syncline on your way to the posted coordinates.
In order to log this Earthcache send me an email with answers to the following questions:
- When was the Massanutten Sandstone deposited and where did it originate?
- Name the formation that is underlying the Massanutten Sandstone.
- What turned the "loose sands" of the Massanutten Sandstone into rock?
- What caused folding, buckling and fracturing of the rock layers in Massanutten Mountain?
- How thick is the Massanutten Sandstone at the spine of the mountain?
- During which geologic period(s) were the easily erodible shales and siltstones formed that underlay the valleys on Massanutten Mountain?
- When did the processes commence that resulted in the present shape of the mountain?
You can find the answers to these questions on a short walk along the paved Storybook Trail from the parking coordinates to the posted coordinates. Take a picture of your caching party at the posted coordinates and include it in your log. Logs posted without sending answers or without picture will be deleted. No excuses accepted!
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