Where The Devil Meets Shakespeare EarthCache
Where The Devil Meets Shakespeare
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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To log this cache, you will need a camera. The walk to ground zero
is relatively short. The terrain is relatively flat although the
area around ground zero is very rocky.
A short hike from parking will lead you to a secluded, rocky area
of the Cresheim Creek known as the Devil's Pool.
According the legend, the pool is said to have limitless depth
however, this is not true. The pear shaped pool is about 30 feet
deep and 30 feet wide when it is full.
This pool was formed over time as water followed zones of weak
rock. The water would cut down through the rocks to form this
gorge. The force of the water flowing over the rocks beneath the
falls formed the larger depression. Large outcrops of mica schist
and quartzite (Wissahickon Formation from the Lower Paleozoic age)
surrounds the pool.
The rock around the pool have had to deal with extreme weathering
which has decomposed the mica schist leaving mostly quartzite. This
is visually apparent when you compare the a shiny piece of schist
from the trail to this weathered version near the water.
The above coordinates will take you to a a rocky area at the base
of Devil's Pool. From here, you can see just how eroded the area
is. If you peer into the water, you will notice that the bottom has
an almost sandy texture with very few rocks. This is a combination
of eroded pieces of rock settling on the bottom and not getting
washed away.
The first three logging requirements begin here.
1) Take a picture standing at the coordinates (or as close as you
can get) with your GPSr and the pool behind you.
(See example picture)
2) E-mail me and tell me why the schist erodes first.
3) Record your elevation at this low point. (needed for later)
The additional waypoint will take you to Shakespeare Rock.
Shakespeare Rock is a carved rock with a quote from “Two Gentlemen
of Verona.” This monument was placed in 1934. While not geological
in nature, it is very close.
4) Mark your elevation at this high point.
5) Please take a picture with your GPSr at the rock.
(See example picture)
6) At home, calculate and e-mail me the mass of the rocks that have
eroded. This is going to be a very big guesstimate. For sake of
ease, assume that the shape is that of a cylinder. I will help by
giving your the following:
-Height (h) = Calculated above. Don't forget to add 30 feet for
underwater depth.
-Radius (r) = 15 feet
-Volume of a cylinder = (Pi)(r^2)(h)
-Density of schist in lb/cu ft. = 168.48
Sources:
Outstanding Scenic Geological Features of Pennsylvania
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
D2: Purpx jvgu Zbuf