Hidden Lake Gardens Erratic EarthCache
Hidden Lake Gardens Erratic
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This earthcache is located on the public highway right of way. There is a public turn out here so you can get off the road. Cache is Handicapped accessible. Winter the required information maybe harder to complete this cache.
This is also the entrance to the Hidden Lake Gardens. There is a Botanical Garden and Arboretum owned and operated by Michigan State University. There is an admission fee to the park. There is many more caches within the park and is well worth the entrance fee to go in and enjoy the gardens.
A glacial erratic is a piece of rock that deviates from the size and type of rock native to the area in which it rests; the name "erratic" is based on the errant location of these boulders. These rocks were carried to their current locations by glacial ice, often-over hundreds of miles. Erratics can range in size from pebbles to large boulders such as Big Rock (16,500 tons) in Alberta. Geologists identify erratics by studying the rocks surrounding the position of the erratic and the composition of the erratic itself. Erratics were once considered evidence of a massive flood approximately 10,000 years ago, similar to the legendary floods described in the texts of ancient civilizations throughout the world. Ancient legends of an epic flood come from many cultures including Mesoamerican, Sumerian (Epic of Gilgamesh), Hebrew (Old Testament) and Indian culture. In the 19th century, many scientists came to favor erratics as evidence for the end of the last glacial maximum (ice age) 10,000 years ago, rather than a flood. Geologists have suggested that landslides or rock falls initially dropped the rocks on top of glacial ice. The glaciers continued to move, carrying the rocks with them. When the ice melted, the erratics were left in their present locations.
Here is a little information about this erratic. This stone was moved here from the location the glacier left it 25 miles west in Wheatland Township, Hillsdale County. It is stated that it is originally started out on the north shore of Georgian Bay, Canada, some 300 miles away. Some of the information used here is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This is an EarthCache - without container or logbook - where you'll observe, document through measurements and photographs or other means and report your findings, via email, to earn credit for this cache. Logs that do not conform to these requirements will be deleted, as this cache requires a demonstrated acquisition of knowledge about the geologic forces at work. Read all the requirements for completing this cache before you visit the area, and equip yourself with the necessary tools (including a camera).
To demonstrate your acquisition of knowledge of this erratic, please answer these questions briefly in an email to me through the geocaching.com website. Post a photo in your log of yourself at the erratic if you can, but don't post your answers in your log. Report in the online log how many were in your party during your visit. Logs not conforming to these requirements will be deleted. Also photos showing members climbing on the erratic will have there log deleted also. This also includes any mention of climbing on it.
Requirements: Taking a picture with GPS in hand and the erratic in background is highly recommended as proof you were at the rock, but is no longer required. Without the picture, you need to give me some form of proof that you were at the rock itself and not arm chair caching. I also want to note that the picture can be of your hand and GPS no face pictures are needed if this helps.
Also to get credit for the find please answers the following Questions by email NOT IN YOUR LOG ENTRY.
1. What is the height of this erratic (Above ground)?
2. What kind of rock is the erratic?
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)