GC1DQH8 The Aldo Leopold Trail (Traditional Cache) in Wisconsin, United States created by zuma!

GC1DQH8 ▼

A cache by zuma! Message this owner

Hidden : 6/30/2008

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache in rural Taylor County is about a half mile north of the Ice Age Trail, and takes you down a unique trail known as the Aldo Leopold Trail. The first 3/4 of the trail follows the crest of a very well defined esker, and the last part of the trail takes you to the marshland below the esker, so you get a good sense of what an esker is, both from the top, and from the bottom.

An esker is a sinuous rounded ridge of sand and gravel deposited by the streams that flowed through tunnels at the base of a glacier. There are several great examples of eskers in the Montreaux Recreation area. One of the longest, is just south of here, and the Ice Age Trail is routed on the top of the esker there. Eskers are frequently several miles in length and, because of their peculiar uniform shape, somewhat resemble a raised railroad embankment.

Eskers are believed to have formed in ice-walled tunnels by streams which flowed within and under glaciers. After the retaining ice walls melt away, stream deposits remain as long winding ridges. Eskers form near the terminal zone of glaciers, where the ice is not moving as fast and is relatively thin.

The rate of ice flow and melting of the ice determines the size and shape of the subglacial tunnel. This in turn determines the shape, composition and structure of an esker. Eskers may exist as a single channel, or may be part of a branching system with tributary eskers. They are not often found as continuous ridges, but have gaps that separate the winding segments. The ridge crests of eskers are not usually level for very long, and are generally knobby. Eskers may be broad-crested or sharp-crested with steep sides

Other attractions nearby, include the Mondreax dam, which is just across the road, and east a bit from the Aldo Leopold Trailhead. The dam and the flowage it creates is very scenic, and if I had a better idea of where the SNA borders are here, I would place more caches in this great area. The Mondeaux recreation area has four campgrounds, a swimming beach and boat rentals, and a concession stand leased by the Forest Service where you can get snacks and twist cones at the pretty log Mondeaux Dam Lodge.

The Aldo Leopold Trail is about 1.2-miles according to the sign at the trail head, though my gps disagreed with that statement. The Aldo Leopold Commemorative Trail is lined with quotes from the famous Wisconsin environmentalist, which adds to the unique experience of hiking this great trail.