A bedeviling site EarthCache
Hidden : 7/8/2008
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

Welcome to Spirit Sands located in Spruce Woods Provincial Park.
Remember that a Park Vehicle Permit is required to access this park. Be prepared for a 6 or 7 kilometer round trip hike to find the information you need to log this cache.

Congratulations to mosesflf for being FTF on this Earth cache!



The Spirit Sands is an ever-changing environment, shaped by wind and water.
Another great Earth Cache, Dunes Day, explains the movement of sand dunes in this area whereas this Earth Cache will help you understand the role of water in the erosion process of this unique area.

Underground streams have eroded and collapsed the hills beside the Assiniboine River to create this unusual site. Ground water has a peculiar blue-green colour due to the clay-silts in the water. Three viewing platforms and a 2-kilometers (return) hike to the Assiniboine River add to the enjoyment of this site.

Hundreds of years ago, the springs below trickled directly into the Assiniboine River. In time, these small quiet springs eroded the river sections of high banks and slowly carried the sand downstream to the Assiniboine. As the sandbanks collapsed, they formed a bowl-shape depression called a punch bowl. With continued slumping, the punch bowl moved backwards from the river following a path traced by the ever-flowing spring below.

The force of ground water has worked wonder here eroding and collapsing the land into this bowl-shape depression. A watertight layer of clay first traps rainwater that seeps through the sand and then channels it into underground streams or aquifers to the point below where they appear, as if by magic, from dry sand.

Although these springs flow year round, they were not always in this location. Like the dunes in the Spirit Sands, these spring move!

Therefore, this spring-eroded punch is not in the same shape or location it was hundreds of years ago. The Devils Punch Bowl is forever changing in an ongoing process of creation and re-creation.

Requirements

To log this EarthCache, email me the answers to the following questions using the email address on my profile above, then post a picture of yourself, GPS in hand with the Devil’s Punch Bowl in the background.

Question #1
How many springs are shown on the sign depicting the formation of a punch bowl?

Question #2
How far is the Assiniboine River from the punch bowl you see here?

Make sure to post a picture of yourself with your GPS and the Devil's Punch Bowl when logging the cache.

All the information needed can be found on trail signs.
There is no need to leave the trail.
You should be prepared for a 6 or 7 kilometer hike which will take 2 – 3 hours to complete.

Trail Tips

The trails are moderately demanding with level stretches and a few steep slopes. There are stairs and platforms to help you climb and to protect the fragile layer of vegetation.
To make your exploration of the Spirit Sands an enjoyable experience, consider the following suggestions:

* Come prepared with proper walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and drinking water.
* On hot summer days, avoid the trails at midday; plan a morning or evening hike.
* Beware of poison ivy.
* Bring a camera with suitable protection from flying dust and sand.

Trail Rules

You are visiting one of Manitoba's special places, which is an extremely fragile ecosystem.
Please observe the following rules in order to protect plants and animals and to ensure that your actions do not spoil the experience of others that follow.

* Stay on the trails. Access to the Spirit Sands is restricted to designated hiking trails and covered wagon routes.
* Do not pick or remove any object including plants, minerals and animals here or elsewhere in the park. Take only pictures and leave only footprints.
* Pets must be kept on a leash at all times.
* Bicycle, horse and ATV riding are not permitted.
* Do not litter; pack out what you packed in.
* Trails are closed in winter
* Remember to Cache-In Trash-Out.

Trail Map

A trail map can be found here

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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