Polychrome Pass EarthCache
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The posted coordinates will get you to a parking area on the west end of Polychrome Pass. To get to this area, you will need to take one of the many Denali Tour buses. This is a stop for some of the buses during their route through the park.
In September those drawn for the annual road lottery have the opportunity to drive the length of the park road (approximately 90 miles) and stop at this road side/rest stop after coming up Polychrome Pass (when going west).
Denali National Park, established in 1917, consists of approximately 6 million acres. At 20,320 feet, North America's highest peak (Mt McKinley) is located in the park. Unfortunately, the peak is only visible about 40 days per year.
Visitors to the park may have the opportunity to see numerous animals, as well as a variety of trees, shrubs, herbs and flowering plants.
The colorful rocks of Polychrome Pass are rhyolitic lavas that erupted approximately 80 to 100 million years ago. The colored rocks are hardened lava, from the period of mountain building. The area experiences earth quake tremors frequently as the crustal plates along the Denali Fault grind together.
Today,the narrow road winds along the pass with incredible views of the pass and the surrounding mountains and landscape.
To obtain credit for this earth cache, please answer the following questions:
1. What are the 3 signs of massive glaciation visible in the valley below?
2. How many years ago, did the last glacial advance go through this valley?
3. Wandering meltwater rivers, clouded with glacial silt and rock fragments are evidence of what activity?
4. Please post a photo of yourself with your GPS at the polychrome sign. For extra credit include Mt McKinley in a photo.
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