Inverted Valley EarthCache
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The site is roughly ten miles south of Burns. There is not much shade around. It is at about 4300 feet elevation.
This inverted valley has intrigued me for decades. It is in a part of Harney County dominated by the flats north of Malheur Lake. Malheur Lake has had ups and downs over the last few decades. One of my first jobs with ODOT was surveying to raise Oregon Route 205 south of Wrights Point to keep it a highway rather than a boat ramp. You will notice it is not in such a danger any longer.
The geological story: Long ago, this general area was much higher. There was a stream valley flowing through the area. A lava flow, originating to the west of Wrights Point, flowed east down through the stream valley. The local rock was sedimentary. The lava turned out to be much more durable to the long term weathering in this area. It formed a cap that not only endured, but protected the sediment underneath it. The years have worn down through hundreds of feet of sediment on either side. So where the stream valley used to be, now is a ridge extending five to ten miles. The valley was sinuous, winding through the original landscape. The ridge follows that same snake-like trail.
It was a valley. Now it is a ridge. Thus, the term inverted.
As you approach the ridge it appears to be a mesa that you will move onto. But about as soon as you get to the top you start going back down. It is only a thin ridge at this point.
Though the coordinates are at the top, please explore both sides of the ridge. Look at the various patterns in the sedimentary rock. It is not uniform. There is cross-bedding, and various sizes and types of sediment.
At the top is an ODOT sand storage area. It is not used often, but if it happens to be in use when you arrive simply drive on by and stop at the bottom. Safety is more important than seeing one particular aspect.
This point is the namesake of Brigadier General George Wright, born in Vermont, who graduated from West Point in 1822. He served in various Indian campaigns and the Mexican War. He reached command of the Pacific in 1861. He and his wife were drowned in the wreck of the Brother Jonathon which foundered off Crescent City, CA on July 30, 1865 with about 300 lives. (source: Oregon Geographic Names, by Lewis A. McArthur, revised by Lewis L. McArthur)
To get credit for this cache you will need to do the following. Do not put the information from the email in the log.
1. Email me the following information:
A. Describe the color and estimate the thickness of the lava cap.
B. Estimate the height of sedimentary rock exposed under the cap.
2. Log the following:
C. Include the date and time.
D. Describe the weather (this area gets extremes).
E. Post a picture of you and your GPS with your favorite view of or from Wrights Point. If no camera (a scenic drive with no camera!), please describe the current state of the highway.
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