About 200 million years ago, the
Ossipee Mountains were an active volcano.
Geologists say it was much bigger than Mount St.
Helens, and when it erupted for the final time the force was
perhaps 10 times that of the 1980 rumble in Washington state.
The cloud of ash, which reached temperatures of
1,300 degrees and traveled some 100 mph, would have killed anything
in its path.
Left behind today is a less dangerous, but still
curious attraction for geologists and tourists — the Ossipee
Mountains, which provide a rare look at an inactive volcano.
The Ossipees are easy to find on a topographical
map of the state. The circular caldera, or crater, quickly catches
the eye and it can be reached by trails from the Castle in the
Clouds bottling plant.
Green Mountain and Red Hill are both volcano
vents that assisted the main volcano.
Another extinct volcano in the state of New
Hampshire is Pawtuckaway State Park. Check out the topographical
map on this one and you will see it is similar.
A little ways away from this cache, you will find
an overlook (see photo below) where you get to see the calderra rim
and a lava dome hill in the middle of it. The volcano blew out to
the East. You can find lava rock around the rim (or overlook). You
will note that it is a rock that is not smooth, but has a number of
holes in it like Swiss cheese.
We couldn't believe that the tallest peak in the
Ossipee mountain range didn't have a cache. The view from here is
just perfect. You must come here and check it out. This could have
been an Earth Cache, but we would just rather have you post photos
you take to show the changing of the seasons and enjoy. Thanks for
visiting.
Shaw mountain is 2990 feet and here is everybody
trying to get 3000 on their gps units. I wasn’t sure why, but it
could be fun when you are up top.