Sy's Spot EarthCache
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The Loess Hills Wildlife Area (approximately 3000 acres) and Sylvan Runkel State Preserve (330 acres) are part of the 10,420 acre National Landmark created in 1985 in western Iowa.
During the most recent Ice Age, the Missouri River valley was much wider than it is today to accommodate the flow of the glacial outwash from the melting glaciers of the northern great plains. During periods of time of drying, the silt that had been deposited by the river would be picked up by the prevailing westerly winds and carried across the valley, eventually building up on the east side. After many years the deposits of wind blown soil, or loess (pronounced "luss"), accumulated in areas up to a depth of 200'. The extreme thickness of the loess hills make them a unique geologic feature not only of Iowa but of the world. The only other place with similar build-up of loess is in the Yellow River Valley in China.
The loess hills have a unique "crinkled" topography with narrow ridge crests and steep sloped hills. Originally the ridge tops and hillsides were native prairie. Today there are ridgetop prairies that still remain but much of the hillsides have been encroached by woodland species. The prairie you are visiting is dominated by grasses such as Indian grass, big bluestem and sideouts grama. The types of forbes you may seem blooming depends on the time of the growing season in which you visit. Yucca is a signature species for Iowa as it is only found in the loess hills of western Iowa. Beginning with pasqueflower, blue-eyed grass and prairie violets in the spring, continuing onto butterfly weed, dotted gayfeather, and downy painted cup and coming to a close with pink gerardia, sky-blue aster and showy goldenrod, hope you can make the time to bring along a field guide to identify the variety you will see.
The Loess Hills Wildlife Area is home to the annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar. Begun over 30 years ago and held the first weekend in June each year, the seminar offers workshops and nature hikes given by volunteers & professionals on topics such as archaeology, biology, ecology and geology. It is designed for folks of all ages and is family-friendly. The seminar and camping area are free and meals may be purchased if you choose. Learn more at www.aea12.k12.ia.us/services/loesshillsseminar/welcome.html
It is a great time!
Sylvan Runkel, for which the Sylvan Runkel State Preserve is named, was a forester, naturalist, author and educator in Iowa until his death in 1995. He was well-known for his style of leading nature hikes. My memories include delightful hikes with him in this very area in the early 1990s when he was in his eighties.
Please complete the following tasks when logging this Earth Cache:
1) Determine the change in elevation from where you park and hike the trail (please honor the preserve status of this area and remain on the trail system) to the listed coordinates. Email the owner with this information.
2) Upload a picture of from this spectacular point!
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