Spatter Cones Trail EarthCache
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This cache will take you to the Spatter Cones Trail in Lassen National Forest about 1.5 miles south of the Visitor Information Center in Old Station. Parking and the trailhead are opposite the Hat Creek Campground on Hwy 89.
You do NOT need to walk the entire trail to log this cache. You can make the observation necessary to answer the question below by hiking just a short portion of the trail. But there are many interesting geologic features along the trail. Your educational experience will be greatly enhanced by walking the entire length. So pick up a brochure at the trailhead and enjoy.
The Spatter Cones Trail is a loop of about 2 miles with an elevation rise of over 200 ft. It is rough and steep in places. Note that in summer it is VERY HOT here with little shade. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times for hiking. Be sure to carry and drink plenty of water.
The landscape around you is a relatively young one in geologic terms. About 30,000 years ago a hot, fluid lava flowed north into the Hat Creek Valley. A fissure about 2 miles long opened in the flow. Molten lava gushed in fountains from about 20 vents along this fissure. Hot blobs of lava were thrown into the air by gases suddenly released when the flow cracked open to form the fissure. Think of what happens when you shake a bottle of soda and suddenly release the pressure by popping off the cap. These still molten blobs landed in splatters near the vents forming the spatter cones you see today.
As the lava flowed, the outside cooled sufficiently to harden. However, the interior remained molten and continued to flow. Frequently, the molten lava drained away leaving a hollow lava tube or lava cave. Flowing lava dripping from the ceiling or melting from the ceiling created features known as lava cicles. The lava tubes along this trail are relatively small. But about ¼ mile north of the junction of Hwy 44 and 89 is a larger one called Subway Cave. You can explore 1300 feet of this cave which varies in height from 6 to 17 ft.
Sometimes as the surface of the lava flows cooled, shrinkage cracks developed from the surface which penetrated into the interior of the rock and broke it into multi-sided columns. This is called columnar jointing. You will pass several places along the trail where you can observe the tops of these columns.
To claim this cache you must do the following:
(1) OPTIONAL. Post a photo of you and your group with one of the many geologic features along the trail clearly visible in your picture.
(2) At coordinates N 40 40.017, W 121 26.400 you will find a good example of columnar jointing. Count the number sides on these columns and e-mail the answer to me. DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWER. Your answer may differ from the one stated in the trail brochure. Not all columns have the same number of sides. Nor are all the side lengths the same. Mother Nature isn't always consistent.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)