One Tuff Hike EarthCache
Hidden : 6/10/2009
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

North Menan Butte (or "R" Mountain, as it is known to the locals, for the large white letter "R" painted on it's Northeast side is a popular hiking destination in the Upper Snake River Valley. Trail climbs from 4843' at the trailhead to 5523'.

Menan Buttes are two of the world’s largest "tuff cones" —volcanoes formed when basaltic magma boils up through ground water. The Menan Buttes are extinct volcanoes formed by violent eruptions 10,000 years ago. These are unusual formations because they erupted through the cold waters of the Snake River which flowed where the Buttes stand today. When molten magma met the cold river water it cooled so quickly crystals were unable to form, and the lava solidified into glass called tachylite. The heat of the magma flashed the river water to steam, shattering the glass into tiny fragments that welded together as the hot ash settled to the ground. The Menan Buttes are unique because these are the only volcanic eruptions that have occurred in freshwater in the United States, which is why North Menan Butte is designated a National Natural Landmark. TO log this cache, please message me the following: 1)Count the water bars between the trailhead parking lot and the first fence. How many are there? 2) Stand at N43 46.942 W111 58.643. Look around. What differences do you notice about the rock in this area? What do you think could have caused these? Do not post the answers in your log. Even if encrypted. Thank you.

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