Dog Slaughter Falls--A Gem in the Rough EarthCache

Dog Slaughter Falls—A Gem in the Rough

Dog Slaughter Falls in Whitley County, Kentucky is an example of a plunge type of falls. It does not have the same volume of flow that others may have, in particular nearby Cumberland Falls, which has the highest volume in the state except for the Falls of the Ohio in Louisville. However this one does have a charm all of its own, the scenery is spectacular and the stream is swift running and pristine.

Dog Slaughter Falls is located along a fairly well groomed trail that has two methods of access. The easiest is across a foot bridge that leaves the hiker with about a one mile stroll. The other is a longer trail that joins this one making it a four mile hike to the site. Either way is surrounded with great scenery and fantastic views of the fast-moving stream. When we were researching the area for the EarthCache the bridge had just been washed out so that left us with the eight mile trek (round trip), of which we were not sorry.

The rock here is sedimentary with sandstone being predominant. On both sides of the stream the banks are covered with vegetation that grows well in the sandy soil and the trail itself is almost entirely sand. The sandstone upstream, having been eroded by millions of years of rain and by water flowing over it has provided us with the soft, comfortable walking surface that we have under our feet all along this small creek. We must also realize that thousands, perhaps millions of tons of this material have been washed away farther downstream from near this location, maybe into nearby lakes or larger river systems and eventually ending up in the Gulf of Mexico. But some of the sand of course remains, as it is deposited here as the flood waters slow and these sediments ‘fall out’ of the moving water and settle to the bottom at this location for us to enjoy.

This is a very special area and has something for just about anyone to enjoy. On our hike we saw many strange and wondrous things, including a Northern Water Snake which slithered away before I could catch him, many different types of fungi, and strange funnel-shaped spider webs which held water. There were several rock houses along the trail and after taking shelter in one of them during a thunderstorm we returned to the trail to find a unicorn a few yards ahead (see photo below). Most of the things we saw along the trail were in the upper three miles, but don’t let this fool you; there are many things to see if you take the shorter route.

Should you choose to take the shorter route, park at these coordinates:N36 51.596 W084 17.958, and go down the trail a few yards. Go across the foot bridge and take a right, follow the trail and you will not be disappointed. If you would rather take the longer route, or the bridge has been washed out again, park at the trailhead at these coordinates: N36 50.924 W084 16.360 and follow the trail from there. There is at least one traditional cache and another EarthCache along this section of the trail.

What is a waterfall?

A waterfall is where a body of water, such as a stream or river flows over erosion resistant rock with a sudden break in elevation. Often there are softer, more easily eroded rock layers underneath the harder layers of rock that break away due to gravity or are in fact eroded by “splashback”, water that comes over the falls and splashes back onto these softer rock. This forms a rock-shelter behind the falls, such as seen here.

There are several different types of waterfalls, each with its own characteristics and some that combine features rolled up into one. Below are some of the different types of falls.

• Block: Water descends vertically to form a wide stream or river.

• Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.

• Cataract: A large powerful waterfall, such as Cumberland or Niagara Falls.

• Fan: This is where the water spreads out horizontally as it descends while maintaining contact with the bedrock.

• Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact with the bedrock.

• Plunge: Water descends vertically, losing contact with the surface of the bedrock.

• Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form and then spreads out into a wider pool.

• Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.

• Tiered: Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.

• Multi-step: A series of waterfalls, one after another of roughly the same size, each with its own sunken plunge pool.

Whether you have traveled to this location by the shorter route, or you hiked the four mile trail you have been walking on sand for a large portion of your journey. The rock in this area is composed of sandstone; a sedimentary type of rock. The sand has been eroded by water and over time, undoubtedly, millions of tons of this material has been moved downstream. What we see along the trail is what has been recently (geologically speaking of course) deposited for us to walk on and enjoy the soft trail under our feet.

Qualifications for Credit

To get credit for the earthcache, email the answers to the following questions and then post a picture of you and your GPSr and Dog Slaughter Falls clearly in the background when you log your find. Posts with no pictures or without emailing the answers will be deleted. If no picture is possible, for instance you dropped your camera in the creek, or the batteries died, let us know first and we will work something out.

Questions:

1. What type of waterfall is this classified as?

2. What is your estimation of the width of the rock shelter behind the falls at these coordinates?

3. What type of rock is found along this stream and at these falls?

Credits and Ammosuperman EarthCaches

Special thanks to the London Ranger District of the Daniel Boone National Forest for permission for this EarthCache.

This EarthCache was created by a team of two Platinum EarthCache Masters, Ammosuperman EarthCaches are a collaborative effort. We have used resources such as the Internet and magazine articles as well as personal experience in visiting the sites, as research tools in its construction. Our goal is to learn more about our planet and to pass along what we have learned to others having similar interests. We hope you enjoy the experience.