Rattlesnake Spring EarthCache
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Rattlesnake Spring is located on the west side of California
Highway 29 about 6 miles south of Middletown, California. The
spring is on 4339' Mount St. Helena at an elevation of 1683'. The
"locals" obtain their free "Calistoga Spring Water" here.
Although probably safe to drink,
consuming untreated water can be hazardous to your health.
Giardia and hepatitus are just 2 unpleasant
possibilities.
Mount Saint Helena - Calistoga,
California
Mount Saint Helena is a basalt-capped ridge in the Mayacmas
Mountains. While not a volcano, it is of volcanic origin, having
been uplifted some 2.4 million years ago from the Clear Lake
Volcanic Field. Volcanic eruptions in the Clear Lake Field ended
about 3 million years ago.
Mount Saint Helena is the highest point in Napa County. From the
summit, on a clear day, visitors can see skyscrapers in San
Francisco, Mt. Diablo and Mt. Tamalpais, the Sierra Nevada
Mountains, as well as the volcanoes Lassen Peak and Mt. Shasta. It
is one of the few mountains in the San Francisco-Bay Area to
receive any snowfall during the winter.
Artesian and Non-Artesian
Springs
A spring or a flowing artesian well is a free flowing supply of
water that can reach the earth's surface. Flowing artesian wells
are created when the pressure in a confined aquifer (water-bearing
geologic formation) forces ground water above the ground surface so
that the well will flow without a pump. This water is forced up
through either man-made holes or natural fissures (cracks).
Nonartesian springs may simply flow from a higher elevation through
the earth to a lower elevation and exit in the form of a spring,
using the ground like a drainage pipe. Water from rain or snow melt
will percolate down through permeable earth until it reaches a
non-permeable layer where it then travels along this layer until it
reaches an outlet. This type of spring is often found on mountain
sides, at an elevation where one would not expect to see free
flowing water emerging from the mountain.
Flowing artesian wells generally flow at a fairly constant rate,
non-artesian springs are dependant upon local rain or snow melt.
Their flow rate will be seasonal, higher after a rain or snow melt
and decreasing over time until the next rain or snow melt.
Rattlesnake Spring
Basalt-capped ridges, like Mount Saint Helena, tend to form
topographic high areas. These volcanic ridges often host perched
aquifers. The "ridge" is composed of low permeability "basement"
rocks while the "cap" is composed of permeable volcanic material.
Ground water higher on Mount Saint Helena percolates down through
this volcanic material until it reaches the basement rock ridge,
where it forms a "perched aquifer." This water then travels along
the basement rock ridge where it emerges at a low point near the
base of the volcanic cap as Rattlesnake Spring.
To log this cache:
You will need a one gallon container, a watch with a second hand
and your trusty camera.
Post your answers to these questions
with your "found it"
log.
1. How long does it take to fill the one gallon container with
water from this spring?
2. Given the time of year when you take this measurment, do you
think the flow will increase or decrease over the next couple of
months and why you think this?
3. What is the weather like the day of your visit?
Optional: With your log, post a
recognizable photo of yourself with your GPS near the
spring.
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Congratulations to BNW Team for First to Visit.
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Additional Hints
(No hints available.)