Benge's Gap EarthCache

Benge’s Gap is located not far south of the spot where the current day states of Kentucky and Virginia meet. The gap was formed by an ancient creek, flowing southward, which cut through the land being pushed up to form the mountains. The gap was used by Native Americans and migrating animal herds.

Beginning in 1774, Chief Benge led a part of the Shawnee from the Ohio River on Raids along the frontier. Chief Benge, who was part white and part Cherokee, frequently captured slaves and then resold them; he also seized white women and children who were then adopted by various Indian groups. On 6 April 1794, Chief Benge attacked the Henry and Peter Livingston farm on the Holston River and took several residents prisoner, and marched them northeast. Three days later, when they entered the Powell Mountain Gap just north, Lt Vincent Hobbs and eleven Lee County militiamen ambushed them, killing Chief Benge with a murderous volley of musket fire, and freed the captives.

The Cumberland Plateau is a deeply dissected plateau, with topographic relief commonly of about four hundred feet, and frequent sandstone outcroppings and bluffs. Many coal seams are present in the area, and the Cumberland Plateau has for many years been heavily mined. There are many spectacular cliffs, gorges, rockhouses, natural bridges, and waterfalls in this area.

The Cumberland Plateau is a physiographic section of the larger Appalachian Plateau province, which in turn is part of the larger Appalachian physiographic division. The Cumberland Plateau is contiguous with the Allegheny Plateau on the northern side, the only real difference being local naming. The sedimentary rocks that compose both plateaus are of Mississippian and Pennsylvanian geological age, composed of near shore sediments washed westward from the old Appalachian Mountains. Some rock layers were laid down in shallow coastal waters, some, including bituminous coal seams were laid onshore in swampy environments. These are interlaced with delta formations of cross bedded sandstones and occasionally conglomerate. There are numerous discontinuities in the beds, where they were raised high enough to be eroded, then lowered to have more sediments added on top.

The plateau contains some of the largest stretches of contiguous forest in the eastern United States. Regionally, forests are intermediate between oak and hickory forest types with pines occurring on dry, upland sites and mesophytic species occurring in protected coves.

This is a genuine "user friendly" roadside EarthCache that is safe from traffic. What does this mean? The EC is far from traffic and can be completed without the worry of being hit by a car….

This EarthCache is handicap assessable and pet friendly. There is a nearby parking with a nice grass area to walk pets. The walk to the EarthCache is a wide paved path and far from automobile traffic. Enjoy!

To get credit for the find, please post a picture of yourself or group on the viewing deck just like in the picture above and answer the following questions.

1. What is the elevation from the viewing area?

2. Looking to the right of the viewing area, what are the colors of exposed sandstone next to the highway?

3. From the viewing deck, estimate how wide the valley is and tell me what you think created this valley.

Cav Scout has earned GSA's highest level

Why do I ask for a face in the picture of the EarthCacher finding any of my EarthCaches? A face shot is the same as a signature in a log book. Many geocachers feel in order to get a find you must sign the log book, period. EarthCaching is special and a human face is the same as a signature in a log book. I do not accept hand shots (pictures of a hand with GPS) because it does not show who’s really visiting the ECs I set up for all to enjoy. Besides, there is no log book for you to sign at a EarthCache.

For anyone who doesn’t want to post a picture of their face, then log the find as a note or don’t do it at all. Nobody is forcing anyone to come and visit any of my EarthCaches. I could argue that signing a log at a traditional cache is violating my personal rights because I have to sign a piece of paper. Maybe someone will forge my signature and steal my identity!

An argument that a photo violates a persons identity is foolish. Geocaching is a social activity. Eventually someone will meet you and know you are geocaching. If you want to live a secretive life then geocaching is not the place to do so. Cache on!

Do not log this EC unless you have answered the questions and have a picture ready to post! Logs with no photo of the actual cacher logging the find or failure to answer questions or negative comments will result in a log deletion without notice. Exceptions will be considered if you contact me first (I realize sometimes we forget our cameras or the batteries die). You must post a photo at the time of logging your find. If your picture is not ready then wait until you have a photo.

Sources of information for the EarthCache quoted from the Kentucky Geological Society. I have used sources available to me by using google search to get information for this earth cache. I am by no means a geologist.. I use books, internet, and ask questions about geology just like 99.9 percent of the geocachers who create these great Earth Caches. I enjoy Earth Caches and want people to get out and see what I see every time I go and explore this great place we live in.