Longhunter Cave EarthCache
Hidden : 9/1/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

I have earned GSA's highest level:


Photobucket


Longhunter Trail is a .2 mile long trail and has an elevation Change of only 60 feet. This short loop trail is adjacent to the park's Upper Shelter Picnic Area. The trail has two entrances; one is located directly across the road from the Upper Shelter parking lot entrance, and the other at the bottom of a set of steps near the playground area. The principal feature along this path is a great natural sandstone rock shelter called Longhunter Cave. While not actually a cave, the site likely served as a temporary dwelling for Longhunters passing through the region in the 1700's. Also to be found is a small, concealed arch near the back of the shelter called "the Bear Rock" or Bear Rock Arch. Local folklore maintains that the arch is so named because Longhunters tossed ropes up through the opening and hoisted bears and other large game animals up for cleaning and skinning. Also of interest on this trail is a view of a most unique vaulted arch roadway bridge constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the early days of the park in the 1930s.

Photobucket


How are rockshelters formed?


Rock Shelters form because a rock stratum such as sandstone that is resistant to erosion and weathering has formed a cliff or bluff, but a softer stratum, more subject to erosion and weathering, lies just below the resistant stratum, and thus undercuts the cliff.

This same phenomenon commonly occurs at waterfalls, and, indeed, many rock shelters are found under waterfalls, however you won't find any water coming over the top of this rockshelter.

Rock shelters are often important archeologically. Because rock shelters form natural shelters from the weather, prehistoric humans often used them as living-places, and left behind trash, tools, and other artifacts. In mountainous areas the shelters can also be important for mountaineers.

The defining geologic strata for this Rock Shelter was formed about 300 million years ago. Sediment, sand and pebbles eroding from the ancient Appalachian Mountains were carried by a great river and deposited as a delta at the edge of a shallow inland sea that covered much of the middle part of North America at that time.

Over millions of years, the mountains were simply just worn down, the sediments turned to rock and the inland sea receded. Gradually, streams began cutting down through the relatively flat layers of sedimentary rock. Because sandstone is a harder rock, it resisted erosion better than the shale and siltstone layers above and below.

Erosion and weathering over millions of years sculpted the striking sandstone cliffs and intriguing geologic features that we see today like this Rock Shelter. The deeply dissected landscape is an intricate maze of narrow, winding ridges and valleys separated by steep slopes and continuous bands of high sandstone cliffs, making travel between the uplands and valleys very difficult.

Upon closer examination of this massive rockshelter, it’s easy to see why someone would use it as a form of shelter. As you walk around inside it, pay close attention to the many holes that the wind and rain have cut out from the walls. One can only imagine how long it took to just create one of these. Also take the time to feel the walls, paying attention to the texture of it compared to other types of rocks you may come in contact with.

Photobucket



Logging Requirements

1. What type of stone is the rock shelter made of?
2. How wide is the opening of the rockshelter appear to be?
3. Looking inside the rockshelter, years of erosion has formed what to me, looks like a small “bed”. How long and wide do you estimate this “bed” to be? And what do you think it could be used for?
4. Estimate the height and width of Bear Rock Arch.
5) Once you have answered #1, tell me what the texture of the walls feels like to you.
6) And of course post a picture of yourself, your GPSr, and the Longhunter Cave behind you.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



Advertising with Us