IATCC Esker:It's Irish & It's in Our Emerald Isle! EarthCache
Hidden : 9/9/2009
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

This is not your typical geocache,; it is an EarthCache. Instead of looking for a "cache container" you will be brought to a geological feature.

ABOUT THIS LOCATION This EarthCache is in southwestern Washington County in the Loew Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and on Wisconsin's Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The parking lot is on Emerald Drive just south of Shamrock Lane (N 43 13.420 W 88 18.953). This is Kettle Moraine Country; the roads are narrow, curvy, hilly, and have sharp drop offs. Do NOT park on those (non-existent) shoulders! This is a hike in Erin Township; note its specially designed street signs.
GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION
FOLLOW the blue-blazed spur trail from the parking lot to the yellow-blazed Ice Age Trail. While making your way to this glacial feature with shillelagh in hand, there's plenty of time for "When Irish Eyes are Smiling" and "Danny Boy." Watch for a leprechaun or two behind those erratics. Near the coordinates the Ice Age Trail ascends and traverses a steep, narrow ridge called an esker.
IT is so appropriate, almost beyond belief, that this amazing esker is here in the Township of Erin, for esker is an Irish word! The Oxford English Dictionary states under esker, "The name given in Ireland to the elongated and often flat-topped mounds of post-glacial gravels which occur abundantly in the greater river-valleys of that country." Its first reference is from 1852. There are fine examples of eskers in Ireland. Perhaps these Irish settlers had one close to their home on the Emerald Isle as well.
THE Kettle Moraine region here is somewhat narrow, about five miles wide. This esker is at its eastern edge and would have been created by the Lake Michigan Lobe of the great glacier called the Laurentide Ice Sheet about 10,000 years ago when it was retreating. Here near its receding edge the glacial meltwater streamed through a tunnel in and then on the bottom of the glacier and dropped what it was transporting. Thus, there is this long, narrow hill with a trail composed of many rocks.
AFTER admiring this esker, there's time on the return hike to look for other glacial landforms and perhaps shamrocks. (The Frisbee course at nearby Erin Go Bragh Park utilizes shamrocks and erratics.) On a cool day an Irish jig could warm you; on a warm one thoughts of the glacier and "Christmas in Killarney" might have a cooling effect. Hope this Little Ireland and its large, exquisite esker were enjoyable. May the wind be at your back, Ice Age Trail under foot, glacial features to see....

IATCC is the cache designation to highlight a series of EarthCaches along the ICE AGE National Scenic TRAIL grouped into a special category called "COLDCACHE." The Ice Age Trail is one of eleven (11) National Scenic Trails designated by the National Park Service. This unique trail is entirely within the state of Wisconsin and follows along the terminal moraine of the most recent glacier. This project is supported by the Ice Age Trail Alliance. The goal is to bring more visitors to the trail and promote public awareness, appreciation, and understanding of Wisconsin’s glacial landscape. More information on the Ice Age Trail Atlas, the ColdCache Project and Awards Program is available at: (visit link)

EARTHCACHE INFORMATION Bring your camera, compass and tape measure. To receive credit for this EarthCache please do the following requirements (enclosed text and posted sign will help you):
1. MEASURE/step off/estimate: The esker here is about ______feet long from where it begins to ascend to the end of its descent. Near the coordinates the esker is about _______feet wide across the top and about _______feet steep. This esker formed on the streambed in the retreating ______________Lobe of the _______________.
2. This esker has a __________ direction; meltwater stream flowed ___ to _____. The elevation at the coordinates is ______feet. This esker trail has many _____. Esker is an _______word.
3. Take a picture of your GPS near the coordinates between the two large maple trees (and you/group if possible) and send with log-in. As of 1/1/11 photos are optional but appreciated.

Send answers to me with EarthCache name. You do NOT need to wait for confirmation from me before logging your find. Please do not make any reference to these answers in your log.

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