CNC Ancient Ridge EarthCache
Hidden : 9/17/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:


This EarthCache is located in the Chippewa Nature Center. The CNC has 1,348 acres of woodlands, wetlands, rivers and upland fields. There are more than 15 miles of marked trails open to walking, cross-country skiing or showshoeing. The trails are free to the public year round, dawn to dark.

This EarthCache was developed with permission from the CNC.

A beach ridge is a wave-swept or wave-deposited ridge running parallel to a shoreline. It is commonly composed of sand as well as sediment worked from underlying beach material. The height of a beach ridge is affected by wave size and energy. A fall in water level or an uplift of land can isolate a beach ridge from the body of water that created it.

The last ice age that hit Michigan started around 2 million years ago and ended around 12,000 years ago. During this time, there were several periods of advancing and retreating glaciers. As the glaciers advanced, they carved out the great lakes and shaped Michigan.

Around 14,800 years ago, the final retreat of the glaciers began. As the glaciers retreated, several glacial lakes were formed. As the glaciers continued to retreat, some lakes would merge with others, creating larger lakes. Other times, a new outlet would be uncovered that would drain the lakes, sometimes completely. Several of the glacial lakes in this region include Lake Saginaw, Lake Maumee, Lake Whittlesey, Lake Wayne, Lake Warren, and Lake Lundy. Lake Lundy was one of the later lakes, which eventually merged with other glacial lakes to form Lake Algonquin. At it’s highest, Lake Algonquin’s surface was 605 ft above sea level. Modern day Lake Huron is around 580 ft above sea level.

At the posted coordinates, you are standing on the ancient shore of Lake Lundy. Can you hear the waves gently lapping at your feet? Okay, so probably not, but that is how this ancient ridge came to be. Using your GPSr, determine the altitude of this ridge. How does it compare to Lake Algonquin and Lake Huron?

You can follow the established trail to within 50 feet of the EarthCache.

To log this cache:

Post the picture with your online log. Email me the answers to #2 and #3 through my profile page.

1 Take a picture of yourself with your GPSr and the trail map at the trail head. Post this with your online log.

2 In your email, describe the ground you are standing on. Is it sandy, rocky, grassy, gravel, etc.

3 Using your GPSr, determine the altitude of the ridge. Include this with your email.

Special thanks to the Chippewa Nature Center for allowing this EarthCache.

Congrats to Hiker Willie and mboensch for FTF.

I have earned GSA's highest achievements:

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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