Around 12,000 years ago, the Wisconsin Glacier that once covered Michigan was retreating. A glacier is said to be retreating if it is melting faster than it is advancing. As it melted, whatever clay, dirt, gravel and boulders it was carrying was deposited on the land. The accumulation of this debris made up an end moraine. A kettle hole is formed within the end moraine. While the glacier was melting, huge pieces of ice would break off. The debris would continue to be deposited around the broken off pieces of ice until the pieces of ice became partially or completely buried in the moraine. At this point we have a huge piece of ice buried by dirt, clay and rocks. As the ice melted, the debris that was covering it would fall into the cavity left by the melted ice. If the water from the melted ice was absorbed into the moraine, the end result was a dry kettle hole. If the water stayed in the cavity, the result was a kettle pond or kettle lake depending on the size.
The posted coordinates will take you to the edge of a kettle hole. There are actually several kettle holes in the immediate area, and many more throughout the Lapeer State Game Area. We're going to take a walk through this one. While standing at the posted coordinates, take an altitude reading. Next, walk toward N 43 07.079 W 83 13.932. This should be directly across the kettle hole. When you feel you are at the bottom of the kettle hole, take another altitude reading. Use this to determine the depth of the kettle hole. Continue on to the other side. Once there, determine how far you are from the posted coordinates. This will give you the diameter of the kettle hole.
To log this earthcache you must do the following:
1) Take a picture of you and your GPSr at the posted coords and post with your online log.
2) Email me with the depth and diameter of the kettle hole.
Note: This earthcache has some serious and potentially dangerous terrain. If the ground conditions seem unsafe or for any personal reasons, you are not able to walk through the kettle hole, please post the picture with your log and email me an ESTIMATE of the depth of the kettle hole and the distance across.
This EarthCache was developed with permission from the Lapeer State Game Area. A state vehicle permit is required.
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