This Earth Cache is located in
Ortonville State Park. You WILL need a state park pass in order to
enter the park. These are available at Holly St. Park, Bald
Mountain St. Park and other parks throughout the state.
This park is home to MANY Moraines,
Swamps, Bogs, Valleys, and Kettle Holes. Take some time to walk and
cache the park to check out all of it’s natural wonders. I
chose this particular kettle hole because it is one of the most
pronounced kettle holes in the park. There is a trail that leads
right around the kettle, and it’s suggested to stay on the
trail.
By definition a Kettle Hole is a
hollow or depression created when buried chunks of glacial ice
melts out. The name comes from the kettle or bowl like impression
in the earth. There was a glacier known as the Wisconsinan glacier
that covered much of northern North America. As the glacier
retreated, it left behind huge chunks of ice which became
surrounded by sediment that was carried by glacial melt streams. As
the chunks of ice melted, a depression form in the earth. The
kettles might acquire water over time. Think about it, if you place
a bowl outside during a rainstorm, it’s going to collect rain
water and retain it.
This particular kettle hole holds
water year round. The amount of water varies according to the time
of year. The water fills the pore spaces of the sediment or bedrock
where it is called groundwater. Over time as the kettle hole fills
with sediment, they will become increasingly acidic. Once acidic
enough, they can transform into kettle bogs, and support flora and
fauna who can tolerate the acidity.
Logging Requirements:
1. I’d like you to take an
altimeter reading, and mark a waypoint at the top of the kettle
hole. Then go down to the bottom of the kettle hole (As close to
the water as you can get), and take an altimeter reading. Then go
to the top of the opposite side of the kettle hole and take another
waypoint. E-mail me the differences in your altimeter readings, and
the distance between your two waypoints.
2. Take a picture with you GPS (Team
is optional) at the top of the kettle hole, or at the bottom of the
hole looking up. It’s up to you!
***NOTE*** If for some reason you do
not feel fit enough, or believe it is too dangerous than you can
estimate the height and depth of the Kettle.
Congrats to Syfun, Son of Syfun, Geo-Bum and mmc881 on the
FTF! Congrats Geo-Bum on your 2000th find!!!