Dismal River Earthcache EarthCache
Hidden : 11/12/2010
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


In order to count this Earthcache as a find, you must complete the following tasks and email the answers to me. Do not post your answers in the cache log; pictures may be posted for general interest.

Requirements:
1. Record elevation on the road's highest hill above the river and at GZ. What is an estimate of the height of hills along the river?
2. Sample the soil at GZ. Describe it's makeup or content and texture. What is the probable source of this soil?
3. What is the primary source of the water in the river?
4. Describe the land as seen from GZ.
5. Optional: Post a picture of yourself with your GPS in the area.

The Dismal River is a narrow, fast flowing, extremely winding stream running through the heart of Nebraska’s Sandhills. The Dismal River is a true Sandhills river, having its beginning and ending in the grass-cloaked hills that cover some 20,000 square miles in central Nebraska. It is short by most Nebraska river standards, flowing only 80 miles to its confluence with the Middle Loup at Dunning. It is the state’s wildest and most undeveloped river and has been identified by the National Park Service as worthy of designation in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The origin for the water welling up from the springs is the Ogallala Aquifer, a vast underground reservoir extending into northern Texas. The seemingly endless water flows and lush grasses first attracted ranchers with their large herds of cattle to the Dismal in the late 1880s. Today it is flanked by private cattle ranches.
The Dismal River has a fast flow and a continually winding nature. Springs abound. Some springs emit water at such a fast rate that they seem to "boil" out of the ground. In fact, there is one spring called Boiling Springs which wells up from the foot of a near-vertical bank. Here spring water bubbles up through openings in a bed of coarse rock pebbles. In this upper portion of the river, springs seep out of narrow, deep-walled Sandhills canyons and over ledges of impervious rock. In the lower middle section, springs ooze out of the ground at the foot of the canyon and trickle to the river’s edge under fallen cedars cloaked with grapevines, or through high carpet of grass. Farther downstream, where the valley is broad and the river spreads wide, springs seep into marshy areas on the floodplain or bubble up from the river’s sandy bottom. In exploring the river, care should be taken, springs are deep, some more than 100 feet, and the water is very cold. Occasionally you will find quicksand near the springs. Although there is no record of anyone losing their lives to quicksand, you should not wade alone.
Several geologic processes have operated in the Sandhills region. Cretaceous chalk, limestones, and shales underlie the Sandhills region, typically about 450 to 1200 feet below the surrounding landscape. In the deepest canyons, the Dismal may run for short distances over hard rocky layers that are possibly the shale layers. The soils surrounding and making up the Dismal River Valley and surrounding hills are windblown, very fine, permeable, sedimentary sands. The sources of sediments making up the river path are believed to be the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Wyoming. Ion composition of some of the boiling springs indicates that some of the deeper springs may originate in the Ogallala aquifer while other boiling springs may have water sources in the Pliocene deposits. The eolian (wind born) sands around the Dismal River are probably between 3,000 and 8,000 years old and are about 125 feet thick. The actual Dismal River Valley is thought to be less than 1,500 years old. The hilly landscape, both north and south of the river, have been described by a local rancher “those rugged old Dismal River hills”.
Because the land flanking the Dismal is privately owned, public access is limited and the distance is long between access points. This location on the Dismal River is located somewhat above the midpoint of the river’s length from west to east. Ground Zero is located at the Seneca Bridge and is 18-19 miles south of Highway 2 passing near the village of Seneca. The road north from the bridge to Nebraska Highway 2 is a narrow ranch road, so use caution while traveling on it. GZ may also be accessed by traveling a somewhat longer distance north from Ringgold at Highway 92 on a continuation of the ranch road mentioned above. During dry times of a summer, a 4-wheel drive vehicle may be advisable to negotiate soft sand “blowout” areas or eroded ares in the road; drive carefully! Access at this point provides clear scenic views and insights to the makeup of the river canyon and river.
For outdoors enthusiasts, the Dismal River is a popular trail for canoe trips and adventures, but it is recommended for experienced canoeists only. Consult the website “Nebraska Game and Parks Commission – Canoe Trails – Dismal River” for information on canoeing this exciting river. Mule and whitetail deer, beavers, coyotes, prairie rattlesnakes and turkey are some of the wildlife in and along the corridor. Channel catfish are in the river.
References:
1) USGS article, “Dismal River near Thedford, Nebraska (06775900)”, (visit link) 06c.pdf
2) Nebraska Game and Parks Commission – Canoe Trails – Dismal River; (visit link)

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