There are four features that comprise the Grayling Fingers: Kalkaska, Fayette, Maple Forest and Bucks.
The Grayling Fingers are located in northern lower Michigan and are named for the city of Grayling, at the southern end of the Fingers. Together they form a triangular shape of uplands that are approximately 27 miles in width and 25 miles in N–S direction with broad, flat valleys between them. The Finger valleys are on average 1.0 to 2.25 miles wide and lay 325 to 575 ft below the adjacent uplands. The Grayling Fingers are part of a much larger interlobate region, centered primarily between the Lake Michigan and Saginaw lobes of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The High Plains district is dominated by the large outwash plain of the Port Huron readvance of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The valleys between the Fingers are generally graded to the Port Huron outwash plain, and the Fingers rise above the Port Huron outwash surface. Set within the middle of the High Plains, the Grayling Fingers are the highest part of this northern Michigan landscape. First called ‘‘Grayling Channels’’ the Finger valleys today generally lack running water. It is speculated that the valleys may have been wall-to-wall water at the time when they were cut by meltwater. Two of the largest rivers in Michigan—the Au Sable and Manistee—head in the northern part of the Fingers and exits as small streams within the Finger valleys.
Bonus Picture: lateral moraine features on top of the Kalkaska Finger looking to the west.
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In order to log this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
1.) What is the elevation difference between the Manistee River and the posted cords? At one time these valleys were wall to wall channels of water. What do you think happened to the channels that they are now open and lack large bodies of water?
2.) Bonus question: At the posted cords you are standing on east edge of the Kalkaska Finger. Looking to the west you can see two small lateral land forms.There are several more beyond this. How many total lateral landforms are present within the next mile?
3.) Not required, but it would be nice to post a picture of yourself with your GPS, or just your GPS as you approach the Kalkaska Finger, or with the lateral features to the west.
4.) You can log this cache straight away after you have emailed your answers to the cache owner, no need to wait for confirmation.
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Congratulations to:
FTF: DinoDuo
STF: cross penny cacher
TTF: Tom Kat