We selected this cache as our first placed geocache because it
is our favorite place in all of Washington State. This cache is
located on Second Beach - a serene, scenic public beach on the
Pacific Coast in Olympic National Park. This beach is well known
for its amazing sea stacks, tide pools, and sunsets. While this
beach is accessible any time, I would recommend attempting this
find during daylight and low tide. During high tide, the GZ part of
the beach will be several inches under the tide. During low tide,
it is much easier to get around, and all of the wonderful tide
pools and marine wildlife are visible. Parking for Second Beach is
available on the Quileute Indian Reservation in La Push, WA. The
beach is a scenic 3/4 mile hike from the parking area. Hopefully
you all enjoy the beauty and geological lessons of this cache.
Sea Stacks:
Sea stacks are geological landforms consisting of erosion-resistant
rock columns separated from the mainland. Sea stacks are formed
through the process of coastal geomorphology, where the combination
of wind and water erode weaker rock while leaving behind more
resistant rock. Erosion of coastal headlands occurs at different
rates, which allows the formation of sea stacks. Formation of sea
stacks typically begins with the sea lapping up against the side of
costal headland causing erosion along small cracks in the rock.
Eventually, as the cracks grow and rock collapses into the water,
sea caves are formed. Over time and additional erosion, the caves
break through to the other side and form sea arches. As the arches
expand, the weight and continued erosion causes the arch to
collapse leaving a sea stack out in the water isolated from the
mainland. The diagram below depicts this erosion process that leads
to the formation of sea stacks.
Coastal headlands commonly erode at varying rates, leading to
very unusual and striking rock formations. The beauty of sea stacks
makes them popular subjects for photographers and painters. Sea
stacks are prevalent all along the coast of Washington, Oregon, and
California.
Logging Requirements: (email answers directly to me via link at
the top of this page)
1. What terrain feature directly to the west of the GZ indicates a
new sea stack being formed?
2. How long do you think it will take before that new sea stack is
formed?
3. How many of the sea stacks out in the ocean that are visible
from the GZ have a significant number of trees on top?
Optional: Post a picture of you or your GPSr with some of the sea
stacks to your log. Please do not post pictures of the terrain
feature described in question 1.
Congrats to BigCarbonFootprint for FTF! And to pheenyx and PhiB for
STF only two hours later!