The Hurricane Creek Trifecta! EarthCache
The Hurricane Creek Trifecta!
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Brief Intro:
Please read all of the description before attempting this cache, we'll both be glad you did :). Esp. note the business hours, park access fee, the multiple stages, etc...
The trail will take you right past all you need to see; STAY ON THE TRAIL.
I am a bit long winded below, but I wanted to give you all the information you could possible need/want and then a little more; but bear with me, you'll find it useful. :)
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--Cache Description--
This is a THREE part Earthcache that will take you on a short tour of some awesome goelogical features that can be found along one of the trails in Hurricane Creek Park. The coords listed are the first stage, and the following two stages are lited in the waypoints section of this cache page. Please note that you MUST complete the requirements for ALL three stages to recieve credit. I will also list waypoints for parking and the office. The trails are clearly marked as such (and which ones head back to the entrance), so finding your way around shouldn't be difficult.
You can get a map of the trails at the park office, these stages are all along one hiking trail that loops around and returns you to the office. When you start out from the office stay straight along the high trail and stay to the left until you get to the first set of coords. Note that this trail goes down the side of a mountain but it is an established trail and can be traversed fairly easily if you use caution, watch for any loose or slippery rocks, and employ common sense; this having been said, stay on the trail and you will get to the stages in order, don't try to cut straight down the mountain (like your GPSr might indicate at times) as this is against the park rules and you could be injured. Safety First!
Also note that this is a park with trails that are out in nature; snakes/ticks/poison ivy/wildlife could be present. I have never gotten poison ivy in this park, and have only ever seen one snake (a black racer; completely harmless). So I have no reason to fear any of these; me and my wife come here several times every month; but I just feel obligated to say that they COULD be around. :) In conclusion: 1) Leaves of three - let it be; 2) you aren't the crocodile hunter (we miss you Steve) so if you see a snake, or other wildlife, do not poke it in the eye with a stick to see what it does... keep those in mind and you should be fine. ;)
As always, try to CITO whenever you can, just a small walmart bag or something your backpack can go a long way. This park is very clean so be sure you don't leave anything but your footprints, and Cache In Trash Out! :)
Below the descriptions of and requirements for the stages is some information that can help you answer some of the requirement questions. Stay on the trail, be safe, and have fun! Feel free to bring a picnic lunch and make an afternoon of it! Good Luck. :)
I checked the coords multiple times, however due to the heavy cover of trees and such, the coords may be a tad off, however you will know the features when you reach them. That and you just have to follow the hiking trail to encounter them all in order. If the coords have you going of the trail more than 5-7 feet, they are off, and you should NOT leave the trail! No Bushwhacking is required.
Below is some information about the park (I am copying Castle Mischief's park description not because I'm lazy, true as that may be lol, but because, for his nearby cache, he did a awesome job on putting this description together!)
--Hurricane Creek Park Info--
Hurricane Creek Park is a 67+ acre natural area, nestled in a500 foot deep canyon in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The park was founded in 1961 by the late William "Buddy" Rogers. He ran the park as a day-hike/picnic area for forty years. In 2003 he donated his beloved park to the State of Alabama Wildlife and Fisheries. The park is now managed by the City of Cullman Parks and Recreation.
The park features miles of established hiking trails, waterfalls, a picnic area with covered pavilion, mountain bike trails, and rock climbing for the seasoned climber. Hurricane Creek Park has been added as a stop on the North Alabama Birding Trail and is host to many species of birds. At the head of the trail system you can find a climbing wall set up on the deck of the office/concession area/pro shop.
Park hours are (Updated 1/25/11):
Friday 12:00noon - *Sunset
Saturday - 9:00am - *Sunset
Sunday 9:00am - *Sunset
Monday thru Thursday - CLOSED
Admission fees:
Update 2017 - Management of the park has changed the rules and there appears to no longer be an admission fee.
Park Rules:
- Dogs are are welcome but must be on a leash at all times. No pit-bulls.
- No smoking is allowed anywhere in the park.
**This EARTHcache was placed with permission from the on-site manager, John McCrary. Be sure to tell him thanks if you stop by.**
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--EarthCache Logging Requirements--
**Part one (Listed Coords): The Hurricane Creek Park Natural Bridge**
The coords will find you at the first of the three stages, an awesome stone archway that is an example of a natural stone bridge. This is one of the largest geological features in the park, and was my main inspiration for developing this earthcache. You can't miss it. :) Please use caution in climbing if you wish to have your picture made on top of the rock bridge.
Requirements for The Hurricane Creek Park Natural Bridge stage:
1) What do you think caused the patterns on/in the underside of the stone bridge?
2) What type of rock do you think the stone bridge is made of, and why?
3) Please post a picture of you and/or your GPSr at the stone bridge. (IAW EarthCache.org rules this is optional)
**Part Two: One of the many waterfalls at Hurricane Creek Park**
The second set of coords will find you below one of the many waterfalls; this stage is really close to the stone bridge so you won't have to go far. This is a Vertical or Plunge type of waterfall; this can be observed by noticing how the water plunges down from the top, losing contact with the rock/bed, until it strikes the plunge pool/punchbowl. This is part of a larger tiered waterfall that runs down the entire side of the mountain and eventually comes to feed the creek at the base of the canyon.
During dry weather this waterfall my be inactive, however by studying the landscape at the coords you should still be able to answer the questions. The final set of coords (your next stop) are in the base of the valley, so for now just stay on the hiking trail, and enjoy about 15-20 minutes of beautiful nature trail. Do not try to go straight to the final coords (as your GPSr may indicate), stay on the hiking trail!
Requirements for the waterfall stage:
1) The side of the hill that forms this vertical plunge waterfall is largely stone; what type of rock do you think this is, and why?
2) How long do you think it took the water from the falls here to erode the rock backing behind the plunge pool/punchbowl to form this feature?
3) What color is the sand in the plunge pool/punchbowl?
4) Please post a picture of you and/or your GPSr with the falls in the background. (IAW EarthCache.org rules this is optional)
**Part Three: Hurricane Creek**
The final set of coords will find you at a nice clearing with a picnic area. Here you will see (as you have been walking along side of for a few minutes by now) Hurricane Creek, with a manmade dam and some titan sized boulders on the opposite side.
Requirements for the Hurricane Creek stage:
1) What is the rate of flow of the creek downstream from dam? (You can measure this by tossing in a leaf or small stick and monitor its movement on the water)
2) You are now at the base of the canyon/valley! What is the elevation there at the base of the valley by the riverside?
3) How do you think this flowing creek has affected the elevation of the bottom of the canyon over time?
4) Please post a picture of you and/or your GPSr with the dam/boulders/creek in the background. (IAW EarthCache.org rules this is optional)
From here keep going along the trail in the same direction, following the signs that indicate the way back to the park office. As you can imagine, since you descended down into the valley/canyon, now there are some stairs to contend with to get you back up and out. ;) There are a couple of benches on the way back up to stop and rest (if you haven't limited your cheeseburger intake recently you may find yourself grateful for these; I use these benches every time lol). You should be roughly about 15 minutes or so of walking away from the office.
There are many other trails to explore all with extremely cool waterfalls, rock formations, tunnels/miniature caves, etc. This was only the short trail on one side of the park! Explore the rest of the park if you have time; Twilight Tunnel is a really cool feature to check out as well. ;)
Thanks! I hope you have enjoyed my earthcache!
--Supplemental information--
*Basic Types of Rocks*
-Sedimentary-
Sedimentary rocks are formed from particles of sand, shells, pebbles, and other fragments of material. Together, all these particles are called sediment. Gradually, the sediment accumulates in layers and over a long period of time hardens into rock. Generally, sedimentary rock is fairly soft and may break apart or crumble easily. You can often see sand, pebbles, or stones in the rock, and it is usually the only type that contains fossils.
Examples of this rock type include conglomerate and limestone.
-Metamorphic-
Metamorphic rocks are formed under the surface of the earth from the metamorphosis (change) that occurs due to intense heat and pressure (squeezing). The rocks that result from these processes often have ribbonlike layers and may have shiny crystals, formedby minerals growing slowly over time, on their surface.
Examples of this rock type include gneiss and marble.
-Igneous-
Igneous rocks are formed when magma (molten rock deep within the earth) cools and hardens. Sometimes the magma cools inside the earth, and other times it erupts onto the surface from volcanoes (in this case, it is called lava). When lava cools very quickly, no crystals form and the rock looks shiny and glasslike. Sometimes gas bubbles are trapped in the rock during the cooling process, leaving tiny holes and spaces in the rock.
Examples of this rock type include basalt and obsidian.
Source: Learner.org
Wikipedia Article on the geological differences of different types of rocks:
(visit link)
*Natural Bridges/Archways*
A natural arch or natural bridge is a natural geological formation where a rock arch forms, with an opening underneath. Most natural arches form as a narrow ridge, walled by cliffs, become narrower from erosion, with a softer rock stratum under the cliff-forming stratum gradually eroding out until the rock shelters thus formed meet underneath the ridge, thus forming the arch. Natural arches commonly form where cliffs are subject to erosion from the sea, rivers or weathering (subaerial processes); the processes "find" weaknesses in rocks and work on them, making them larger until they break through. The choice between bridge and arch is somewhat arbitrary. The Natural Arch and Bridge Society identifies a bridge as a subtype of arch that is primarily water-formed.[1] By contrast, the Dictionary of Geological Terms defines a natural bridge as a "natural arch that spans a valley of erosion.
Wikipedia Article on Natural/stone Bridges:
(visit link)
*Types of Waterfalls*
Simply put, a waterfall is a watercourse (stream, river, creek) that drops vertically, in other words, it flows over the edge of a cliff or down a slope. Types of waterfalls are based on how the water falls or passes through it's course, how much water is flowing, the surface beneath it and the geological processes that created it (geomorphology). These all together form a waterfall's unique shape, it's fingerprint so to speak. For more information and the different types of waterfalls see the links below:
Wikipedia Article on Waterfalls:
(visit link)
'Geography dot HowStuffWorks dot com' Article on how waterfalls develop and different types:
(visit link)
World of Waterfalls definitions of many different types of waterfalls:
(visit link)
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Congratulations to Turrell2 and Bella the Geo-Dog on the First to Find!!
I even ran into them while they were finishing up the cache while me and my Wife were on a hike, and had a nice chat. Always good to run into Turrell2 and the Geo-Pup :)
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Purpx bhg gur cvpgherf ba gur pnpur cntr gb znxr fher lbh fgnl ba gur evtug genvy. :)