Soils of RI #6: Hinckley Traditional Cache
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-Brad
Geocaching Volunteer Reviewer
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Difficulty:
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(regular)
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This is the sixth in a series of caches honoring the 58 different types of soils found within the State of Rhode Island. Soils were a major factor in the settling and early farming of RI, and soils continue to influence our industry, recreation, wildlife, and homes. As you complete this series, please take note of how the soil is determined in-part by the landscape position (summit, sideslope, drainageway), which in turn affects the vegetation.
Another cache along the Ten Mile River Greenway. This cache is within an area of Hinckley soil. Merrimac and Hinckley soils are extremely common along the western portions of Narragansett Bay and along several of the major rivers within RI. Merrimac soils formed in sandy materials deposited when glaciers were melting in this area around 14,000 years ago. These torrents of meltwater created large expanses of flat plains and terraces that are well suited to building cities. TF Green was built on a large area of Merrimac. Merrimac soils are similar to Hinckley soils, but the Hinckley soils are sandier and contain more gravel.
Hinckley soils have been developed as urban land or are used for cropland. Areas that are forested are dominated by white pine, red, scarlet, black, white, and scrub oaks, and hemlock. The very sandy soil can also support pitch pine. Low-bush blueberry is a frequent understory plant. Septic systems installed in Hinckley soils may need special design because the very sandy and gravelly soil does not treat the wastewater well.
This is a nice site to observe how vegetation changes with both landscape position and soil type. The nearby Sudbury cache is at a lower elevation and contains beech, pine, and maple trees, transitioning to the wetland Rippowam soils that contain skunk cabbage, sedges, and other wetland plants.
As for the cache, you are looking for my usual duct-taped plastic container. Easiest parking is in Slater Park. From there, you have a short walk on the bikepath to the abandoned train trestle. Once on the trestle, you can walk along the tracks for a short while before finding a well worn path on your left. Cache is not too far from off the trail… only a light bushwhack.
Cache is the typical duct-taped plastic container containing an official series description and assorted swag. Please be sure to cover the cache well. Cache is available during winter if there isn’t too much snow.
Congrats to KATnDOGZ on the FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ubj zhpu jbbq pbhyq n jbbqpuhpx puhpx gb trg gb gur pnpur?
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