Soils of RI #20: Lippitt Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is the 20th 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.
This cache is located within a large area of Lippitt soils. Lippit soils are somewhat excessively drained soils that have a shallow depth to bedrock. These soils are sandy and contain large portions of gravel. Boulders are frequently found on the surface, and bedrock outcrops are common. Lippitt soils are found only in RI.
Lippitt soils formed from glacial till, an unsorted micture of rock and soil materials that were deposited by glaciers during the last glacial advance 14,000 - 18,000 years ago. In Lippitt soils, there is a relatively thin layer of soil before bedrock is encountered. Depth to highly weathered and hard bedrock is typically 26" and 72", respectively.
Most areas of Lippitt soils are forested and dominated by red, white, black and chestnut oaks, hickory and white pine. Some areas are cleared for pasture or hay or are mined for rock fragments. These soils are difficult to build upon due to varied depth to bedrock.
As for the cache, you are looking for the black duct-taped plastic containers that are my staple cache container for this cache series. GZ is a fairly short bushwhack west from the main trail near the fields north of the DEM office. The undergrowth is lowbush blueberry and fairly light.
Easiest parking is behind the DEM field office, but the gate closes at 4:00 PM. The trailhead behind the fire station on Route 6 is also available.
The CC contains an official series description, log, pencil, and swag. This area is in the middle of one of the hunting areas, so please be sure to wear the required amount of flourescent orange during hunting season! Please rehide well!
Major congrats to KATnDOGZ and geodog Squeeze for their 100th FTF... wow!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Orgjrra gjb n fpenttyl purfgahg "gerrf" vf n uneq cynpr.
Treasures
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