Soils of RI #29: Pittstown
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is the 29th 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 soils cache located within the Simmons Mill Pond Management Area. Western RI is dominated by soils that formed from granite, schist, and gneiss. The East-Bay (and portions of Warwick and Narragansett) formed from Narragansett Bay sediments picked up and subsequently deposited by glaciers 14,000 - 18,000 years ago. These sediments are derived mainly from dark sandstone, conglomerate, argillite, and phyllite. These materials are high in carbon, and therefore lead to dark soils that look much different from other RI soils.
This cache is part of a drainage sequence with Newport, Stissing, and Mansfield (getting progressively wetter. Pittstown soils are the moderately well-drained of this group, and it has a slightly higher water table than the nearby Newport soil.
These soils formed in lodegment till. Glacial till is an unsorted mixture of soil materials deposited directly by glaciers 14,000 - 18,000 years ago. The term lodgement refers to the fact that this till was compressed under the tremendous weight of the glacier. This compaction has caused the deeper soil layers to have an extremely dense consistency. These dense layers can sometimes be impossible to dig through with just a shovel!
Most areas of Pittstown soil are forested and dominated by northern red, white and scarlet oak, red and sugar maple, gray and yellow birch, white ash, eastern white pine, and eastern hemlock. Some areas are cleared and used for hay, pasture, and dairy farming. These soils can be built upon, but the dense subsoil can prevent water from draining, often leading to wet basements or compromised septic systems.
It's not a terribly long hike to GZ, but please bring a trail map, water, and turn on the tracks feature of your GPS. CC is located just off the main trail and contains an official series description and some swag. Please rehide well!
Congrats to BBWolf+3Pigs and Nomad64 for the FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jrqtrq ntnvafg n ovt ebpx.