Pine, Rocks, and Piedmont EarthCache
Pine, Rocks, and Piedmont
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This earthcache is located in the Five Forks area of Petersburg National Battlefield. Getting to posted coordinates requires hiking two miles. The trails are well maintained and relatively easy. The closest parking is on the northern part of Courthouse Road (coordinates below), but you’ll have to walk a bit on the road before finding the trailhead. The best place to park, in my opinion, is right at the Five Forks intersection in the parking area close to the large red barn (coordinates below).
Most of Petersburg National Battlefield lies in the geologic region known as the coastal plain. The coastal plain was created over the last few million years as the large continental glaciers melted and refroze. The area in general sort-of stair steps down gently toward the coast. The Five Forks area of the battlefield, however, lies just far enough west to give a good example of the boundary between the coastal plain and the slightly rolling topography of the Piedmont region. The piedmont region contains slightly more rugged terrain than the coastal plain and the Five Forks battlefield shows this best in some of the granite outcroppings that are common in the area. The posted coordinates will take you to a large granite outcropping and it is likely that you could see other such stones on the way there. This particular sight illustrates well the fact that the bedrock of the piedmont region tends to be deeply weathered. Outcroppings this far east in the piedmont tend to occur only where the more weather resistant stones are exposed by streams. In this spot you will see the stream bed which has, during wet periods exposed a number of very large granite boulders.
To successfully log this cache you will need to email me answers to the following questions:
1-Number of people in your group.
2-Estimate the height of the stream bank where it passes under the bridge. Is there water in the stream? What is its approximate depth? (In high summer this stream will be dry.)
3-Keep a close eye on your elevation while hiking to the coordinates and returning. Record your maximum and minimum elevations. Depending on which way you come at the posted coordinates you will either be ascending up into the piedmont or moving out of it into the coastal plain.
4-Examine one of the granite boulders and speculate on how the rock surface came to be so pitted and uneven.
Bonus – Identify the pale green substance on the boulders. (This is optional)
Also optional but appreciated - Post a picture of yourself or your GPS with the rocks in the background.
IMPORTANT: It is illegal to remove anything from National Park lands. Leave any stones, vegetation, or other items where you found them. Take nothing but pictures. Please also remember to stay on established trails so as not to damage the vegetation, wildlife, or your health.
Additional Hints
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