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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is the 37th 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 placed within East Beach, one of my absolute favorite places. The scenery here is so spectacular, the beach isn't crowded, and there are many natural features to explore!
East Beach is a geological landform known as a barrier beach. Barrier beaches separate large bodies of water from a shallower lagoon. In this case, the large body of water is Rhode Island Sound, and the lagoon is Ninigret Pond. Barrier beaches were previously mapped as "beach" or "udipsamments" (piles of sand). In recent years, however, as development has encroached upon these fragile areas, it has become clear that not all piles of sand are created equal. Thus, recent soil surveys have mapped the different areas of coastal barriers.
This cache is located within an area of the barrier mapped as Hooksan soil. Hooksan soils are excessively drained soils found on coastal foredunes of barrier beaches. Foredune refers to the portion of the barrier that slopes down to the ocean. These soils formed in wind-blown sands and/or wave deposited marine sands.
Hooksan soils are used for recreation, urban development, beach cottages, and wildlife. These soils can experience storm surges and washover events, so careful planning and design are needed for residential homes and septic systems. Native vegetation consists of beach grasses, poison ivy, beach plum, American holly, red cedar, black cherry, smooth sumac, green briar, and prickly pear cactus.
The terrain is rated at a three because it is a somewhat difficult walk from the parking area. The sand is very loose, and the inner dune area can be a good 10 degrees warmer than areas right on the beach or by the pond. I recommend walking along the pond side, although you may have to wade calf-deep in the water in a few spots depending on the tide. PI is abundant on the dune, but the cache is placed in an area where that shouldn't be a problem. Please do not do any heavy bushwhacking! The CC is located in a fairly open part of the dune, just off the carpath. You'll just have to step over some young pitch pine branches to get there! Could be a night cache if you're camping here. CC contains some swag and an official series description. Please be sure to rehide well!
Congrats to kazie 359 for the FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Onfr bs gerr haqre angheny pbire.