IATCC - Point Beach Sand Dunes
Type of Land:
Wisconsin State Forest - State Park sticker required.
Terrain:
This is an easy 1.25 mile hike through a wooded area with many gently rolling hills to get to the site.
Description of Area:
Parking is on Vicroy Road. Access the Ice Age Trail by walking across the road. Follow the path straight ahead to the Ice Age Trail marker. This section of the trail is open 365 days per year Hunting is allowed on the property so caution should be taken during hunting seasons. Pets are allowed on a leash.
Suggested Equipment and Supplies:
GPS Unit
GPS Coordinates:
Parking on Vicroy Road N 44 10.842 W087 32.101
Trailhead off of bike path N 44 10.799 W087 32.000
Educational Information:
A sand dune is a hill of sand formed when waves encourage accumulation and winds blow the sand inland. An obstacle, such as vegetation or pebbles, must trap the sand grains in order for the dune to begin forming. The dune will migrate inland as wind will erode sand from the windward side and deposit the particles on the leeward side. The valley or trough between dunes is called a slack. An area covered by extensive sand dunes is called a dune field, and a large dune field, typically found in dessert areas, is an ergs (125 square kilometers or more). Dunes are generally well drained and often dry. Nutrients are brought in by storm waves and grasses begin to take root. As the grasses add nitrogen to the soil, other plants begin to colonize. More rare species usually grow in the slacks. The tap root of dune plants may extend 6 feet deep or more.
In order to log this EarthCache as a find the following tasks must be completed:
- Between the woods (start of boardwalk) and the bench; how many (rows of) dunes and slacks did you pass?
- At the bench; are you on a dune or in a slack?
- From the bench to the lake; how many (rows of) dunes and slacks do you go through?
- Do you notice any trends as you go from the woods to the lake?
Please email the answers to me via my profile on the cache page.
IATCC is the cache designation to highlight a series of EarthCaches along the Ice Age National Scenic Trail grouped into a special category called "ColdCache."
The Ice Age Trail is one of eleven National Scenic Trails designated by the National Park Service. This unique trail is entirely within the state of Wisconsin and follows along the terminal moraine of the most recent glacier which retreated about 10,000 years ago.
This project is supported by the Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA). The goal is to bring more visitors to the trail and promote public awareness, appreciation, and understanding of Wisconsin’s glacial landscape.
The IATA has created an awards program to encourage visits to the trail and ColdCache sites. This awards program is separate from, and in addition to, any other Geo- or EarthCache awards program.
A current list of approved ColdCache sites can be found on the “IATCC Bookmark List”. More information on the Ice Age Trail Atlas, the Companion Guide, the ColdCache Project and Awards Program can be found on the “ColdCache Webpage”
The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to Don McKinnon. Geocaches placed on Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource managed lands require permission by means of a notification form.
Please print out a paper copy of the notification form, fill in all required information, then submit it to the land manager. The DNR Notification form and land manager information can be obtained at: http://www.wi-geocaching.com/modules.php?name=Wiki&pagename=Hiding%20A%20Cache