Erratic, not Erotic Multi-Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Start from the Seth Diamond Trailhead. Enjoy a walk in a magnificant grove of Western Larch. Take time to walk the nature trail loop.
This area is amidst one of the most spectacular ice-age landscapes in Montana. Glaciers advanced out of the Mission and Swan ranges, forming an ice cap that nearly filled in the valley to the peaks from Salmon Lake to the Flathead Valley, about 60 miles north of here. The Clearwater Glacier was connected to the vast Cordilleran Ice Sheet that extended into the US from the Canadian Rockies.
Glaciers formed in this area multiple times (as many as 20) over about 300,000 years ago until as recently as 12,000 years ago. At times, Glacial Lake Missoula probably lapped at the glacier near Clearwater Junction. Human habitation of the area started about 9,000 years ago.
Glaciers carry rocks in from areas that can be faraway from Montana. The rocks sizes are everything from rounded gravel to huge boulders. The big boulders on the valley floor that look out of place are called "glacial erratics." The rocks are not only pushed by the bulldozing action of the glacier, but can be carried long distances by "ice rafting." The ice melted, leaving their boulder passengers stranded. How many erratics (besides your friend) can you see in this area? Several can be seen from Highways 83 and 200. They have a variety of different colors, banding, and textures indicating different types of bedrock from various areas.
Most of the lakes in the area are a result of the glacier ice melting. The lake depressions are where the largest chunks of ice last melted. Seeley Lake is a bit unusual because it drains from the side rather than the lower end.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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