Do not attempt to cross any fence anywhere near the given coordinates. Either it is private property, as is posted, or it is an area of restricted access. Remain on the road side of the fence. Someone, or something, has damaged the fence and we do not wish to be included in any descriptions of vandals to something so precious.
To make things easier on you, I'm going to tell you what you need to do right off. In order to successfully claim a find on this earthcache, you must answer the following questions, and, although optional but highly recommended, post a picture of yourself and/or your navigational device with the fissure in the background.
Questions to answer:
1. Provide the estimated width of the span at the top of the fissure.
2. Provide the estimated height of the spar of rock dislodged from the base rock. Use the very top, and base it upon where the debris field begins.
3. What type of rock do you think this area consists of?
4. What do you believe happened here? Please be very detailed and descriptive.
Optional but highly recommended:
5) Post a picture with your log of yourself with your GPS at the given coordinates with one or more of the caves in view.
To claim this earthcache you must email the answers to me through my profile message link before logging the find. Failure to follow this one requirement may risk having your log deleted.
Remember, as always, Leave No Trace.
The Devils Hollow crack in the Earth was created by erosion. Although it looks as though it may been caused by tectonic action, upon closer inspection, one can see how the support eroded and allowed this hunk of rock to displace. This is a good example of erosion. Believe it or not, there are homes directly above and below this erosional feature. The area with the caves is public property, but is not available for public access. Do not go onto any property to see the crack in the earth. This can, and should only be done from the road.
Erosion occurs when the particles of the materials making up the topography are worn away by wind, water, ice, gravity or human activity. These particles are displaced leaving a void for any other of the erosional methods to join in and hasten the process. There are two primary types of erosion. Chemical erosion occurs, for example, when acidic water breaks down the bonding minerals dissolving them and allowing larger particles to totally displace. Mechanical erosion occurs, for example, by hikers walking a trail, wearing down the vegetation that holds the soil in place. Rains can then wash the particles away down a slope causing a rut to form. Each of these has a different effect on the environment.
Mechanical erosion would include water, wind, sun, ice, natural disasters such as earthquakes and shoreline erosion. Chemical erosion would be acid rain, over use of fertilizer, human land use, deforestation and overgrazing.
Erosion is different than weathering, which is the process of chemical or physical breakdown of the minerals in the rocks, although the two may occur at the same time. Erosion is an intrinsic natural process but in many cases it is increased by human activity. Poor land use practices include deforestation, overgrazing, unmanaged construction activity and road or trail building are prime examples. Land that is used for the production of agricultural crops generally experiences a significant greater rate of erosion than that of land under natural vegetation, primarily due to tilling of the soil to dislodge whatever is growing in favor of the crops. However, improved land use practices can limit erosion, using techniques like terrace-building, conservation tillage practices, and tree planting.
A certain amount of erosion is natural and, in fact, healthy for the ecosystem. For example, gravels continuously move downstream in watercourses. Essential minerals are distributed this way for the fortification of the lands and waters downstream. Plant and animal life rely on this renewal.
Excessive erosion, however, does cause problems, such as excessive water sedimentation and outright loss of soil. Sedimentation of waterways will obscure the waters from oxygen and sunlight, both which are needed by plant and animal life in the waters. The sediment can foul the gills of water breathing creatures. It can also cover water plants and small water creatures, causing them to die. Over sedimentation of streams has caused major losses of fish and plant life. It also will cause the deeper channels to fill, causing the waters to widen in their downstream travels, eroding more of the banks and adjacent lands, causing more biological damage and land loss.
Loss of soil occurs when farm soil washes away, but as can be seen here, when the water undermines the bedrock, the intact rock can shear from it's parent rock due to gravity's effect. Sheer cliffs that are resistant to the erosional effect of particles in the water can be weakened by the chemicals, natural and manmade. Minute fissures in the rock can lose their grip and large sections of rock can fall away. This is an extreme example of erosion, but, as you can see, it is also a dramatic effect. As this process is continual, the possibility for this shard of rock to eventually topple exists.
Congrats to Ground Fox for FTF on 09/11/12
