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Rolling Into Hillsdale EarthCache

Hidden : 12/10/2013
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

Glacial erratics are rocks that are a different size and type of rock than those that are native to the area in which the erratic rests. Erratics are carried by glacial ice, often over distances of hundreds of miles. Erratics vary in size from pebbles to large boulders, but it is those large boulders that usually come to our attention.

 

 


Special tools: Your GPS should have a compass feature, but should it go dead, you may want to bring a real compass. One of the cache requirements is to determine the direction of a certain characteristic of the subject of this earth cache.

To receive credit for this earth cache:   

  1. Look at the surface of the boulder that faces the entrance road – the one-way road you drove in on. Would you say that boulder surface is smooth or rough?
     
  2. Look closely at that boulder surface. There are shallow parallel markings on that boulder surface that faces the entry road. How do you think those markings came to be?
     
  3. Using your compass, what is the direction of alignment of those parallel markings?
     
  4. Email the answers to those three questions to me via my profile on geocaching.com. I will only respond to your submission if it is incorrect, otherwise, your smiley face is valid.
     

Photos here are optional but if you like, take a photo clearly showing you and the boulder with the silo in the background and post the photo with your online log entry. DO NOT post any photo showing the surface of the boulder that faces the entry road. Fair warning… Logs with photos of that boulder surface will be deleted.

At the posted coordinates for this earth cache you will be able to spot a glacial erratic. This boulder was carried to its current location by an advancing glacier during the ice age. The last glacial period ended about 10,000 years ago. This boulder has some distinguishing characteristics. After visiting this site, Dr. Robert Titus, professor of geology at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY wrote that there is “…something special about the surface of this boulder, the side that faces in the direction of the library.” In describing the characteristics of that surface, Dr. Titus writes that he “…immediately recognized these as being wonderful examples of what are called glacial striations. That’s a very common ice age feature that we see here and there throughout the Catskills and Hudson Valley.”

Additional Hints (No hints available.)