This Earthcache is designed to show you an example of the erosive forces at work in Sedona.
Access is via the Soldier's Pass Trail. Parking in the Red Rocks area, requires a pass for parking. You can get a Red Rocks Pass at a kiosk at the parking area, or from the Ranger Station in Sedona. You can drive the unpaved section of Soldiers Pass Road, but a 4x4, high clearance vehicle, mountain bike (very sandy), or ATV is recommended. At some point you WILL need to leave the road and hike to the arch.
Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by wind or water flow,and then transported and deposited in other locations.
Erosion occurs through a variety of processes, such as:
Rainfall & Rivers
Streams
Glaciers
Coastal Lakes
Oceans
Freezing and thawing
Wind Erosion
Exfoliation
These coordinates will take you to a rock formation on the edge of Brins Mesa.
The formation is a natural arch.
Natural arches are formed by a variety of processes, in the case of this arch, it was formed by vertical joint expansion. As water enters a joint in the rock face, freezing, thawing and flowing works to creat a gap in the rock face. These processes help remove rock material and expand the cracks formed in the rock face, thus causing the rock to seperate and form an arch. In addition, wind works to aid the erosion process. Widn and water continue to work on this fin, or seperated rock formation. As water infiltrates the rock face, seeping into cracks the inner part of the rock formation is also eroded. Wind continues to act on this and the weakened rock falls away. This process begins the "hollowing out" of material to form the arch.
To log this Earthcache, email me the following:
1) Describe the orientation of the arch to the cliff face
2) Describe evidence of the vertical joint expansion
3) Describe evidence you see of past and current arch erosion
4) Over time what will happen to this arch
OPTIONAL: Post a photo of you and your GPS