An extinct glacial lake is an area that drained, often catastrophically, when a glacier or glacial lobe melted back. Steinke basin is such an area.
Before the glacier, Steinke Basin was drained by a stream that flowed north. The glacier blocked the north facing valley and dammed a lake in Steinke Basin. The water level rose until it was high enough to spill out the south end of the basin where it flowed westward to the northeast end of Devil's Lake. Drill hole samples indicated that the extinct lake bed sediment is a little over 10 feet deep.
Today, this area is about 240 feet higher than the elevation of Devil's Lake surface. It is grassy and fairly level. It can be muddy after periods of rain. When you look to the north, the skyline you see is the Johnstown Moraine. It was this moraine, which was formed between 18,000 and 15,000 years ago, that blocked and dammed the north facing stream to create the now extinct glacial lake.
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”
Resources
Devil's Lake State Park - Visitors Guide; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Pub - PR 111-2013
Geology of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail; by David M. Mickelson, Louis J. Mahler Jr., and Susan L. Simpson
Wikipedia
The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to Steve Schmelzer of the Wisconsin DNR. 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: www.wi-geocaching.com/hiding
To claim this find:
At the intersection of the Ice Age Trail and the Steinke Basin Trail, take the trail that heads off to the west. Notice the elevation change as you walk to the bench.
1. Can you imagine where the lake would have been 15,000 years ago?
2. Would the bench have been under water?
3. Look for the Johnstown Moraine and the East Bluff of Devil's Lake? Which direction are you looking to see them when you are sitting on the bench?