Welcome to Pewit's Nest! The walk back is about 0.5 Miles, with forest cover including red cedar, white pine, hemlock, and yellow birch. However, the real attraction is the deep Cambrian Sandstone gorge, lying below many various overlooks. There are no railings here, so be careful! This gorge was carved out by the fast-moving Skillet Creek after Glacial Lake Baraboo drained, rerouting the creek. Tree roots are also eating away at the side of the gorge, molding it further. Waterfalls and potholes abound. There are also several places in which you have access to Skillet Creek (which runs through the gorge) to take a dip. There are some deeper pools, so be careful if you are a non-experienced swimmer. Be sure to read the rules upon entering the trail so no injuries occur, and be cognizant of respecting the surrounding landscape.
So why is it called Pewit's Nest? I found this on the DNR website-
H.E. Cole wrote of the area: "At one time the jaws at the mouth of the nest supported a great iron shaft, a cumbersome overshot waterwheel. . . . Before the building of the mill, an individual lived in the solid sandstone, like a gnome in a cavern. His abode was some ten feet above a deep pool of water. This dwelling resembled the nest of a phoebe (or peewit, an earlier name for this bird), hence dubbed by early settlers the 'Peewit's Nest.'"
Oh yeah... The EarthCache! Here are the questions you need to answer.
#1- How deep is the gorge from the coordinates? Take your best guess.
#2- Look to the SW, then down from the posted coordinates. Why is there a rounded out area around that portion of Skillet Creek? Explain.
#3 (entirely optional)- Take a picture of you or your GPS (or smartphone) at Pewit's Nest. This is a great way to encourage others to visit this spot.
E-Mail all answers to me when you have them, preferably around the time of logging.
The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to Thomas A. Meyer Conservation Biologist, State Natural Areas Program. 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: http://www.wi-geocaching.com/modules.php?name=Wiki&pagename=Hiding%20A%20Cache