First, the critical background information that will prepare you for your field work:
I was doing a bit of research on how I could establish an Earthcache here in the National Capital Region and not surprisingly, my efforts soon began to centre on the effects and remnants of glaciation in our region.
To review (from other Earthcaches and our Grade School lessons) we will remember that a great deal of the physical features in our region are the result of glacial activity that took place during the Late Wisconsin era, and are related to the actions of the massive Laurentide Ice Sheet that dominated our region.
As the ice moved – advancing and then retreating – it scraped the ground beneath, gathering, rolling and crushing a mixture of clay, sand, rocks and boulders along with it. And when the ice ultimately disappeared, that mixture -- till -- was left behind to tell part of the story of where the ice had been, and the direction in which it had been moving.
The area south of Ottawa has a number of examples of such deposits including the North Gower Drumlin Field.
Drumlins are small tear-drop shaped hills that are several hundred metres wide and appear in groups. Their long axis indicates the direction in which the glacier was moving.
Got it? Now head out into the field and follow these simple steps necessary to fulfill the logging requirements. Pictures are welcome. Please note that it is not necessary to leave the roadside or enter private property in order to complete this Earthcache:
Step 1: Proceed to Waypoint 1 (N45° 10.454' W75° 43.027') just west of the intersection of Prince of Wales Drive and Carsonby Road West. Take note of your elevation.
Step 2: Head WEST along Carsonby Road West and carefully note the changes in elevation along the way;
Step 3: Arriving at the posted coordinates (N45° 10.294' W75° 43.414'): a road-cut through the top of a drumlin. While you are here, have a look around you as you will need your observations to answer the first Question: what do you notice about the exposed rocks at this spot and is this consistent with what you would expect to find inside a drumlin? DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWER IN YOUR LOG. Continue west along Carsonby Road West and continue to note any changes in elevation. You may also encounter additional evidence of what you would expect inside a drumlin;
Step 4: Conclude your field readings at Waypoint 2 (N45° 09.083' W75° 46.445') the intersection of Carsonby Rd West and McCordick Road;
Step 5: Answer the following two additional questions: first, based on your field observations, how many drumlins do you think you encountered and what was their elevation? And second, what direction was the glacier moving? DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS IN YOUR LOG.
Step 6: send me a message with the answer to all three questions (your observations at the road-cut, the number of drumlins you found, and your assessment of what direction the glacier was moving). You may post your log and any photos before waiting for my reply. If there are issues I will contact you.
SOURCE CONSULTED
Lee, V.L. 2013. Aggregate resources inventory of the City of Ottawa, southern Ontario; Ontario Geological Survey, Aggregate Resources Inventory Paper 191, 80p.