Baby Packs a Punch! EarthCache
Hidden : 9/2/2016
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

Baby Brook Falls

Waterfalls most commonly form where a band of harder rock lies above softer rock. The running water erodes the softer rock away faster, which undercuts the harder cap rock, until the hard cap rock is unsupported underneath, and collapses into the plunge pool below. The process then repeats anew, and over the (thousands of) years, the waterfall gradually retreats upstream, leaving a boulder-strewn steep valley behind.

This waypoint will bring you to Baby Brook Falls, just off the Jessup (yellow) trail. It is quite an uphill hike to get there, and most of the hike parallels the Baby Brook ravine to your right, with the creek far below in the steep valley. If the ravine isn't enough of an indication that the "Baby" part of "Baby Brook" is not meant literally, you will see ample more evidence once you reach the falls.

Still, the water might be just a trickle. Don't expect Niagara. But one look at the creek bed below the falls, strewn with massive boulders, should be enough of an indication that firstly, this Baby can pack a hefty punch after a rainstorm, and secondly, the erosion of these falls has been going on for a while.

Not required, but recommended if you are a rock geek: If there is not too much water in the creek, follow its bed downstream to and over/around several drops and over massive boulders. Caution, the rocks are slippery.

If you walked up to the waypoint along the Jessup trail, and paid attention to the rock that you were hiking on, you might already have noticed why the falls are where they are: The falls formed where the softer sandstone that makes up the lower part of Schunemunk mountain touches the cap rock layer, which is puddingstone / conglomerate.

The softer rock that makes up the lower part of Schunemunk mountain is Bellvale Sandstone, or Bellvale Greywacke. Bellvale is from the Devonian Period (roughly 400-350mio yrs ago). It is known as a rich FOSSIL bearing layer, but try as I may, I haven't personally discovered any cool fossils yet while hiking Schunemunk. Keep looking! :)

The harder rock on top is Schunemunk Conglomerate. This puddingstone is also Devonian, from a later time than Bellvale, so having it sit on top of Bellvale actually makes sense. Schunemunk conglomerate is an awesomely cool rock that is pretty unique in the Hudson Valley, and very recognizable due to its color and pattern.

Now, for the questions.

[1] At the falls, the softer Bellvale layers are nicely on display to the left, under the crooked tree. Are the layers horizontal or tilted? Which effect do you think this has on the formation of the falls?

[2]Can you see any recent signs of erosion at the falls? Describe what you found!

[3]A bit downstream from the falls, find a little pool or eddy, and grab a handful of the finer gravel that accumulated there. Can you distinguish which parts are from the Schunemunk conglomerate cap rock, and which are from Bellvale? Describe which parts of the sediment you think are from Schunemunk, and why.

As with all my Earthcaches, no need to be perfectly scientific. Don't fret. What I'm looking for in the answers is evidence that you were actually there, and gave answering the questions a good shot. Send me the answers through the Messaging function. No need to wait for my OK to log the find, I will be in touch if your answers don't pass muster.


Please post pictures! Particularly if you encounter the Baby in its Rock-Punching Roar!


Take note that Schunemunk allows hunting while in season, roughly Oct 1 - Dec 31. Wear orange!


Source: A geological climb of Schunemunk Mountain. New York State Geological Association (nysga-online.net). 1989 Conference Proceedings. William J Tucci and Robert Kalin.

New York State Parks Permit No. GC-125-SCH

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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