Powers Bluff is managed by the Wood County Park system. Permission for this earthcache was given by Chad Schooley of the Wood county Parks dept. This beautiful park is a hidden gem in the middle of our state. Surrounding this bluff the land is notoriously flat farm land, which seems to go on field after field. Then to come here to this bluff, and have it be the highest point in Wood County, with it's peaks and cliffs, is a wonderment.
The most striking geological feature at Powers Bluff is the stone outcrops poking out the top of the hill. In some places they rise 25 feet above the forest floor. The bluff is quartzite with a peak of chert. In a section of geology the term "chert" is used to refer generally to all rocks composed primarily of microcrystalline, cryptocrystalline and microfibrous quartz. Geologists believe the quartzite to be from the Proterozoic era 1.6 billion years old, similar in age and composition to Rib Mountain to the northeast and the Baraboo Hills to the south, and much older than the Himalayas. The quartzite is pretty pink, a semi-precious stone, and very hard. The softer materials which once surrounded it have been gradually stripped away by erosion, leaving the bluff.
Boulders and pebbles of the unusual chert from Powers Bluff are concentrated in a fan shape with its point at Powers Bluff and spreading to the southeast for 20 km, almost to the west side of Rapids. This indicates that a glacier once moved over the bluff heading southeast, breaking off stones and carrying them for miles. The above information about the geographical significance of Powers Bluff was taken from Wikipedia.
When stopping at the coordinates that brought you to the park, N44 31.612 W90 04.025, look right to see the first sight of the out crop of stones poking out. These are scattered throughout the entire park, some in a single out cropping while others create a ridge line.
Waypoint 1: N44 31.640 W90 04.058: Look left from your car to the ridge line that runs the length of this part of the road. For the first part of this Earthcache, and claiming the find, what would be your best guess as to how long this ridge line is? This was one of the reasons this made the area ideal for the Native Americans. They were able to use this as a look out and protection against enemies coming into their land. There isn't a place to pull off so if you need to walk it to figure out it's length, park at the top and walk back. It really is something to see up close.
Waypoint 2: N44 31.734 W90 04.245: Just right of this way point is a significant historical land mark in the park.
Waypoint 3: N44 31.760 W90 04.288: Here you will find the geographical history of Powers Bluff and the parking area. Take note, behind the geographical history sign is another outcrop of rocks, what is on the backside of this portion of rocks? This is part 2 of claiming the find.
Now that you can park your vehicle, take time to walk around and enjoy this park. There are walking trails for the warmer seasons and snowshoeing, down hill skiing and tubing in the winter months. A warming house for gathering after your outings and a nice place for family outings in the warmer months.
To claim this find please send me answers to the questions on waypoint 1 and 3, do NOT post your answers in the comments or your find will be deleted.
To claim this Earthcache: email me the answers to the following questions.
Question 1 at waypoint 1: Guess at the length of the ridge line, running the length of this portion of the road.
Question 2 at waypoint 3: Behind the geographical history sign is another out crop of rocks, what is on the backside of this portion of rocks?
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Please feel free to post pictures of you and your group by the ski/tubing hill