You're Almost There, Hood Hill! EarthCache
Hidden : 4/7/2018
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:


Hidden within the rolling hills of Osage County on Highway D, just west of the vanishing village of Cooper Hill, is an incipent lost hill named Hood Hill. There are no signs letting us know what's going on, much less an announcement of the imminent birth of a nice lost hill, but those interested in geology should take note of the awesome event that's about to happen.

MyTopo view of Hood Hill

At the posted coordinates, you'll be standing on a thin, shallow ridge called a narrows. This ridge lies between two streams, Mistaken Creek and Third Creek. It was formed when Mistaken Creek, in a dramatic arc, began eroding toward Third Creek. While Third Creek is still some distance away from the narrows, Mistaken Creek flows right next to it, performing its erosional duties.
WHAT ARE NARROWS AND HOW ARE THEY FORMED?

Often called Devil’s Backbones in many areas, narrows are areas where one stream doubles back onto itself or two streams erode on either side of a ridge. Erosion occurs on opposite sides of the ridge and over time, the land in between the water becomes more and more diminished, creating a narrows.



Stages in a meander's life

These events occur because water in meandering streams moves faster on the outside of the meander than on the inside of the meander, thus causing erosion on the outside of the curve while deposition occurs on the inside. Eventually and over many, many years, the narrows will be breached and the water will flow through there instead, sometimes leaving an oxbow lake and an eventual lost hill.

In the case of Hood Hill, the process is nearing completion. In a few moments (geologically-speaking) Mistaken Creek will likely breach the ridge and flow into Third Creek insead of emptying into the Gasconade River as it does currently, and the formation of the lost hill will be complete.
STEPS TO COMPLETE THIS EARTHCACHE

To get credit for this Earthcache, answer the questions below and email those answers to me through my profile.
Any logs that do not follow these requirements will be deleted.


1. Take an elevation reading at the posted coordinates. Subtract this number from 680. What is the height of Hood Hill?

2. Again, using the elevation you have recorded, determine the height of the narrows by taking that number and subtracting the elevation of Mistaken Creek below, which is 540 feet. How high is the narrows?

3. On which side of a meander does water move fastest, inside or outside?

4. In the future, Hood Hill will become a lost hill. From where you stand at the posted coordinates, utilize the coordinates given for "Point A" and tell me approximately how long this lost hill will be?
Taking a photo of yourself with the bridge over Mistaken Creek immediately to the west behind you would be nice, but it is not required.
SOURCE USED

• Beveridge, Thomas. Geologic Wonders and Curiosities of Missouri. 2nd. Rolla, Missouri: Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 1990. 119. Print.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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