What a view! Try to come here on a clear day. Big Pocono Overlook, also known as Pocono Knob, is on the east-west ridgeline of Camelback Mountain (2,133-foot maximum elevation). It is the highest location in the area and is located on the edge of the Glaciated Pocono Plateau. The Delaware Water Gap through Kittatinny Mountain is easily seen to the east. On a clear day, the Catskill Mountains of New York can be seen! The overlook is just within the mapped boundary of the Wisconsinan glaciation, which peaked in northeastern Pennsylvania about 20,000 years ago. Bedrock at the top of the mountain consists of the Catskill Formation, Poplar Gap Member, which is a coarse-grained rock—typically gray sandstone with some conglomerate. The rocks are Late Devonian in age (over 360 million years old) and are nearly flat lying. They are part of the Appalachian Plateaus province. Their highly resistant nature accounts for the topographic “camelback” look, thus aptly named Camelback Mountain, not to be confused with Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona!
We have four simple questions for you to message us in order to earn credit for enjoying this earthcache.
- Far, far away looking north, you should see two mountain peaks forming an "M." What are those mountains' names and how far away are they?
- The north-to-south Kittatinny Ridge, part of the Appalachian Mountain chain, is a remnant of a much higher mountain range formed when forces of compression and uplift folded the earth. Energy from these forces rippled westward, creating the broad Pocono Plateau. What was it that cut the deep Delaware Water and Lehigh Gaps, plus the shallow Wind and Little Gaps?
- What created the steep drops from the Pocono Plateau?
- Observe the stones that make up the Cattell Cabin. How would you describe the size, texture, and color of these stones? Do you think they were harvested nearby? Why or why not?
Your answers may be found on the informational boards on each side of the parking lot, and the cabin. Information courtesy of https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Geology/Pages/default.aspx
