This is a hands-on earthcache.

I discovered this feature when searching for "Big Cat's View", GC5YV0V, a cache by GoinHikin. While I DNF'd that cache, discovering this earth feature was the highlight of my hiking day.

1. Definitions

Erosion is the geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water. A similar process, weathering, breaks down or dissolves rock, but does not involve movement. Water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and changes in temperature are all agents of weathering.

Physical Erosion describes the process of rocks changing their physical properties without changing their basic chemical composition. Physical erosion often causes rocks to get smaller or smoother.

Landslides and other forms of mass wasting are associated with physical weathering. These processes cause rocks to dislodge from hillsides and crumble as they tumble down a slope.

2. What to look for

Once you arrived at the posted coordinates ignore GPS. Description of location: the posted coordinates are just a short scramble on up from the Rocky Peak Fire Road.  Please be careful and choose your route wisely. You do need to watch your step and beware of rattle snakes. Once at the proper level you can walk around this rock formation and it is somewhat level. Again: you do need to watch your step and beware of rattle snakes. If walking clockwise, on your right hand side, at about 4' high you find a terrific example of weathering. You find a sphere! Be very GENTLE with this sphere: CAUTION: sphere is not a toy, and BE CAREFUL not to pinch your fingers. This is what you are looking for [spoiler picture]: Sphere.

Note: while prominent it is easy to miss because you are watching your step. The difficulty rating reflects this.

3. Questions to answer

Please send answers via the messaging system or app:

1. What is the diameter of this sphere? (inches/feet or centimeters/meters)

2. Try to lift the sphere. If you can, how heavy do you think it is?

3. Describe how much you could move this sphere (e.g. roll 3x, rotate, move over a distance of ____ inches/feet, etc)

4. Which of the definitions provided above fits the description of what you have now observed. What does this tell you about the hardness of the rock, and the sphere?

5. To prove you visited this earthcache, post a picture of yourself or a personal item with this sphere (e.g. a piece of paper that has your geocaching name on it). Logs without a picture will be deleted, no excuses, arm chair logging is not permitted.

Source: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/erosion