Paulina Peak EarthCache EarthCache

The starting coordinates will put near the interpretive sign at the summit of Paulina Peak, which is a Recreation Fee Site requiring a parking pass.

This is the second in a series of eight Earthcaches being developed at major points of interest in Newberry National Volcanic Monument in cooperation with the staff of the Deschutes National Forest. The summit is usually accessible from early-July to late-October.

To claim this Earthcache you need to post a photo(s) of your favorite view(s) from the summit area and email me the answers to the following questions:

1. Supply the missing words in the following statement "Newberry lies ????????????? overlapping fault zones" from the interpretive sign at the parking area
2. From the highest point count the number of rocky knobs visible on the surface of Paulina Peak flow;
3. Coordinates for the highest point, mark a waypoint in your GPS;
4. Along the road on the way down stop at the group of rocky knobs and using your GPS what is the distance and heading (from True North) to the highest point (#3).

While doing this earthcache you may also be able to collect the necessary information to claim several waymarks in the area.

At 7,984 feet, Paulina Peak is the highest point on Newberry Volcano, which is one of the largest Quaternary (age) volcanoes in the lower 48 states. While Newberry only rises about 3,600 feet above the surrounding area, it covers an area in excess of 500 square miles (an oval area 25 miles east-west by 40 miles north-south) and has a volume of over 110 cubic miles.

Paulina Peak is located on the southwest rim of Newberry Crater, the 17 square mile caldera at the summit of Newberry Volcano. This peak is a large rhyolite flow which formed about 83,000 years ago, shortly before the large eruption which resulted in the formation of Newberry Crater.

From the summit of Paulina Peak there is a marvelous 360-degree view. To the west, from north to south the view includes the Cascades from Mt. Adams in Washington to Mt. Shasta in California. From south to east the view is into the Basin & Range Province. From east to north the view is largely the interior of Newberry Crater. Below are bearing and distance to some of the more obvious features.