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An (underground) River Runs Through it
This cache lies in Brush Valley in peaceful Amish Country. You're more likely to see a horse and buggy along this road as a car. Enjoy the views, and be sure to drive slowly enough through the Milheim Narrows to enjoy it. The area right around the cache (a lock and lock container) is also quite wooded, reducing GPS reception.
This cache involves higher than normal hazards.:
- "Parking" is along the country road. Please make sure you do not block entrance to the farm.
- You'll be visiting 2 wide sinkholes (Smulton Sinks) which give you a good view of the underground stream
- The nearby farm has an electric fence. Touching it would likely wake you up, and there is also no need to go through any gate or fence.
Though its exact source is not known, Elk Creek has a unique and sudden start (see the additional "Water Exit" waypoint below). During wetter times of the year, it's water appears to come from east between Smulton road and the base of Brush Mountain's north face. While this is partially true, drier weather reveals the greater source of Elk Creek's water.
Centre County is fairly dense in Karst topography where the bedrock in the valleys are composed of carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite and where mildly acidic rainwater slowly percolates into the joints and cracks of that limestone rock. The mildly acidic rainwater reacts with the alkaline Limestone, slowly dissolving the rock and over thousands of years creates networks of underground channels, sinkholes caves, and caverns. Often this underground drainage feeds back to above-ground streams as a spring. This appears to be the case here with Elk Creek. This karst topography also explains the many caves and caverns in our area (Woodward, Indian, Penns Cave).
Elk Creek is fed by this fairly fast-moving underground or subterranean stream that can be seen through these two wide sinkholes at the cache location. There are more sinkholes in Pennsylvaniawhere underground drainage can be seen to pass underground, and the two Smulton Sinks are classic examples. The diagram below represents a crude illustration attempt to provide a cross-sectional view looking south. It is not to scale and obviously takes liberties with what might be underground.
To see the exit point of the subterranean stream, follow the road west .25 mile to where the guard rail starts on the far (south) side of the road. Stepping over the guard rail you'll be able to see the large spring where the underground river exits and Elk Creek begins (see additional waypoint below). Please use caution at this location too! From this point, Elk Creek follows Smulton Road, passing through the beautiful Milheim Narrows to Milheim, Coburn and eventually into the famed Penn's Creek--class A fly-fishing.
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