ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST DISCOVERY SERIES
Each of the earthcaches in this series will take you along roads and trails
to discover the wonders that exist in and around the ANF.
Elk - Forest - McKean - Warren
This discovery series was developed as a heartfelt THANK YOU to all who completed the requirements as requested, and wrote positive logs worth the time to read. Complete 24 ECT caches. Send a list of logs (GL links) via message for verification of requirements. Arrange to meet at Cache Condo to pick up your trackable coin.
EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. ... "Geocachers must complete the tasks before they log the EarthCache as found." (4.3. EarthCache logging tasks)
Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
NOTE: Answers via message -and- two log signature pictures are required to post a find for this cache.
Walk a mile+, up pops a boulder. Each one made of the same material, yet completely different in their appearance.
1. MESSAGE …. OPENING ... a. Size of opening (width) / b. How far does this opening extend? (depth) / c. Type of opening. Explain your choice.
2. MESSAGE …. POP-UP ... a. Describe evidence of erosion occurring. / b. Explain the effect on this rock structure.
3. MESSAGE …. What is one thing (other than the cave) present at W1 but not present at W2. Explain why you think it is at one site and not the other.
4. MESSAGE …. What is one thing present at W2 but not present at W1. Explain why you think it is at one site and not the other.
5. LOG …. Post a picture near waypoint 1 and waypoint 2, These pictures are your log signature. No spoiler pics.
6. OPTIONAL Discovery …. Find Grandfather Rock. Take coordinates, Snap photos. Share.
7. OPTIONAL Discovery …. Find Mile Rock. Take coordinates, Snap photos. Share.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in finding and creating this earthcache by adding A and B to your log.
A. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
B. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you ... prose / story / poem / picture. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
THANK YOU Elk County Game Commission for permission to share this learning adventure.
THANK YOU LN for travelling and hiking with RT to complete this Earthcache Trail.
ROCKS IN THE ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST and STATE GAMELANDS
"Some 445 million years ago, what is now the Allegheny National Forest was submerged beneath a shallow, inland sea. Over time, weathered material eroded from ancient mountains in eastern Pennsylvania and filled in the sea floor. These deposits left large rocky outcrops, known as Olean conglomerates, which are seen throughout the Allegheny National Forest today. Mud and sand was also deposited, burying microscopic marine life and creating the rich oil deposits by which Pennsylvania would later become so well known." ANF ...
The native rocks exposed at the surface are sedimentary deposited during the Paleozoic Era. The native rocks iare sandstone (feels gritty), shale (smells like wet mud when moistened), conglomerate (pieces of other rocks), limestone (fizzes in vinegar).
ROCK OPENINGS
Rocks display a variety of openings within them. Throughout the forest, these openings are mainly the result of erosion or the movement of earth's tectonic plates. Due to differential erosion, softer rock is eroded (openings) leaving the harder rock (walls).
CAVE - A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground large enough for a human to enter. Caves are exogene, meaning it is deeper than its opening is wide.Based on their formation, they are erosional, tectonic, or talus.
EROSIONAL - Most caves within the ANF are formed from the erosion of sandstone. Since there is little to no calcitic rock here, you will not find any solutional caves.
TECTONIC - Formed by a mass movement of the bedrock. The rocks separate along joints or fractures, and are pulled apart mechanically. The resulting cave is usually a high, narrow fissure that has nearly planar walls with matching patterns on opposite sides. Rock cities, a type of tectonic cave, are found within the ANF. "Rock Cities are an example of tectonic caves. "Rock cities develop from flat-lying, massive beds of resistant conglomerate or sandstone exposed on hilltops above much weaker beds of shale or siltstone. Widely spaced vertical fractures called joints outline the blocks. Erosion of the hillslope proceeds more rapidly in the weak beds than in the conglomerate, leaving it overhanging so the blocks eventually tumble. Frost heave and root-pry in the joints aid in the process, particularly in the early stages of separation. In time, some buildings may creep far from their source."
TALUS - Talus caves are formed between boulders that have naturally fallen into a random heap. They are usually small in size.
ROCK SHELTER ... aka rockhouse, crepuscular cave, bluff shelter, or abri. Rock shelters are produced when the bedrock erosion takes place in insoluble rocks. Rock Shelters within the ANF are formed where the resistant sandstone overlies the relatively erosion-susceptible shale. Weathering by a stream might wear away the shale leaving behind a rock shelter with a sandstone roof. Shelters are endogene, meaning the opening is wider than its depth.
CAVITY - These are openings in rocks that are homes to a variety of small animals, but too small for humans to enter. / CREVICE - Long, tight space varying in size from large to small. Because it is usually hard to reach, it is a great hiding place for creatures such as reptiles and insects. / FISSURE - A crack in rock along which there is a distinct separation. / FRACTURE - Any separation that divides the rock into two or more pieces.
ROCK POP-UPS
Rocks dot the forest landscape. Several processes singly or working together may result in an isolated rock or group of rocks.
GRAVITY - Rocks, both small and large, roll down hillsides. These can be single rocks or mass movement of a group of rocks. Mass Movement, Soil Creep, etc. are all a result of gravity. Are there hills evident?
EROSION - Differential erosion will cause rocks to be hewn from the surrounding bedrock. Look at the topography. Is the land fairly flat?
UPLIFT - Forces within the earth can cause underground rocks to be uplifted to the surface. Is there a difference in the surrounding topography?
ROCK CITY - "Rock cities develop from flat-lying, massive beds of resistant conglomerate or sandstone exposed on hilltops above much weaker beds of shale or siltstone. Widely spaced vertical fractures called joints outline the blocks. Erosion of the hillslope proceeds more rapidly in the weak beds than in the conglomerate, leaving it overhanging so the blocks eventually tumble. Frost heave and root-pry in the joints aid in the process, particularly in the early stages of separation. In time, some buildings may creep far from their source." Is the type of rock you see native to this area?
WEATHERING
Weathering is the breaking down of rock into smaller fragments. All rock weathers over time. Grains of sediment fall out. Cracks develop on the surface and deep inside. Weathering causes rocks to fracture, buckle, and crumble into soil and sediment. There are two types of weathering - mechanical and chemical.
Mechanical weathering breaks apart rocks without changing their chemical composition. Each fragment and particle weathered away by a mechanical process retains the same characteristics as the original rock. Mechanisms include the following ... TEMPERATURE (expansion-contraction leading to cracks), WIND (abrasion leading to separation of rock particles), WATER (abrasion leading to separation of rock particles), GRAVITY (abrasion leading to separation of rock particles).
Chemical weathering occurs when water, air, and other substances react with the minerals in rock. In chemical weathering, the composition of the rock changes Mechanisms include the following ... WATER (dissolves minerals in rocks, producing new compounds), OXYGEN (reacts with rocks changing their color), ACIDS (produced when water reacts with the atmosphere), LIGHTNING STRIKES (immense energy completely changes the rock).
Biological weathering occurs when living organisms contribute to mechanical weathering through the growth of roots or the burrowing of animals. Tree roots grow into cracks and joints, increasing the surface area for continual weathering by plants, wind, and water. Plants give off organic acids as part of their life and decay processes. These acids help to break down rocks chemically. Decaying remains of dead animals in soil may form organic acids which, when dissolved in water, cause chemical weathering.
BOULDERDASH
Elk County Boulder Dash was an annual event covering 13-14 miles with 2700+ feet of vertical rise over the course through State Game Lands 44, in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. The event was divided into sections identified by the name of the rock nearby. They are: Grandfather Rocks / Miles Rocks / Devil’s Den / Rattlesnake Hill / Umbrella Rocks
RESOURCES ... Geologic Time Chart / Boulderdash / Process of Weathering / Chemical Weathering / Physical Weathering / Biological Weathering / Geology of Caves ... Erosional/Glacial Caves ... Shelter Caves ... Tectonic caves ... Abri or Cave / Rock City
PA WILDS - HOME OF BIGFOOT
Did you hear the joke about the fierce yeti?
How did the yeti feel when he had flu?
How does a yeti get to work?
What kind of man doesn't like to sit in front of the fire?
What do you get if you cross a yeti with a kangaroo?
What do you get if you cross an elephant with the abominable snowman?
What do you get if you cross the Abominable Snowman with Dracula?
What do you call a yeti in a phone box?
What do Abominable Snowmen call their offspring?
What do yetis eat on top of Everest?
What did one Abominable Snowman say to the other?
What steps should you take if you see a dangerous yeti on your travels?
What does a yeti eat for dinner?
What do you give a seasick yeti?
Where do Abominable Snowmen go to dance?
Why shouldn't you dance with a yeti?
Why was the Abominable Snowman's dog called Frost?
Why did the Abominable Snowman send his father to Siberia?
ANSWERS - Match with Riddles
A fur coat with big pockets.
A jumbo yeti!
An Abominable Snowman.
Abominable.
Because Frost bites.
Because he wanted frozen pop.
By icicle.
Chill-dren.
Frostbite.
High Tea.
Ice-burgers.
If it trod on you, you might get flat feet.
I'm afraid I just don't believe in people.
It'll make you roar.
Plenty of room.
Stuck.
To snowballs.
Very large ones.