Bash Bish Falls EarthCache EarthCache
Bash Bish Falls EarthCache
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Introduction
Bash Bish Falls is located in the Bash Bish Falls State Park on
Falls Road in Mt. Washington, Massachusetts.
Water that tumbles over the Bash Bish falls comes from Bash Bish
Brook which drains the much of the Bash Bish Watershed. Streams
that are west of the Mount Everett ridgeline feed into Bash Bish
Brook, over the falls and then eventually through New York State to
the Hudson River. In contrast - streams on the east side of the
Mount Everett ridgeline flow into the Housatonic River. (Mount
Everett is 795 meters ASL.)
Waterfalls are classified into several types:
- Block: Water descends from a relatively wide stream or
river
- Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps
- Cataract: A large, powerful waterfall
- Fanny: Water spreads horizontally as it descends while
remaining in contact with bedrock
- Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact with
bedrock
- Plunge: Water descends vertically, losing contact with the
bedrock surface
- Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form and then
spreads out in a wider pool
- Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it
descends
- Tiered: Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls
- Multi-step: A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly
the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool
Activities
In visiting Bash Bish Falls you will investigate the brook and
falls to determine which type of waterfall this is. You will also
calculate how far the water falls through the gorge and over the
falls.
Stop at the following four locations (1 through 4) and record using
your GPS the height above sea level.
- N42 06.704 W73 28.393
This location is along the Wright Brook which is one of the main
feeders to the falls.
- N42 06.893 W73 29.487
Bash Bish brook is aproximately 40 meters below the elevation of
the parking area. The top of the falls starts here just southwest
of the parking area. You may want to take an opportunity to climb
the hill just west of the parking area for some views down the
gorge into New York state. You can hear the falls from here but for
your safety PLEASE stay behind the railings.
- N42 06.926 W73 29.627
Pool at the base of the falls. This is a great place to relax and
enjoy the waterfall. PLEASE: no swimming on climbing on the
waterfall (per park regulations). Note: to reach this waypoint you
will need to find a suitable parking location.
- N42 07.103 W73 30.627
At this location the brook is exiting the gorge where the terrain
becomes more level.
Note:
The cache coordinates and waypoint 3 coordinates are one in the
same.
You will need to find a suitable parking location for waypoint
3.
The path from the closest place is what makes this a terrain
3.
Logging Requirements
Based on your visit, observations and calculations provide me the
answers to the following three questions. DO NOT post your
responses in your log even if it is encrypted!
- What type of waterfall is this and why?
- What is the aproximate overall height of the waterfall in
meters?
(subtract the third reading from the second reading and then
subtract 40 meters)
- What is the aproximate overall elevation change in meters
through the george?
(subtract the fourth reading from the first reading)
Photos of your visit are encouraged and most welcome!
PLEASE: do not post the answers to the questions in your log even
if they are encrypted. Logs not conforming to the logging
requirements will be deleted.
Congrads to fkrol for his FTF!
External Links and References
Bash Bish Falls State Park
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/bash.htm
Mt. Washington State Forest Trail Map
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/trails/print/mt-washington.pdf
Mt. Washington Forest Reserve Report
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/forestry/pdf/mtwashingtonfr.pdf
1949 USGS 7.5 minute topo
http://docs.unh.edu/MA/bash49nw.jpg
1897 USGS 15 minute topo
http://docs.unh.edu/MA/shef97sw.jpg
Wiki Article on Waterfalls
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfall
Good Luck!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)