Part of the "City of Rocks Geology"
series
This loop hike is called The Erosion
Tour
This
cache is found along a very nice 2 mile hiking loop,
around which I have placed three Earthcaches. The best
place to park is near campsite 31 and take the Flaming Rock hiking
trail. The entire loop should take about 1.5 hours,
but it is best to stretch it out a little longer because there are
so many interesting things to see. Please stay on established
trails for the entire loop. Resist the urge to follow your
GPSr straight to the next location. Stay on the trail that
takes you in the general direction of the cache. Sometimes it
may seem you are going the wrong direction but the trail will swing
around. All three Earthcaches can be found by staying on
the trail. Try clicking on "view map" on this page and then
click on "Topo". It gives a nice perspective of the area.
Take a reading at your vehicle.
If you do the entire loop you will find these three caches
in order:
1. Flaming Rock Window
2. The Clamshell
3. Building Blocks Jointing
Make your way to the coordinates listed
above and face east to view the Flaming Rock
Window.
To get credit for this cache you must do the
following:
1.
Upload a photo taken from the listed coordinates of your
GPSr with the
window in the
background.
2. Send me the approximate height and width
dimensions (in feet)of the hole.
Several different types of weathering and erosion are
responsible for the fantastic shapes found at the City of Rocks.
Case hardening is a weathering process that protects the top of the
rock while wind and water eat away at the softer under parts of the
rock. Sometimes water soaks into the rock where it dissolves the
silica and iron in the rock. That solution then migrates back to
the topside of the rock where the water evaporates, leaving a hard
crust of silica and iron over the top. The crust slows the
weathering from above but the softer under parts of the outcrop are
still susceptible to mechanical weathering (rain, wind, etc.). This
process helps form the caves, arches, tubs, sinks, and toadstools
that climbers like to use as hand and foot holds. The hard crust
often appears tan or brown in color from the iron oxide, called
desert varnish.
At this location you will see a window. The prevailing westward
winds have buffetted this spot until a hole has been worn all the
way through to the other side. Along the sides you will see a
fracture or a small fault. These fractures are often weak areas
that allow for more erosion than normal.
While you are here you might want to check out my other City of
Rocks Geology caches.
Good sources of information for City of Rocks geology are the
Visitor Center in Almo, the official park map, and climbing
guides.
Visit this website to learn more about the City of Rocks