Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park EarthCache
Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park
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Located in Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park, east of Nelson, OH. You have a choice of three trails leading to the site ranging in difficulty from easy, moderate and difficult.
This park was a result of the downcutting of the Cuyahoga River to the west and the Grand River to the north, which created ledges that are isolated from the rest of the plateau. The highest elevations in this area are capped by Pennsylvania-age Homewood sandstone, exhibiting two distinct ledges below this; the higher ledge is Massillon sandstone and the lower and more prominent ledge is Sharon conglomerate. Sugarloaf is the highest point of elevation in the area at 1,380 feet. The ledges are underlain by softer layers of shale that erode back, leaving the rock ledges unsupported. The sandstone and conglomerate cracks along joints and drops or slides down along the edges of the ledges. Deep, narrow passages develop between the blocks, as deep as 60 feet. A jumble of sandstone and conglomerate blocks lie at the bottom of the rocky cliffs. Rock shelters and waterfalls are also present throughout the region. In the park, Cascade Falls tumbles 60 feet, while Minnehaha Falls, consisting of two falls, drops 25 and 20 feet.
This area has an interesting hydrologic feature known to many as Devil's ice box. This interesting phenomena in the area is known as a "large stream cave" or cold trap. A cold trap, according to Wikipedia, has the unusual configuration of seasonal convection to import cold air from the surface in winter but not warm air in the summer. In winter, cold dense air settles into the cave, displacing the relatively warm surface air which rises and exists the cave. In summer, the cold cave air remains in place as the relatively warm surface air is lighter and cannot enter. The cave will only exchange air when the surface air is cooler than the cave air. Some cold traps may ensnare surface snow and shade it from the summers sun's rays, which may further contribute to the colder cave temperature.
To claim credit for this cache, you must visit the ice box and perform the following tasks:
1) Take a thermometer with you and measure the temperature in the parking lot located at N 41° 19.724 W 081° 02.335.
2) Proceed to the Devil's ice box and measure and record the temperature while there.
3) Record the date and time of day
Do not post the answers in your log entry! Instead, message me your answers through geocaching.com within 7 days of logging your visit. If you don't, earthcaching rules require me to delete your log!
Also feel free to post pictures.
REFERENCES:
Nelson Ledge State Park by Karl Ver Steeg, Professor of Geology, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH. (Thanks to GeaugaGarmin for finding it.)
Roadside Geology of Ohio (First printing) by Mark J. Camp.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)