Canada's Oldest Forest Found … In Norton! Traditional Geocache
Canada's Oldest Forest Found … In Norton!
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Geologists say that Canada's oldest trees may not be in the old-growth forests of British Columbia, but in 340 million year old fossilized form outside of Norton, NB.
The fossil forest/cache is located near Norton, NB. This is one way to get there:
From Saint John, get on Highway 1 and head east. The sites are between Bloomfield and Norton. The first fossil notables can be found at N45 35.455 W65 44.195. Looking at the rockcut you should be able to see two trees criss-crossed standing vertically (see Pic1). The next forest area is at Highway marker 171 km. If you put your back against the highway marker and walk up to the rockcut you should see a few trees fossilized into the rock (see Pic2). These trees are standing at 90 degrees to the rockcut so they will appear as round or oval stems (see Pic3). This is the best area to find pieces of fossilized wood (stems). The final fossil area is 360m further down the road at N45 36.224 W65 43.655. The rockcut here is peppered with many, many fossils. LIKE MOST GREAT THINGS IN LIFE DISCOVERIES ARE BEST WHEN SHARED WITH OTHERS. PLEASE DO NOT BREAK THE FOSSILS OUT OF THE ROCKCUTS. If you look at the rocks at your feet you can find hundreds of very good fossils that have fallen naturally out of the rocks.
GPSr WAAS accuracy was 3.3m when cache was placed. Cache is a camo-tape covered small peanut butter jar. Photos of the fossils that we’ve taken can be seen by visiting the gallery. Please add some of your own. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Norton Fossil Forest. Good luck in finding the cache.
ORIGINAL CONTENTS OF THE CACHE:
• Logbook with pen & pencil
• Laminated FTF certificate
• Calculator key ring
• Flip pen
• Nickel pair 1951/1967
• Pewter bear
• Mini beanie bunny
• Brass lock
• Double key ring
• Wallet-size picture frame
• Glue-All pen
• Canada flag flashing pin
The fossil forest was revealed during the construction of the 4-lane highway between Saint John and Sussex. Norton is trying to find a way to turn it into a tourist site. Most of the fossils are Lepidodendron trees. Their bark has a diamond like appearance (see Pic4).
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Orarngu n syng ebpx.