Seneca Rocks
Geology
Five
hundred and fifty million years ago, a vast mountain range was
located where the Atlantic coast is today. Rivers and streams
gradually wore the mountains down carrying pebbles, sand and silt
westward, dropping them into a sea on the area now called West
Virginia. For millions of years material was washed into the sea
and settled into layers on the sea floor. Four hundred million
years ago, the weight of the accumulated layers compacted and
cemented the sediment into rock. The Tuscarora Sandstone, which
Seneca Rocks is made of, is one of these layers.
History of
Seneca Rocks
The
first settlers were Native Americans. Some evidence indicates that
Native Americans from the Woodland Period lived here at Seneca
Rocks. Two Woodland villages dating 600 and 800 years ago were
located here at Seneca. This area was a meeting place for tribes as
well as a hunting ground. The famous Seneca Trail followed the
Potomac River, allowing the Algonquin, Tuscarora and Seneca tribes
to trade and make war on each other. As the Native Americans moved
along the trail, they must have used the prominent rocks of Champe
and Seneca as landmarks.
The
first European settlers to the region appeared about the year 1746.
The first settlers were preceded by a few mountain men and escaped
indentured servants running from Virginia plantations. As time went
on, the wilderness rapidly receded to the west. By the time of the
Civil War, the Native Americans had been driven out of the area.
The Civil War era was difficult for the residents of Pendleton
County. A little over half the residents were southern
sympathizers, the rest were loyal to the north. In this county,
brother fought brother, neighbors became enemies, and people we
ambushed and killed because of their politics. At the conclusion of
the war, the State of West Virginia was carved from Virginia and
the residents of the Seneca region returned to a slow and settled
rural lifestyle.
No one
is sure who the first modern climber was, however Paul Brandt, Don
Hubbard and Sam Moore reached the top of the south peak in 1938 and
found the inscription “D.B. September 16, 1908”. D.B.
may have been D. Bittenger, a civil engineer surveying the area for
the Nation Park Service. Thousands of climbers have scaled the
cliffs since then, including the men of the 10th Mountain Division
who trained here during World War II.
Directions and more information can be found at the
Seneca Rocks Discovery Center.
Along the trail to the observation platform there
are a number of informational signs.
Fill in the blanks for any three of the signs and email me the
answers:
(Only three are needed due to the fact that some of the signs might
be missing.)
1.
Seneca Rocks Trail
___ miles to observation platform. ____ foot elevation gain via
steps and switchbacks.
2.
Geology underlies it all
The soaring cliffs of Seneca Rocks are made up of Tuscarora
Sandstone or ________
3.
Where did these rocks come from?
The group of rocks before you is made up of boulders that have
fallen from above and is called a __________.
4.
Den Tree
While you might not want to hide (or live) in this tree, a _______
would find this a perfect home.
5.
Boulder Train
This “____________” is slowly moving downhill.
6.
Soil Creep
Here you can see evidence of the slow movement by looking at the
__________.
7.
Iron Ore?
This succession of _______________ indicated that the sea level
fluctuated greatly at the time of deposition.
8.
Lichen
Many lichens live for 50 years but some species can actually live
for _____ years.
9.
Vegetation change
_____ and _____ are more abundant in higher elevations…
Optional:
Post a picture of yourself in front of the sign on the hill above
the observation deck.
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