A Zion Earth Cache EarthCache
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This is an Earth cahe on the trail to Observation Point. If you hike the whole trail, which I recommend due to the spectacular view, make sure you bring plenty of water.
Zion has many increadible features: Aches, Blind Arches, Hoodoos, Potholes. This is a favorite place of mine to visit. Now for some information to aid you in solving this Earth Cache:
Potholes: Potholes are just what you would expect from the name, depressions that form in the ground of varying sizes. Two ways they can form are from erosion and/or abrasion. With erosion, the continual force of the water wears its way into the rock creating the depression. With abrasion, a rock can end up in a depression and get tumbled around inside of it by the water. The resulting friction eats away at the surrounding rock, increasing the size of the depression.
Arches: An arch is just what you would expect: a rock formation arching from one point to another with space beneath it. Arch formation is a bit more complex and not totally understood. There are different theories, depending on where you are at. For instance, how the arches formed at Arches National Park is considered to be a different process from how they formed here. At Zion, the thought is that expansion and contraction of water in naturally formed expansion cracks caused the rock to separate and break away. Due to the process here at Zion you have two different types of arches, the freestanding arch and the blind arch.
Freestanding Arch: Luckily another term that is just what the name implies. A freestanding arch has no other points of contact save for the two ends of the arch.
Blind Arch: A blind arch is where the rock has been lost beneath some rock, creating an arch appearance, but the remaining arch is still attached the surrounding rock. Probably the best example of this is the Great Arch of Zion that is seen as you enter the park through the tunnel (an absolute must do experience).
Hoodoos: Hoodoos are sandstone formations where a durable stone called a capstone has protected the sandstone beneath it from eroding away as fast as the surrounding stone creating a freestanding structure of varying shapes. While there are hoodoos here at Zion, if time allows you should make the short trip to Bryce Canyon just a few hours away to see some spectacular examples of their formations.
Now, using the above information, when you are at the above coordinates, look out at 115 degrees. There you will see something that you don't see too often (perhaps a variation of something above). My kids and I thought this was really neat and that an Earth Cache would be perfect here to bring others to see it as well.
Now for the requirements.
1) What is it you see in the above direction? You need to be specific; it's not just any old...
2) How do you think this object was formed?
3) On the path at the coordinates is written something; what does it say?
Email me the answers and you've completed the requirements for this Earth Cache. Don't place the answers in the log or include a photo of the objects or your posting will be deleted. You can feel free to post other pictures from the hike, as there are plenty things to see on this trail.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)