EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
National Monument
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. ... "Geocachers must complete the tasks before they log the EarthCache as found." (4.3. EarthCache logging tasks)
Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
NOTE: Answers via message -and- log signature picture is required to post a find for this cache.
1. MESSAGE …. a. What are park paleontology staff and stone conservators using to monitor the local environmental conditions at this stump? / b. How will the data be used? (Waypoint 1)
2. MESSAGE …. Fossil leaves serve as ancient thermometers for reading the temperature of the past. What was the mean annual temperature at Florissant during the late Eocene? (Waypoint 2)
3. MESSAGE …. This “family circle” of fossilized redwood stumps grew out of the single trunk of an older parent tree. a. How many stumps are in this family circle. / b. In modern coastal redwoods, what are the most common causes of stump sprouting? (Waypoint 3)
4. MESSAGE …. What three things caused damage and loss of the redwood stumps? (Waypoint 4)
5. MESSAGE …. a. What can you see directly behind the Big Stump? / b. Explain what that is. (Waypoint 5)
6. MESSAGE …. a. How large were the redwoods at Florissant? / b. How old were the redwoods at Florissant? (Waypoint 6)
7. MESSAGE …. The stump you see here is significantly different than the other stumps on the trail. a. What is so different about it? / b. What do you think happened?
8. LOG …. Post a picture of you or your signature item and the coordinates at any stump that is NOT at Waypoints 1-7. This picture is your log signature.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in finding and creating this earthcache by adding A and B to your log.
A. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
B. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you ... prose / story / poem / picture. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
MIRACLE ON THE TRAIL
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
C. ADVENTURES IN FLORISSANT FOSSIL BEDS ... Complete the required number of pages for your age group. Become a Junior Ranger and earn your badge. Which pages did you choose to complete?
D. RIDDLES ... Solve the Tree and Fossil Riddles. How well did you do?
E. GEOLOGIC TRAIL ... This self-guided trail highlights over a billion years of geologic history in the Florissant Valley.
THANK YOU Therese Johnson - Park Manager for permission to share this learning adventure.
Range of Redwoods in the Geologic Past (Eocene)
Sequoias and redwoods are closely related. The primarey difference betwee sequoias and redwoods is their habitat. Redwoods live near the coast, while sequoias live in the sybalpine regions of California. Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world.
But there are giant redwoods in Colorado, too. The Florissant Fossil Beds, about 30 miles west of Colorado Springs, displays many giant stumps of petrified redwoods. Abundant fossils of their leaves and cones lie entombed in the shale around them. The area was once the site of a major volcanic eruption.
When visitors come to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, the main fossils they see are some of the world's largest (by diameter) petrified tree stumps of Redwood (Sequoia Affinis) trees. The story behind these stumps of stone began 34 million years ago when a nearby volcanic complex created giant mudflows called lahars. Lahars form when volcanic ash erupts from a volcano and mixes with heavy rainfall to create a fast moving "slurry". The lahars from the ancient Guffey volcanic center buried the trees of the ancient forest in a 15-foot thick layer. This quick burial allowed for the decay/replacement of cellular material by minerals resulting in petrification.
Petrified Forest Loop
This one-mile trail passes massive, petrified Redwood stumps, an historic excavation site, and a geologic timeline exhibit. This gravel trail is relatively flat and is mostly out in the open. The trail begins at the end of the outdoor exhibit area which is behind the visitor center. Walk the trail stopping at each waypoint to view the stump, read the information sign, and answer the questions.
RESOURCES ... Florissant Fossil Beds / Paleontology / Lahar Simulation / Stump Shelters / Trails / Geologic Trail / Virtual Tours / Petrified Stump / Lesson Plan / Music / Stump Music / Photo Gallery / Redwoods of Stone / Junior Ranger Books / AZ Petrified Forest Legend
TREE RIDDLES ... Match the answers with the riddles.
A palm tree - A poul-tree – A tree – Aspen - Because it was being knotty - Cashew! – Chestnut - Dogwood - Dogwood - Gee, I’m a tree - Geometry - It started its own branch - Its trunks - Leaf me alone – Maple - Oak - Pine - Pine-apple - Sep-timber - Swimming trunks - They both have lot of bark - They log in - To stamp out forest fires – Willow
Fruit comes from a fruit tree, chicken comes from?
How do trees get on the Internet?
What did the nut say when it sneezed?
What did the pine tree wear to the lake?
What did the tree do when the bank closed?
What did the tree say to autumn?
What did the tree say to the math teacher?
What did the tree wear to the pool?
What has no fingers, but many rings?
What is a tree’s least favorite month?
What kind of fruit do trees like the most?
What kind of tree can fit into your hand?
What kind of tree does a math teacher climb?
What kind of tree has the best bark?
Why did the pine tree get in trouble?
Why do frogs have webbed feet?
Why is a tree like a big dog?
FOSSIL RIDDLES ... How well do you know the creatures from the Eocene that once roamed the Florissant area over 34 million years ago? ... https://www.nps.gov/flfo/learn/kidsyouth/fossil-riddles.htm
1. In the past, I towered hundreds of feet in the air. Now, I'm made of stone and all that's left of me was once rooted in the ground. What am I?
2. I'm the largest mammal of my time, standing over 8-feet tall and weighing over 3,000 pounds. I look like a mix between a rhinoceros and an elephant. I have two horns growing from above my nose. What am I?
3. I have three toes. My name means "middle horse," but I'm too small to ride seeing that I'm only 2 and 1/2 feet tall. What am I?
4. I'm a hog-like mammal with fangs like a vampire. I throw-up my food to chew it again. You could say "I chewed that over for a bit!" What am I?
5. Buzz, buzz! I fly around to eat nectar and other bugs. I also have a stinger. I'm related to the living yellowjackets and hornets. What am I?
FOSSIL RIDDLES ... https://www.braingle.com/brainteasers/category.php?op=0&category=All&order=1&fields=0&value=fossils
1. Two scientists, Fred and Liz, were working at a dig site to find fossils. They both had just gotten their degrees in Geology and were very excited to start work. Fred had suspected that Liz wasn't who she said she was, mostly because she messed up terms and almost seemed to lack some basic skills in excavation and classification of fossils. One day Liz was looking at a well-preserved fossil when Fred walked in. He decided to test her and asked, "What kind of rock is that preserved in?" She answered back, "Igneous of course!" He then knew that she didn't have a degree in Geology and told the boss who, of course, fired her. What answer should she have given?
2. A young archaeologist named Botch had dug up what he believed to be the missing link. Sure that he would be famous and receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for further research, he promptly called some colleagues and held a press conference to unveil his findings. At the conference, Botch announced that he had found the jawbone and teeth from the famous prehistoric Nebraska man. When these ancient fossils were originally discovered, they were hailed as the best evidence of man's evolution ever found and led to the teaching of evolution in American schools. When he unveiled his findings the room quickly emptied as snickers and laughter filled the air. Poor Botch had made the same mistake so many of his colleagues had already made. What was his mistake?
3. Old as the dinosaurs am I. A vampire by nature, Killing thousands during my time.
I have no wings, But can jump very high. Tell me oh tell me, What am I?
4. Eons back, I left this earth, Not seen, they said, again. But a unique flicker of my worth Was able to remain.
As mite, or germ, or egg, or seed, A "missing link", I bided, strived. My "proto-legs" walked o'er the weed; Thus, sequestered, I survived.
In murky deep, for unseen ages, Till tangled up in Nerine's net; My appearance baffled sages, And the wise conjecture yet.
Was I really lost, or only hid, As in the deep I'd multiply? Or could I, as the phoenix did, From its ashes rise to meet the eye?
What do you call a fossil that never does any work? yasbzonle