Cache consists of a clear Rubbermaid container with logbook,
pencil, pencil sharpener, standard cover sheet, and flyers of the
Ice-Age Floods Institute (IAFI). The IAFI is a non-profit
organization devoted to informing and educating the public about
these unique geologic events that shaped the Pacific Northwest as
recently as 13,000 years ago. See www.iceagefloodsinstitute.org,
for more information.
Cache Elevation: 905 ft
Devils Canyon
Devils Canyon is one of the most dramatic features left behind
by the great Ice-Age floods. Devils Canyon is a dry, 5-mile-long
recessional cataract canyon created by Ice-Age floods. These floods
began as early as 1 to 2 million years ago and the last one was
about 13,000 years ago. It’s both extremely narrow and deep (500
feet). The canyon connects Washtucna Coulee with the Snake
River.
Here, floodwaters took advantage of a zone of weakness along an
underlying deep tectonic fracture in the Earth’s crust. During
flooding, the 400 foot difference in water levels between Washtucna
Coulee and the Snake River caused floodwaters to erode this canyon
with exceptional force. The result was a deep, ruler-straight chasm
to the Snake River. After filling Washtucna Coulee to the brim near
Kahlotus, floodwaters escaped over a low divide carving a spillover
channel at the north end of Devils Canyon.
Floodwaters repeatedly spilled over into Devils Canyon from
Washtucna Coulee. Only the lighter-colored Palouse uplands on
either side of the canyon escaped the floods’ wrath. During
repeated floods, a waterfall cliff (cataract) receded up the
canyon, stopping just short of Kahlotus. The cache is located along
the now-dry wall of the cataract below.
To experience more incredible features left behind by the
Ice-Age floods try finding these other geocaches placed by
geologist Bruce Bjornstad:
Staircase Rapids
Upper Goose Lake
Frenchman Coulee Rib
Rattlesnake Slope Erratics
Saddle Mountains Overlook (Earthcache)
Wallula Gap Overlook
Potholes Coulee
West Bar Overlook
Lake Sacajawea Flood Bar