Lover's Leap - *Whitetop Style EarthCache
Lover's Leap - *Whitetop Style
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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Off of US 58 west from Damascus, turn left at the Whitetop
Post office on Route 600, then turn left on USFS-89 go for about 3
mi. to the top. This will be a short downhill hike to the
cache.
Trail Head
Beside the cache coordinates, please see the coordinates
for parking and the trailhead. It is an easy trip to and from the
cache
.
Have you ever wondered how many Lover’s Leaps there are in
America? We know of at least two in Virginia alone. This Lover’s
Leap is perhaps not as dramatic as the impressive Leap found
within the Breaks Interstate Park but it is equally interesting.
The Leap within the Breaks is predominately sandstone but the rock
here is very, very different! We will go into that difference a bit
later. While you are contemplating how many Lover’s Leaps exist,
think about how they were named? Most local folklore has stories of
young lovers jumping to their death because their families and/or
tribes wouldn’t permit a marriage. Who knows, but if you are
engaged and your marriage is somehow forbidden, don’t come here! We
don’t want a true story to start with our Earthcache. There is no
protective fence so even if you are not engaged, don’t get too
close to the edge! Please watch the children!
While it is much shorter hike to this Leap, you can
fall further. The outcrop is located on the top of the beautiful
Whitetop Mountain. Those familiar with the mountain are aware of
the Buzzard’s Rock (see the Earthcache) but few know about
Lover’s Leap. Heretofore the Leap has been a well
kept secret but now you are invited to visit!
Lover's
Leap-Wintertime
Lover's
Leap-Summertime
When you are stand on the rocks of the Lover’s Leap,
imagine that over 450 millions of years ago you would have been
burned to a crisp! Pardon our volcano humor but it’s true, this
outcrop, as well as the entire Mount Rogers chain, was formed by
the eruptions of volcanoes. Other factors helped form the mountains
but volcanoes are what make this part of the mountains of the
Eastern US different. It is true that while the up rifting of
oceanic and continental tectonic plates pushed skyward to form the
Appalachian Mountains, volcanic eruptions occurred to give Whitetop
it’s unique geological characteristics. Now you know why the rocks
found here are far different than the sandstone rock of the Break’s
Leap. This Leap was formed by
FIRE!
Igneous Rock
Formation
Now a short bit about the geology of our Leap. As
stated earlier, the Leap was formed by the fire of a
volcano. Volcanic rock is representative one of the three major
rock classifications. Those are: igneous, sedimentary and
metamorphic. Sedimentary rock as the name implies is formed by
sediment. Over time, sediments are settled, compressed and ‘glued’
into solid rock. No fire here! Metamorphic are other forms of rock
that have under gone change in their original physical
characteristics due to tremendous pressures and/or heat. In other
words, metamorphic rock has ‘metamophisized’ from one rock form to
another. The Leap is igneous rock and that’s how geologists
know that the area was once volcanic.
Of igneous rocks, there are two major classifications:
intrusive and extrusive. Simply put, intrusive rocks stayed below
the Earth’s crust as molten, then cooling, magma and extrusive
rocks were ejected above ground as lava and/or ash. The two most
common examples of each are granite (intrusive) and ryolite
(extrusive). While we are far from being geologists, we love the
science and for your viewing pleasure we have included a handy
chart showing examples of igneous rocks. There you will find the
rock that is the rock of the Lover’s Leap. Study the chart
carefully! It will be involved with one of your answers (guesses!)
later.
Please Note: In order for you to claim a find you
must do the following: (1). Post a picture of yourself and your
entire group with the Leap in the background and your GPSr
in hand. (2). Answer these questions via email only : (A).
After reading the above and a quick study of the chart, what type
of igneous rock is here? (Hint: it starts with a "R"). (B). Maybe
it will help you answer (A) by answering this question, what colors
do you see in the rocks? (C). If your GPSr can tell you, what is
the elevation of the Leap?
We sincerely hope you enjoy the Leap and as always,
please leave the area cleaner than you found it. Bring a lunch and
enjoy! Be sure to visit Papafuz's nearby traditional cache:
GC1N7WA. Happy caching!
*Whitetop Style-- The asterisk? Yes, Whitetop is
correctly spelled Whitetop here and not White Top. Don’t sic the
spelling police on us!
This Earthcache was approved by the
Geological Society of America
| We have earned GSA's highest
level: |
 |
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
"Ybbx orsber lbh yrnc!"