Please approach this cache from the base of the cliff. The hillside
may be slippery, especially when wet. Please use caution and do not
climb above your capabilites.
A rock shelter (also known as a rockhouse, crepuscular cave, or
abri) is a shallow cave-like opening at the base of a bluff or
cliff.
Rock shelters are often important archaeologically. Because rock
shelters form natural shelters from the weather, prehistoric humans
often used them as living-places, and left behind debris, tools,
and other artifacts.
Rock shelters form because a rock stratum such as sandstone that is
resistant to erosion and weathering has formed a cliff or bluff,
but a softer stratum, more subject to erosion and weathering, lies
just below the resistant stratum, and thus undercuts the cliff.
Many rock shelters are found under waterfalls.
In arid areas, wind erosion (eolian erosion) can be an important
factor in rockhouse formation.
In most humid areas, the most important factor in rockhouse
formation is frost spalling, where the softer, more porous rock
underneath is pushed off, tiny pieces at a time, by frost expansion
from water frozen in the pores. Erosion from moving water is seldom
a significant factor.
Signal bounce is bad near the cliff face. The cache site is in the
rock shelter near the fallen tree shown in the photo.
To demonstrate the educational value of this Earth Cache please
email the answers to the following questions:
1. Estimate how tall the cliff is. At what level on the cliff is
the rock shelter found?
2. How do you think this particular Rock Shelter was formed.
3. Notice a large rock laying in the rock shelter at the posted
co-ordiantes. Where do you think this large rock came from?
4. How long is the rock shelter?
While a picture is not required, they are always nice to include.