Geocaching with NaviCache - Cache Details: Bathing with the Devil Earthcache

HOME	FAQ's	NEWEST CACHES	SEARCH FOR CACHES	BUXLEY's MAPS
FORUMS	HIDE A CACHE	EDIT CACHE	ADD A LOG ENTRY	SCOUT's LEADER BOARD

Bathing with the Devil Earthcache

by ChileHead (Finds: 23 Score: 90) (Hidden: 52 Score: 182)

Printer Version

Spy on this Cache

Coordinates (WGS-84 datum)
N 43° 01.451' W 077° 34.405'

Mendon, New York 14467
United States Near By Caches

Hidden On: 27 Feb 2005
Waypoint (Landmark): N018B2
Open Cache:  Unrestricted
Cache type:  Virtual
Cache size:   Virtual

Difficulty: (easy)
Terrain: (easy)

Misc:

Comments:

Additional maps for this cache available at:

Visit a kettle hole and meromictic lake.

This short hike will take you to Devil's Bathtub, which is a kettle hole in Mendon Ponds Park.

A kettle hole is a geological feature formed by receding glaciers. When an ice sheet retreats, several large portions may become detached, surrounded by mounds of soil. As the ice melts, a depression called a kettle hole remains. When water occupies the depression, it may be called a kettle lake.

Devil's Bathtub is also a meromictic lake. A meromictic lake has layers of water which do not intermix. The deepest layer of water in such a lake does not contain any dissolved oxygen. The layers of sediment at the bottom of a meromictic lake remain relatively undisturbed because there are no living organisms to stir them up.

This type of lake may form for a number of reasons:

* the basin is unusually deep and steep-sided compared to the lake's surface area
* the lower layer of the lake is highly saline and so denser than the higher levels of water

To log this cache, you must go to the posted coordinates and take a picture of yourself with your GPS on the wooden platform with the kettle in the background and also record the number people in your group.

Please feel free to also post pictures from the top of the kettle. They'll be more interesting than the ones in the at the posted coords, but a picture at the coords is required to prove you did the hike into the tub.

Add a Log Entry

CACHE LOGS - May contain hints(spoilers)! decode

23 Apr 2007 by Paleoman (Finds: 91 Score: 409) (Hidden: 14 Score: 60)
Open Log: Personal use only

I found this cache on my way to the Mendon ponds cache. I will submit my photo as soon as my wife downloads it from her camera. This is such a neat area. I spent some extra here taking in the sites. Thanks! -Paleoman52-

20 Jan 2007 by bucktracker (Finds: 2 Score: 9.5) (Hidden: 0 Score: 0)
Open Log: Unrestricted

We found the area but I did not have the instructions so I did not take a picture. We were looking for a traditional box. Will get the picture next time.

Thanks for the geology lesson. Interesting terrain around there.

15 Apr 2006 by WhiteUrkel (Finds: 160 Score: 595) (Hidden: 36 Score: 140)
Open Log: Personal use only

I found this very interesting Chilehead, thanks for the earthcache. As explained in my GC.com log, I had to take Urkel Jr's. picture at the site though, because taking my picture proved to daunting of a task for him :-).

TWU Jr. at the bathtub

21 Aug 2005 by Blackpete (Finds: 406 Score: 1774) (Hidden: 19 Score: 73)
Open Log: Personal use only

We attended a picnic in the park at the Devil's Bathtub Pavillion. We walked the trail and after returning remembered there was an earth cache here. Took a picture with the lake in the background. After doing the East Esker cache and a few others in the park we were too tired to do the stairs again. Hope the picture is ok.

Devil's Bathtub

15 Aug 2005 by skeeter123 (Finds: 13 Score: 60) (Hidden: 0 Score: 0)
Open Log: Personal use only

My wife and I spent a few hours hiking in the park, because there were caches to be found. Thanks for the Geo lesson. I now know what a meromictic lake is. Thanks again.
[Modified 2005-08-16 11:20:16]

Devil's Bathtub