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GC1EMWX
The Cutting EdgeType: Earth | Size: Not chosen 
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| Terrain:  By: biggertrux and Mrs B. @ | Hide Date: 07/28/2008 | Status: Available Country: United States | State: Colorado Coordinates: N40° 00.021 W106° 29.226 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0  Gore Canyon is an antecedent canyon, meaning it cuts across a range rather than running with it. This is possible through a process known as isostatic rebound. The Earth's crust is actually floating on a layer called the mantle (think of this as a worldwide lake of lava). As erosion carries away landmass the Gore Range becomes more buoyant and rises out of the mantle. While the average elevation of the area drops, some peaks may rise higher than the original range as water and glaciers carry off heavy soil and rock from around the peaks. This action helps mountain rivers and streams to gradually cut away canyons across what would otherwise be impassable terrain. Other examples of antecedent canyons in Colorado are Royal Gorge of the Arkansas, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Glenwood Canyon of the Colorado. If you travel east from the cache location you will go through a valley cut by the Blue River before the rising terrain outpaced the Blue's cutting power. It eventually diverted to meet up with the Colorado near presant day Kremling. This section of the Colorado River is a wonderful example of how rivers evolve. To the east, the original path of the Colorado ran south-east to north-west into Wyoming, as the Gore range blocked the direct westward route. About 55 million years ago (Paleocene and Eocene boundry) the Gore Range had eroded to a nearly flat minor rise not much higher than the valley floor. Soon the Rabbit Ears Range rose to the north,blocking the Colorado's northerly course. Following gravity, The Colorado turned westward along its present course. As the Colorado began to cut the canyon, the Gore Range began to lift again, and as it did the river remained at nearly the same elevation. As the Gore Range rose the river narrowed, causing swifter water and increasing cutting power. Today the walls of the canyon rise a staggering three thousand feet straight up over the water, and are probably still rising. Over the course of the 6 miles of Gore Canyon, The Colorado River provides what some would argue is the best stretch of class v rapids in Colorado, thanks in part to boulders dropped from the canyon walls during railroad construction. It is home to an annual kayak festival and the US National Whitewater Rafting Championship. Gore Canyon was first rafted in the 1970's and was considered un-navigable even before the section of railroad was built. Information on this page was taken from Wikipedia, Durangobill.com, cliffshade.com/colorado/geo_overview, and The Colorado Historical Society. TO LOG YOUR VISIT AND CLAIM THE CACHE; post a pic of your GPSr (picture requirement added as of 10-10-10 due to questionable logs) and e-mail me with the following information: 1. Name the well known explorer featured on one Kiosk board. 2. What was the nickname given to immigrants working as surveyors for the railroad? 3. How many years ago were the present day Rocky Mountains uplifted?
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