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Pickle Springs LbNA #6964 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jan 19, 2004
Location:
City:Pickle Springs Natural Area, Farmington
County:Ste. Genevieve
State:Missouri
Boxes:1
Found by: mamasama
Last found:Oct 9, 2010
Status:FFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Jan 19, 2004
Pickle Springs Natural Area is a special place. It offers cool, moist canyons and spectacular views from tall sandstone bluffs. It is home to several rare plants and the beautiful wild azalea. But it is the geology, and its effect on the plants that live here, that makes the area truly unique, for the collection of geologic features and plants found here occur in few other places.

The rocks we see today at Pickle Springs Natural Area were formed nearly 500 million years ago when sand deposited in an extensive maze of braided river channels was cemented together to form sandstone. The sandstone became buried under layers of limestone and other younger sedimentary rocks that were deposited on the floors of ancient seas. Eventually the area was uplifted, and erosion wore away the overlying strata until the old sandstone once again was exposed at the surface. Today this type of sandstone, called Lamotte, outcrops in just a small portion of the St. Francois Mountains.

During the past millions of years, water, ice, rain, wind and plants have worn away part of the hard sandstone, creating fantastic formations and deep, cool canyons. The weathered sandstone created acid soils that support many unique plants.

During the time of the great glaciers, plants and animals moved south ahead of the advancing ice. Mammoths wandered in the cool canyons of Pickle Springs, grazing on the lush northern vegetation supported by the area’s acid soils.

Today the Mammoths are gone, but many of the plants remain, relicts of that earlier climate. As you walk the trail through time you will see some of those relicts, along with the unique geologic features carved by nature. Because of this unique concentration of rare plants and geologic features, this area has been designated a Missouri Natural Area and a National Natural Landmark.

As you walk the 2-mile Trail Through Time notice the different types of trees and other vegetation. Listen for birds and insects, the sound of the wind in the treetops and water trickling among the rocks. Become aware of the forest scents. If you allow your senses to adjust to the forest environment it becomes an almost spiritual experience.

How to get to Pickle Springs

From St. Louis:

· I-55 south to MO 32 (exit 150)
· MO 32 west to Rt AA (16 mi)
· Rt AA east to Dorlac Rd (1.6 mi)
· Dorlac Rd to Pickle Springs parking area (0.4 mi)

From Farmington (MO 32/Rt OO intersection):

· MO 32 east to Rt AA (4.5 mi)
· Rt AA east to Dorlac Rd (1.6 mi)
· Dorlac Rd to Pickle Springs parking area (0.4 mi)

Finding the Pickle Springs letterbox:

· Walk to trail head, just east of parking lot
· Pick up a map (or memorize the map on the sign)
· Bear left (north) on the Trail Through Time
· Descend into and walk through the Slot
· Pass under the Double Arch
· Sneak through the Keyhole
· Cross the Pickle Creek Bridge
· Make the High Crossing
· Cross the first Bone Creek bridge
· At the SE end of the first bridge go 55 ft at Bearing 091 (almost due east)
· Look for a small hole in a dead tree, about 2 ft above the ground

You are looking for a 35mm film canister. It contains a stamp and a log sheet. If you are a geocacher (like me) this may help:

N37 48.116 W90 17.540

You are now at the halfway point on the trail. You could turn around and go back the way you came, but the most spectacular sights lie ahead of you. Finish the loop. You’ll be glad you did. Trail is in good condition, but there are some long, moderately steep slopes. Luckily there are lots of benches along the way.

PS - I'd love to hear from you after you visit my letterbox.