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Frankenstein Cave EarthCache

Hidden : 10/8/2007
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

[Updated Directions (10/4/2019).]


This geocache is located in the Ozark Wildlife Area.

Parking to access this fun geocache is now just off the gravel road (21st Ave). The dirt road leading to the park entrance gate has been marked as a Level C road and is NO TRESPASSING. Please park in the gravel lot near 21st Ave. DO NOT drive to the park entrance gate. ONLY Pedestrian traffic is allowed along the dirt road to the park entrance gate.



[Updated Directions (10/4/2019)


Park at the assigned parking lot just off of 21st Ave. Waypoint N 42° 11.773' W 90° 52.505'

Take a short walk along the dirt road to the park entrance gate. Waypoint N 42° 11.927' W 90° 51.868'

From the park entrance gate it is another short walk to the Pedestrian Traffic Only Sign. Waypoint N 42° 11.934' W 90° 51.691'

From the Pedestrian Traffic Only sign please follow the original directions below to reach the final location.


[Original Directions]


At the Pedestrian Traffic Only sign, proceed up the rocky ravine for 1/4 mile and look to your right where the stream makes a bend. Here you will see a bluff that resembles the head of Frankenstein. The cave entrance is nearby. The Rocky ravines are the "magnesion doles" of the old geological surveys. They run back from the Maquoketa River. The Ozark rock is covered with tiny solution sponging, typical of the Hopkinton dolomite. In places you may see abundant fossils. Dolomite is a common sedimentary rock-forming mineral that can be found in massive beds hundreds of feet thick. Dolomite can be found in its crystal form and may look like jasper. You may also see fossilized honeycomb. It is an extinct corral that weathers out of the rock. Please leave anything you find in place as removing specimens from public areas is prohibited. Once you enter the cave try to imagine when the Indians lived here and occupied this cave. At the back of the cave is the entrance to a small passageway. After about a dozen feet the passage opens into a wide space that contains a few stalagmites. Stalagmites are upward-growing calcite mounds deposited from drip water. Bring your camera along and take some pictures you can upload to the cache page. To claim a find for this cache you must answer the following questions and e-mail me the answers. Question #1. What is the approxamate size of the main room of the cave? Question # 2. What is in front of the entrance to the passageway at the back of the cave? Do not post the answers on the cache page.

Please remember that all caches in the Jackson County Conservation Areas are CITO locations.


As always, be safe, be courteous, be respectful and have fun.


Member


[Original Directions from the short description:]
DO NOT FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS!!!!


Cache is in the Ozark Wildlife Area. Coordinates are for parking. This point is the beginning of a dirt road. If it is dry or you have 4 wheel drive you can proceed to the marked Park entrance at 42°11.92733, -090°51.86885'. From the park entrance you will have to proceed on foot. Follow the road into the park to find the next trail marker at 42-11.934 and 90-51.691. There is a sign on your left that says "Pedestrian Traffic"]

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Cnexvat, cnex ragenapr, genvyurnq naq iveghny fgntr ybpngvbaf nyy unir jnlcbvagf nffvtarq.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)