"HELLS GATE" Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(regular)
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THE CACHE IS LOCATED NEAR THE ORIGINAL QUARRY SITE ALONG THE KETTLE RIVER IN BANNING STATE PARK. JUST NORTH OF SANDSTONE MINNESOTA .
HISTORIC SITES IN THE PARK INCLUDE THE FORMER BANNING TOWNSITE AND ASSOCIATED SANDSTONE QUARIES. DURING THE 1890S'THE QUARRY WAS DEVELOPED ALONG THE KETTLE RIVER NEAR THE AREA NOW KNOWN AS "HELLS GATE". THE DURABLE STRENGTH AND WARM PINK COLOR OF THIS SANDSTONE MADE IT VERY POPULAR FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. IN 1882 THE QUARRY COMPANY EMPLOYED 500 STONE CUTTERS . ON SEPTEMBER 1,1894 THE GREAT HINKLEY FOREST FIRE SWEPT THROUGH THE AREA INFLICTING HEAVY FINANCIAL LOSSES ON THE COMPANY AND ON THE ST PAUL AND DULUTH RAILROAD LINE SERVING IT.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE HIKING AREAS. IF YOU'RE THERE IN THE SUMMER YOU MIGHT GET LUCKY AND SEE KAYAKERS RUNNING THE RAPIDS. ITS REALLY EXCITING TO WATCH THEM RUN THRU "HELLS GATE.ITS THE ROUGHEST PART OF THE RAPIDS. THE CURRENT SPEEDS UP AS THE RIVER FLOWS THROUGH THIS NARROW SECTION BETWEEN THE CLIFFS
DONT PLAN ON LOOKING FOR THIS CACHE IF YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN WITH YOU. YOU WILL BE DOING A BIT OF CLIMBING.NOT SO SERIOUS THAT YOU'LL BE NEEDING ROPES,BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GOOD SHOES WITH ANKLE SUPPORT. A RULE OF THUMB HERE IS IF YOU'RE DOING SOMETING DANGEROUS , YOU'RE IN THE WRONG SPOT. ALSO BE CAREFULL OF THE MOSS, IT CAN BE SLIPPERY EVEN ON A DRY DAY.
THE CACHE IS IN A 5 QUART ICE CREAM BUCKET AND CONTAINS
1 SQUEAKY FOOTBALL
PACKAGE OF DUCT TAPE
KLEENEX TRAVEL TISSUES
HAND WARMERS
AN AMERICAN FLAG STICKER
STAPLER
CARPENTERS PENCIL
YOU WILL NEED A DAILY OR ANNUAL PASS TO GET INTO THE PARK
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
TB VAGB GUR PNIR NAQ YBBX HC