To find this cache you will need:
good boots or hiking shoes
drinking water--especially in summer
camera--great photo ops await you
flashlight
a 50' length of strong rope may greatly help but is not needed
(especially if you are used to "bouldering"--and if you aren't
familiar with that term...bring the rope.)
ACCESS: Most of the .5 mile hike is level but the final leg is
short but extremely steep and slippery--this is probably not a good
cache for young kids and older folks who dont get out much. NOTE:
If it has rained recently you may want to consider coming back at a
drier time...the final climb up to tha cache can be almost
impossible when wet--but you are welcome to try.
After finding the parking coordinates below:
N 35 20.057'
W 083 37.465'
Park, cross the bridge and follow the parallel structures to the
general target area.
Once there, you will find yourself looking at a series of large
and small caves in the side of the mountain...these are not your
target although be sure to visit these interesting caves while you
are here. You will probably also want to visit the "Sacred Visions
of the Cherokee" Geocache that is located nearby.
DO NOT attempt to climb up the rock face at the bigger
caves--proceede up to the left or right of the main caves and
follow your GPSr up the mountainside and you will soon reach your
destination...the LOST CAVE of the Middle Sun!
Once you find the cave please USE CAUTION as the short climb is
steep and there are several areas that are covered with loose sand
and leaves...after reaching the main chamber you will find the
cache nearby.
The cache is in a green and black 1 gallon bucket.
Best of luck and please be kind to the environment by trying to
limit the amount of damage you cause to the land--it is very steep
here. Please do not de-face the cave by writing/carving your name
in the wall or trees--it is untouched by man save for a few
footprints and one geocache that is not buried.
Please Leave no Trace and Cache-in Trash-out. The lower regions
of this area often play host to the discarded evidence of uncaring
individuals scattered about so please bring along a trash bag or
two and do your part in keeping the special areas of our National
Forests clean and green.
WILDLIFE NOTES: I have found Timber Rattlesnakes and Copperheads
in this area in the past. Do not be alarmed. They belong here and
are very important in maintaining a healthy, balanced natural
environment. Please do not harm any snakes or other animals you may
encounter--.
If you do encounter any snakes in your travels please maintain a
safe distance, photograph them if you can, and email me the info--I
study Rattlers and would welcome the info--thanks!
Remember! This is a WILD area with all of its components: live
wild creatures(that may hurt you--oh my!), mud, dirt, scat(fresh
and sunbleached...the fresh will be accompanied by a rather
unpleasent odor so WATCH OUT! Often, if you poke a stick at scat,
fresh works best, just the right way you will be able to determine
what type of creature left it there and just what that creature had
eaten for its last meal!! WOW-ain't nature grand!), uneven ground,
rough surfaces(that may abrade your skin), heat, cold, wet
water(that becomes hard and cold in the colder times and OH
MY--this often will fall unpredictably from the sky and if you are
not prepared it will make you and your coverings WET!! See: Weather
below), dryness(may also chap exposed skin), rocks(watch out for
these things--you may trip on them and fall down!), plants (some
you can eat and some will make you itch and bleed), sand (that
makes you itch if you get it in your nether-regions), pollen(a
by-product of the above plants that may make some of you sneeze,
itch and cough), wind(that may chap exposed skin and disturb
carefully placed hair), air(this could be anywhere from hot to warm
or cool to cold), weather(a combination of many of the factors
present here. This is entirely unpredictable unless you believe
what the NWS tells you), light and dark (and all the shades in
between), unpredictable sounds created from unknown sources (some
of these may be pleasent...but sometimes not...and they will hurt
your ears!), sometimes you will see a very bright disk overhead
(but don't look directly at it as it will damage your eyes. It may
also cause red burns on your exposed skin so bring your protective
devices and chemicals), often there is a lack of light accompanied
by a glowing disk in the sky that is pleasent to look at...and much
more! Just remember: there will be plenty of random unplanned
events that you will encounter on this hunt and on any venture you
take into the natural world--so be ready for them as they are the
things that make life worth living!