Deep it the rural backwoods in central Alabama lies a place that the local hill people speak of in whispers and only after assuring that all windows are shut and doors are locked and bolted. There is a old quiet, country cemetery dating from back in the pioneer days resting on top of a lonely mountain in a remote part of woods near what is now the Talladega National Forest which is maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Ironically enough, this peak is called Cemetery Mountain. For many years the residents of this peaceful plot rested in the sleep of eternity, surrounded by the majestic trees and mountains of the lower Appalachian foothills. But, progress does not sleep, not then and not now. As the story goes, the local county road department decided to improve the rugged dirt track that accessed the mountain from the valley below. Drawings for the new and improved road showed the route bisecting the bucolic graveyard. Through ignorance, incompetence, or just plain laziness, not all of the corpses were exhumed from the new roadbed. And progress marched on, sealing a few unlucky souls beneath the macadam of modernization. This insult woke the other wise sleepy and content spirits of the dead in this burial ground. To add insult to injury, currently there is a massive amount of clear-cut pulpwooding surrounding the plots. After a personal survey of the site, it appears that the skidders and log trucks have encroached upon this sacred ground, further enraging the restless spirits. It is rumored that this last insult has caused the phantoms to roam the area for many miles around. It is said that if drive up the road at night and through the cemetery, you will see the spirits of the piqued inhabitants rise to greet you in their own fashion. I have been told you will face a spectral gauntlet of apparitions on either side of the road, and sometime in the middle, awaiting your arrival. The locals advise that you roll up all windows and lock your doors and dash through the phantasmic welcoming committee. Perhaps you will find safety in the valley below. Read more about this haunted area at www.hauntedsouth.com and www.theshadowlands.com. The cemetery is at N33 deg 24.574 W085 deg 58.942.
Sounded like a cool place for a geocache, so, I hid one nearby. Being that the cemetery is surrounded by private property, the cache is approximately 1.5 miles south of the graveyard hidden in the national forest. Park at N33 deg 23.905, W085 deg 57.978. This is near the start coordinates and double glint marker. Sounds simple, right? Wrong! This is a night only cache. The track is marked by a series of reflective markers. They are easy to see at night, but just about impossible to detect during the day. The coordinates listed above only lead you to the start of your journey. When you get to the posted coordinates stop and shine your flashlight 360 degrees around you. The starting point is marked by two glint markers. You will see a reflective glint marker on another tree ahead. All markers will be posted about eye level. Go to that marker and shine your flashlight around and find the next marker. Continue on until you find a tree with the markers forming a “X”, stop. You are very near the cache. It will be an ammo can marked with reflective tape and should be visible with your flashlight. It will be within 20 feet of the final tree.
Pretty easy so far, now comes the hard part, getting back out. Make sure you waypoint your car, follow your GPSr’s backtrack or breadcrumb. There are no markers back to your starting point!
Required Equipment:
A powerful flashlight (no mini-mags or microlights)
A back up light
A GPSr
Appropriate clothing (or none if you are into that kind of thing!)
A sense of adventure
Optional Equipment:
A buddy to help navigate and watch for obstacles (recommended)
Headlamp
Sturdy boots
Night vision equipment
Holy water
The cache contains:
A flashlight
Magnets
AM/FM radio
Books
Mouse pad
Horror classics on DVD
Key chain
ANAD hat
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 Night Cache  Available year-round  Snakes
 Bring a Flashlight  Off-trail Hiking Required |
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