Considered by Pittsburgh veteran photographers as the best kept
secret, the view from this 1210 feet high steep hill is
fabulous.
Spring Hill might not be the highest point within the city
boundaries (I think the adjacent hill to the West, Finehill, is
slightly higher), but the Germans's congregation of the North Side
choose well this location to be their cemetery.
Known as "St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery", and
formerly known as "First German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's
Congregation of North Side", this was a burial ground for members
of the german congregation that resided on the North Side of the
city.
According to a
congregation historian, in "October 1862, 11 acres of ground
were bought on top of Spring Hill to be used for a new cemetery as
the one on Troy Hill was now full. This new cemetery was known as
St. John's Lutheran Cemetery and was consecrated for burials on
August 6, 1863."
The hill sits on the center of a residential area known as
Spring Hill/City View. One photographer has an
online
gallery of a walking trip there. There is a urban hike
reportage of a recent hike to the hilltop. And as you can see,
a cemetery hilltop doesn't necessarily have to set you into a
somber mood, and instead one can have fun on
that hilltop.
Cache is a 50mm ammo box. Best approach is to park on Solar St,
just south of the cache location, and then walk up the steep slope
and to summit the hilltop. That will give you a good aerobic
excercise and reward you with a stunning view when returning back.
For a more aerobic challenge, and more More MORE views, I strongly
reccomend starting the hike from the intersection of Itin and
Goehring, about 1/2 mile south from the cache, and walk up the
steps marked as Lappe Ln street sign, and walk up to the hilltop.
A possible long
walking route.
A
newspaper
article of an artist that used the hill to paint the
lanscape.
Update February 2009: there have been reports of drug usage on
the same area where the cache is located. Please use common
sense.