OHT # 2 - Railroad Bed Traditional Geocache
OzarkMtnGhost, Hillbilly & Little Boo: Archiving cache.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is the 2nd in a series of caches on or near the Ozark Highlands Trail in Arkansas. This cache is located on the old (early 1900's) Combs to Cass spur railroad bed.
The OHT is a 165+ hiking trail that starts in Western Arkansas and ends in the Buffalo River Area. Someday it may be connected with the Ozark Trail in Missouri to provide a continous trail to St. Louis, MO.
The caches in this series will be a variety of containers and a variety in terrain difficulty. Some will be near trail heads and some may be miles into the forest.
The Old Railroad Bed: Around 1913-1914 construction began to build a spur line from the Fayetteville to St. Paul railroad. The spur came South from Combs around Black Mtn and down into Cass as a way to haul out the trees for the timber cutting industry. This rail line only lasted until around 1928 as it could never turn a profit. The canyons in this area were crossed by 4 trestles that ranged in height from 90 ft. to 125 ft. The longest trestle was 385 ft. There is a more detailed information sheet inside the cache and I am also in the process of obtaining more information.
For OHT #2, we go deep into the trail. Before you begin the cache trek, I want you to beware of what you will face in terrain difficulty. It is right at a 3 miles round trip hike. The elevation change is around 150 ft with most of this being in one short section. 2 small creeks to cross (only in the spring could this be difficult). It should only be necessary to step across boulders and/or logs to avoid getting wet - no wading. Most of the year they will be dry or near dry.
OK, let's get you to the trail head. From I-40 near Ozark, take Hwy 23 North 12 miles to White Rock Mtn Rd (between Turner Bend and Cass). Turn left onto White Rock Mtn Rd (FR1003)(dirt road) and travel 5.5 miles to Ragtown Rd (FR1509). Ragtown Rd splits off in the middle of a road switchback. Travel down Ragtown Rd for .7 miles and look for a small parking area on the right (room for 2-3 cars). This is the spot. After parking walk back up the road (just a few feet) to where the OHT crosses and take the trail in to your left.
The OHT is marked with white rectangular blazes on the trees and you will see lots of them and one particular one will be a key to locating the cache.
Highlights to look for while hiking in:
1. You will soon pass OHT mile marker 26.
2. Views out (particularly during leaf-off). You will be
able to look ahead to your left and see the North Side
Black Mtn where you soon will be.
3. Chipmunk alley (I say 2 chipmunks a few feet apart) and
lots of squirrels all along the way). Maybe you will see
them in November as they are busy gathering their food
for the winter.
4. The 1st creek crossing (currently dry) will have a nice
small waterfall after a heavy rain. It will be easily
visible for a photo from the trail after crossing the
creek.
5. Around mile marker 27, you will encounter a steep
switchback down the hillside (you might be cursing my
name on the hike out). It's not too long though.
6. After finishing the switchback and leveling out you
should see a double white blaze on the tree and also a
white arrow painted on a rock.
7. Once you see these marks, begin looking to your left
for a build-up mound that ends at the edge of the
ravine. This is one end of the old trestle. (the
the other end will be more obvious).
8. Continue on the trail and cross the 2nd creek (should
have some water most of the year). If you are really
adventurous, Train Trestle Falls is just below you on
this creek - a 31 ft. waterfall. I have not been down
there but I have read in a hiking book that some
old concrete pillars of the trestles can be found.
9. Continue around the creek and up on your left will be
a more obvious built up mound for the other end of the
trestle.
10.Continue your hike as you are now on the old railroad
bed. You will soon come a large area where the mountain
had to be cut out for the railroad to pass through.
THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT:
THIS IS YOUR CLUE. I DO NOT WANT YOU TO HIKE THIS FAR AND NOT FIND THE CACHE. PLEASE DON'T DECRYPT THE CLUE BEFORE YOUR HIKE. ONLY DECRYPT (IN THE FIELD) IF YOU CANNOT FIND IT USING THIS INFORMATION:
As you enter this large cutout, 3 things will be key.
1. The coordinates in your GPSr.
2. The entrance to the cutout.
3. White blaze on tree as you enter the cutout.
These 3 are not to triangulate, but they are important that
2 of them (white blaze and cache) are on the left side and they are around 12 ft from each other.
You are looking for an ammo can that will be partially covered by 2 rocks and of course, completely covered by leaves.
I tried to put some good trade items in the cache along with a logbook and pencils. There is also a separate envelope with an information sheet about the railroad. Please take one to read on your hike out.
After finding the cache, please continue walking a few feet into the cutout and notice the landslide on your left. Look around at the hills on both sides and imagine the work this took with the type of equipment available 80 years ago versus today. I bet it was a lot of manual labor.
BE CAREFUL, WEAR YOUR HUNTER ORANGE, AND HAVE FUN!
Thanks & Happy Caching.
NOTE: You might want to do your homework, like check routes and location on topo maps before you head out the door to find this cache. Don't want you to get lost!!!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oynmrq gerr vf gerr #1, lbh jnag gerr #2.