Winter Warning!
Waypoint #1 and the Ravine Trail are very
hazardous if there is any ice or snow on the ground. I contemplated
putting out a temporary winter-only waypoint #1 that would allow
one to bypass the ravine, but decided against it. The Ravine trail
is a really great hike and it's worth waiting for the spring
thaw.
This cache is inspired by Shakespeare's tragedy Titus
Andronicus. A synopsis of the play as well as the full text
can be found here. There are several film versions but most
notable is a great
modern one with Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange. This is one
of Shakespeare's bloodiest plays with death and body parts strewn
throughout the play. Don't worry, you don't have to read the play
before doing the cache.
"Sweet mercy is
nobility’s true badge.". (Act I, Scene II)
This is a great area that already has a great cache, but this one will bring you deeper
into the area to visit the its main attractions - Pulpit Rock and
the Old Mill.
This is a multi cache with two waypoints and a final. The
waypoints and final are deep in the woods so GPSr reception can be
spotty. I obtained about 15' accuracy for the coordinates. Since
reception may be a challenge, I've provided hints for all of
them.
Waypoint #1
The first waypoint can be found at the coordinates given on the
cache page. You are looking for a small object about 3 inches long
and 2 inches wide. On it is written the west
coordinate of the final. The object is within about
20' of the Ravine (Orange) trail. However, this part of the trail
is difficult and can be hazardous if there is snow or ice on the
ground. If you have children with you, I would leave them on the
Kennard (White) trail while you find this waypoint, then take the
much easier Tufts (White) trail down to the second waypoint.
Please re-hide as you found it.
This waypoint has proven difficult to find, so I've posted a
spoiler photo that should help things out. Warning, don't look
here unless you want a spoiler.
Waypoint #2
The second waypoint can be found at N 42 56.737 W 71 36.078. You
are looking for an object about 12" long and 3" wide. On it is
written the north coordinate of the final. If you
have children with you, leave them by the bridge while you look for
the cache. The object is within 30' of the trail. Please
re-hide so that the entire object is hidden.
The Final
There is only one trail from the second waypoint to the final
and it is fairly easy. There is about a 200' light bushwhack to the
final. You can easily bring kids to the final. The cache is a
large, camouflaged Lock & Lock container filled with goodies.
If you've done this cache, you'll know what you're looking
for.
The Trails
You start out from the parking lot on the Kennard trail. The map
says this is blazed orange, but it is actually blazed white. This
trail is fairly easy, but it has lots of roots and rocks on it that
can make for very slippery going when wet. Follow this trail down
to the pulpit.
Just past the pulpit, you should follow the Ravine (blazed
orange) off to your left to the first waypoint. After finding the
first waypoint, the most direct and by far most
interesting way to the second waypoint is to continue down
the Ravine trail. However, this is a challenging
trail. For an easier route to WP#2, return to the white trail which
is now called the Tufts trail and follow that to the second
waypoint.
On my latest maintenance run, I took the Ravine trail to WP#2
and returned by way of the Tufts trail. The entire hike was 2.56
miles and I did it in a little under 90 minutes (including
maintenance).
Please Note
- This is a Bedford park - it is closed dusk to dawn. No night
caching please.
- This cache is marked as not suitable for children because the
waypoints are not child-friendly. If you do bring children, you
should keep them on the main trails while you search for the
waypoints. My 9 and 7 year olds came along while I was setting up
the cache, but they stayed on the trails while I set the
waypoints.
- Depending on which trails you take, the hike can be 2 - 3
miles.
- Please replace the waypoints and final exactly as you found
them.