Merrit Mountain and Tom Sawyer Multi-cache

This cache has been archived.

mtn-man: If you can fix or verify this cache it can be easily unarchived. For now I am going to archive it. Feel free to contact me through my profile linked below if you fix it.

NOTE: If you have any questions, do not reply to the archive note email. Click on the link to go to the cache page and click on my name in the archive log at the bottom of the page. You can then send me an email regarding the cache. Please send me a link to the cache in question so I will know which cache it is regarding.

Thanks for your understanding,

mtn-man
Geocaching.com Volunteer Reviewer
My profile page:
http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=bc877f93-1fa3-43a3-9ef2-7b2446d08578

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Hidden : 6/17/2006
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

With the exception at the beginning, the theme for the stages in this cache pertains to moss. So when you look for the containers keep that in mind. The large one at the end is a loc&loc well cammoed and hid. This cache is easier than it looks on paper.

This is a five stage multicache with a micro cache at each leg of the hunt with the cords you need for the next leg and the biggie at the end. The final road that you turn up is somewhat rough, with a few big ruts and dips in it. We can make it up it in low gear with the Durango, but would not try it with a low slung car. It is within walking distance, although it’s somewhat of a hike, so make sure you have water and quite a bit of time. There is room to park at the intersection. There is a lot of history on this Mountain (although looks like a knoll to us, being from Oregon and all). There is supposed to be a chapel somewhere on this mountain called the Tom Sawyer Church. There is varying ideas as to where it was located, but for sake of argument let’s say it was close to the area where the final cache is. One of the roads is named Tom Sawyer and another Chapel, so it stands to reason it was very near. There is a ferry/paddle wheeler on top, now overgrown and falling into disrepair, that we can only surmise was one of the last to ply the river, or it may have been the chapel as they did hold services here not to long ago on Sunday mornings. Interesting final resting place for a ferry/paddle wheeler, at the top of a hill. Also, near the boat is a small one room house that could also have been the chapel, associated with it or may have been the sleeping quarters for the fire patrol for the old fire tower that used to be on the top until just few years ago. They had to remove the abandoned fire tower completely when too many people were still climbing it even though it was closed and unsafe. There is also an amphitheater overlooking the lake where they held concerts, although that is long overgrown and also in major disrepair. And last but not least is the cemetery that is almost if not completely forgotten and abandoned. It has to two names, Carter and Merrit Mountain. There are quite a few burials here with the latest in 1966. There is a grave holding 7 CSA soldiers killed at the Battle of Bettie’s Bayou in 1864, defending Gaines Ferry, and buried by Brad Carter and Gandy Pilcher. Brad Carter is also buried here but Gandy Pilcher is not. Most of the headstones were wood plaques that have long since decayed but there are a few granite stones visible. Two fellows who ran the ferry are here along with several Indian graves as well as a veteran of the War of 1812. John Strickland who died in 1898 fought at the Battle of Pleasant Hill north of Many and has one of the headstones that is still somewhat readable. Michael Crow who owned Crows Ferry before he sold it to James Gaines in 1812 is also buried here. All told there may be around 50 graves. There is no fence around the cemetery so you won’t know where it is until you are almost on top of it in the trees and shrubs. We hope you have as much fun with this cache as we had setting it up. Happy Caching.
This Cacher is a United States Air Force Veteran and also a Proud Member of the MAGC:

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

#1-2 va gur ohfu #2-E. va gur pbeare #3-Y. va gur pbeare #4-urnqrq sbe gur jurry #5-tbggn ybir gubfr ovt byr gerrf naq funqr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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