GCGGD1 Fort Fisher Basin Trail (Traditional Cache) in North Carolina, United States created by Connie & Joyce

This cache has been archived.

NCreviewer: Cache appears to be gone or unmaintained. If the cache owner decides to replace or repair this, it can easily be unarchived if it still meets the current guidelines. ([URL=http://www.geocaching.com/about/guidelines.aspx]visit link[/URL]).

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GCGGD1 ▼

A cache by Connie & Joyce Message this owner

Hidden : 7/20/2003

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Can be found by kayak or by hiking. Great historic walk and beautiful views.

Basin Trail Cache – N33 57.386 W77 56.057
This is an excellent Geocache that can be found on the Fort Fisher Basin Trail. It is easiest to get to by kayak by leaving from the wild life boat ramp at the south end of the road US 421. However, this cache can also be found by hiking the nature trail called Basin Trail (also known as Hermits Trail).

If going by kayak or boat take US 421south all the way to past the ferry landing until the road ends. There you’ll find a boat ramp and a sandy landing perfect for launching kayaks.

By boat go SE following the coast line on your left about .455 miles. Look for a large wooden viewing platform and beach your boat there. From the rear of the platform you’ll find a good wide trail. Walk back until you reach a hiking trail marker. From there is about another 80 paces. Total distance from the waters edge to the GeoCache is about 613 feet.

These coordinates are right where that cache is. Read the encryption for more details on the cache hiding place.

Once you’ve found this one, you might consider boating over to Zekes Island where someone else’s cache hidden. Also there is one near the boat ramp you started from. Read on to learn about the trial in case you decide to head inland. There is some really great history on this trail.

Going by trail take US 421 South past the Fort Fisher Historic site. Look for a road on your left for the Visitors Center. I recommend stopping at the visitor’s center for a free trail map. The head of the trail is on the south side of the parking lot. I recommend bringing bug spray and drinking water in the summer months. According the to the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area brochure, the trail is about a mile long. Since I placed this GeoCache from the water side I have not measured it from the hiking side yet. However, I have done this trail in the past and it is a good trail. I strongly recommend good tennis shoes or boots vs. sandals.

As you hike toward the coordinates, look for the WWII bunker on the right side of the trail. I mention this only for its historic value. For many years there was once a hermit that lived there and is legendary in the Wilmington/Carolina Beach area.

(From the Hermit Website) “Usually, a "hermit" is seldom known to the outside world. But, in the case of Robert Harrill, he became known to hundreds of thousands of visitors who came to the Carolina Beach and Kure Beach area from 1955 until his "mysterious" death in the summer of 1972.” To read more about him, I recommend going to the hermit historic preservation web site to learn about this legendary man. (visit link)

Continue on beyond the WWII/Hermit bunker until you reach the coordinates given. The cache is hidden within a few feet of the trail.

Read the encryption for more details on the cache hiding place.

Once you’ve found the cache by hiking the trail, it is just a short walk beyond the cache to the viewing platform and the small beach of the Fort Fisher Basin. This is a great place to relax and rest before your trip back. Don’t forget a camera. This is a beautiful spot.

Regarding small children: If you are taking small children, I would go by boat or canoe. It is a short paddle and a short walk. During the summer there is a great little beach for the kids to play. I would not recommend doing this cache from the trail side with real small kids. However, with kids about 7 or older might enjoy this hiking experience. Also, it’s a flat terrain, good for kids.

Original Items in the Cache:
Log Book & Pen
Splash Ball
Several Carabineers
New Cool Hat
A Parachute Toy
A North Carolina Map
Various pens and pencils (please leave one pen for log book)
Sunglass/wallet case
A Sewing Kit
A Triangle Highlighter
A Girl Scout patch
A Utility Knife
A package of Kleenex

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ybbx sbe n irel ynetr plcerff gerr ba gur jrfg fvqr bs gur genvy. Gur pnpur vf uvqqra va gur tenff whfg vafvqr gur rnfg fvqr bs gur plcerff gerr. Ybbx sbe n pyrne cynfgvp cvpxyr wne jvgu n juvgr yvq.

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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