Along the Goffle Multi-cache
ramapo: Sadly the time has come to archive this one. It is a relative old timer and was by far my favorite, and most problematic, hide. Just to prove it, I went to pick up Stage 1 this morning and it was missing, despite (or because) of the bridge being fenced off). With all the ongoing work, the park will be a mess for some time to come and hopefully the result will be worth it. Goffle Brook holds lots of memories for me so I look forward to walking along it again later this year.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is a multi-stage cache that will take you to five very different areas of Hawthorne’s Goffle Brook Park. The walk from start to finish is an easy one and a bit more than two miles roundtrip. Each stage is about a ten minute walk from the next. While the park is best experienced on foot, the cache can be found through a series of park ‘n grabs.
The first three stages are micros with coordinates for the next stage. Stealth may be required at times. Stage 3 provides instructions for completing the hunt. Reception is poor at Stage 3 so you may need to consult the clue. Stage 4 provides the data to solve a puzzle and get the coordinates for the final stage.
The final stage has been moved to a new location as of 6/28/11. Coordinates might be soft as I got different solutions over three days depending upon the day/time I was there. Dense tree cover confuses our GPS.
Please rehide carefully as each stage has disappeared more than once.
One of these stages will provide you with a bonus, although you won't be able to take it home with you. Please do not disclose it in your log. The cache cannot be found without finding the bonus so nobody will miss out. The final stage is now a small container. There's not much room for more than a small TB or two with the log.
If you don’t want to walk the whole route or need to break up the hunt, parking is available near each stage. There is no parking allowed along the main road (Goffle) which parallels the park. You can park at N40 57.832 W074 09.543 to start out.
Goffle Brook Park is a long but narrow county park running through Hawthorne. I grew up not far from the park and spent countless hours there. Although not especially beautiful, the park has some interesting spots as well as a few pretty nice areas. I thought my hometown should finally have a cache of its own and laying this out was a reunion of sorts for me.
Although the trip may be a bit long for little ones, there are three playgrounds in the park, each near a geostage, plus rolling hills which are great for rolling down or sledding.
There is also Van Winkle pond, which is stocked with fish, and the brook. Unfortunately the area around the pond is poorly landscaped and not very inviting. Years ago it was in much better shape but multiple dredging operations of the pond have taken a toll. The brook is usually a tranquil stream but it can turn into a raging torrent after a spell of heavy rain.
Much of the area that is today parkland was once used for farmland and gristmills. The park was laid out in the 1920s with design work done by Frederick Olmstead’s firm, which is the same firm that built Central Park.
There are some interesting historical sites along the route. Among them is the house where Judge John Van Winkle and his wife were brutally hacked to death, leading to the first execution in Passaic County. It is said the house is haunted. I would not be surprised as it has had many owners, some whom have fixed it up, but today the house looks empty and in disrepair. You'll also pass near the home of John W. Rea, the founder of the Christy’s Minstrels.
Major General Lafayette is said to have spent considerable time in the area during 1780. A southern portion of the park was once intended for bridal paths. Today that section is a compact yet dense forest that provides a haven for birds and has a number of short trails to explore.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Stage 1] Haqre fcna, vafvqr ornz, qbjafgernz raq, 2aq sebz jrfg raq
[Stage 2] Zntargvp, haqre gnoyr pybfrfg gb fgernz onax.
[Stage 3] Obggbz bs gur irr, abg sne sebz Tbssyr Oebbx
[Stage 4] Ba lbhe xarrf gb svaq guvf bar
[Stage 5] Va ovt gerr, 10-15 sg bss Yyrjryyla Ynar