In 1912, The Hydro-Electric Company of West Virginia, formerly
known as the West Virginia Development Company, began construction
of a great dam on the Cheat River in Monongalia County. Prior to
this time, the same company had already done considerable core test
drilling on the Cheat River in Preston County to determine a
suitable foundation for a similar dam one mile above Beaverhole,
just below the mouth of Bee Run. Also contemplated were two dams on
Big Sandy Creek. Owing to financial difficulties in 1913, this
company was compelled to suspend construction of the Lake Lynn Dam
as well as any projected work in Preston County.
An application was filed on April 8, 1964 by West Penn Power
Company for a license under the Federal Power Act for constructed
Project No. 2459, known as Lake Lynn Hydro Development, located on
the Cheat River. According to the application construction, halted
in 1913, resumed in 1925 and was completed on May 31, 1926 when the
first generating unit was placed in operation.
The Department of the Interior, in reporting on the application,
had advised that while the project reservoir is open for free
recreational use, access facilities were either inadequate or would
become so in the near future. In 1964 developed recreation
facilities included privately operated boat docks. Mont Chateau
State Park (now home to the WVGES) and Coopers Rock State Park
adjoined the reservoir and provided opportunities for swimming,
boating, fishing, hiking and ice skating. Although West Penn had no
plans for further development of recreation facilities, it was
required to cooperate with "State and local agencies in the
development and maintenance of recreational facilities for optimum
recreation utilization by the public of project lands and waters".
Through these requirements, present day Cheat Lake was born.
The cache is located in the Coopers Rock State
Forest near the lake tailwaters. There are only two safe ways
to access this cache. Hike from Beaverhole or by boat.
Do not attempt to approach this cache from the
main recreation area or any trails therein. Even though this cache
will appear near other caches in this area, no safe access exists
from the top of the mountain. The cache is located 1100 feet lower
at the floor of the Cheat Gorge. The canyon walls are very steep
and treacherous. It is dangerous and potentially life threatening
to try to approach from this direction. If hiking, ONLY attempt
this cache from the Beaverhole location.
At first I really didn't want to make you come back to
Beaverhole, but after discussing this hide with park officials it
was agreed that this was the best way to attack the cache because
of safety issues and possible conflicts with the park's regulations
and operating hours. The safety issues are mentioned above. The
concerns with the regulations and hours of operation were mainly
that seekers might start too late and not make it back before the
park closed and the gates are locked at dark. This could then lead
to camping (sleeping in your vehicle counts) in an unapproved area
until the gates reopened in the morning.
If you're coming by boat, you got it made. LOL
WATER HAZARD WARNING You will need to cross Scott Run at
Beaverhole in order to follow the old railroad bed through lands
acquired by the WVDNR from The Conservation Fund in January, 2004
until you enter the Forest. This route is 2.2 miles from the Scott
Run crossing but you have to get there first. Directions to
Beaverhole can be found on the
Beaverhole Cache page.
A description on the route of travel after Scott Run is as
follows. The first 0.2 mile is on the old RR grade. The next 0.3
mile is a bushwhack because landslides and flooding have eradicated
the RR. At the powerline crossing you'll find the RR again and
follow it about 1.2 miles until it fades out again. The last 0.5
mile trek is made by folowing old obscure tram roads and game
trails.
The cache is a 30 cal ammo box.