Updated May 8, 2014
May 9, is the 5 year anniversary of this cache. It is also the day after the 5 year anniversary of the 'Inland Hurricane'. I am changing the name for the month of may to honor the 5th anniversary of this cache.
The monster sightings are within the first two years of the cache, so you need to go back to the earlier logs to see them. The area has calmed down on that activity, but keep looking, cause there are ocasional activity once in a while. I think the last logged activity is back in 2012
I placed this cache here because it is a good spot to explore, as well as provide a nice hiking trail side trip. I have not yet done this part of the trail, but from what I have seen, it is about 2 miles to the main lake trail, with lots of rock formations, as well as shelter caves.
Directions: What really drew me here to bring a cache is the road up to the site. From murphysboro, take State route 149, all the way to the end where it 'T's off onto Route 3 (about 8 miles).
Take route 3 north (toward Chester) for about 1 and half mile, then turn right onto Buttermilk Hill Rd. This road is a very very steep hill. You will also go past a new Winery, that many like to stop off at.
Follow that for about 3/4 mile then make another right onto Taylor Rd, This road gets very narrow and rutty, but keep folowing it until it comes to a newly made dead end. The road continues on but is private, but the cut off point is easy to spot.
On the way back down, you are treated to a dynamic view of the Mississippi River Valley, if you are not frightened out of your wits...
Real Strange Monster Advisory:
Please Use Caution!!!
June 1973: Murphysboro, IL is terrorized by a mysterious ape-like monster, that was witnessed by many people. This monter appeared at the boat ramp of the Big Muddy River in Murphysboro. First seen by a couple dating, and then many other reports followed.
Reports go back to the 1950’s, but they reached their climax in 1973. It was white with leaves matted with mud, stood 8 foot tall, and had a red-pinkish glow in the eyes. It sounded like a eagle screeching into a microphone, tore limbs off of trees as it ran away, and had a foul stench with it. Then as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. There have been no other reports since then.
May 8, 2009: A monstrous ‘Super-Derecho’ Slams the Southern Illinois area; Winds of 110 mph destroy everything in it’s path. Everyone in the southern IL area called it the ‘Inland Huricane’, after seeing the Dopplar Radar of what looked like a Hurricane that moved across the Midwest. You can see the article at Wikipedia at
Super Derecho Wikipedia
The Buttermilk Hill Trailhead also suffered severe devastation, with trees snapped everywhere, that you could not walk anywhere without climbing over limbs or walking through fallen trees. That was the scene we seen when first placing the cache the next day on May 9, 2009.
This ‘Super-Storm’, may have woken up the activity of the beast, that seems like it has taken refuge in the area. I had wanted to place a Geocache at Buttermilk hill for the longest time, and so we finally set a date. It was pure coincidence that this Derecho hit the day before we went up there, and we seen, firsthand, the devestation within the Shawnee National Forest. Trees snapped, tossed down and overlapped like pick-up Sticks was what we saw.
While looking for a spot to place this, I kept seeing shadows, and smelling pungent odors. I thought nothing of it until I read the 'First to Find' report, then other geocachers reports followed.
They have now burned away all the devastation, and that activity seems to be calming down, but there are still occasional events that show up in the cache logs, that cachers seem to witness on their own.
So please be careful, and leave this one Only for the strong and brave of heart. If you are out there, be on your guard, and if you happen to see, hear, or smell anything, please let us know when you log this cache.
This has been a 'Real 5trange Monster AdVisory' (GC-R.5.M.A.)