Cove Mountain Twenty-Dollar Cache Traditional Geocache

This cache has been archived.

OReviewer: This cache has been disabled for an excessive amount of time with no updates from the owner. As such, I'm archiving it to keep it from continually showing up in search lists, and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements. If you wish to repair/replace the cache sometime in the future, just contact us, and assuming it meets the guidelines, we'll be happy to unarchive it.

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Hidden : 12/28/2003
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
4 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This cache lies waiting for you on Cove Mountain, less than a mile (maybe a lot less!) off the U-shaped ridgetop formed by Cove Mountain and the Susquehanna River. This area lies just southwest of Duncannon, PA.

One of the shorter approaches to this cache (a bit under three miles one way) is from the Duncannon side and uses the Appalachian Trail, passing the wonderful overlook and pines at Hawk Rock on the way in. (Approximate coordinates for the parking lot here are N40 22.977, W077 01.969. Follow the trail up to intersect with the white-blazed AT.)

A longer, also-scenic approach (a bit over five miles one way to the cache) is from either of two parking lots two valleys(!)south from the cache, along State Route 850, near the village of Keystone (about 7 miles west of Marysville, PA). You can depart from either the Appalachian Trail parking lot right along 850 (look for the wooden Appalachian Trail crossing sign about 1-1/2 miles west of Keystone) or from the State Game Lands 170A parking lot up Cove Road (about 1/3 mile west of Keystone)(see "Cove's End" and "Cove's Measure" caches for more info). The latter allows you to hit those caches but does require some minor ridge-top bushwacking to hook up with the AT along the top of the ridge.

We did it in two groups, one pair of fearless geo-adventurers leaving from the Route 850 end about 0930 and the other pair (the churchgoers) leaving from the Hawk Rock end at 1200. We met at the AT shelter (at N40 21.820, W077 04.038) at 1400 and later took the shorter route back to Hawk Rock and the parking lot, arriving by 1630,then shuttling back to pick up the other vehicle.

The Cove Mountain Twenty-Dollar Cache is named for ... Cove Mountain!.... and the fact that the logbook of a members-only cache in St Anthony's Wilderness until recently contained a (real) twenty dollar bill along with a challenge to the finder to use the money to finance a new cache rated at 3/3 or higher. This is the cache paid for with that cash!

The cache container is an ammo box which is partially in view from just the right angle.

We averaged several readings using an Etrex Legend and a GPS V but we only had about 45-foot accuracy at the time so the coordinates are probably not right on.

PLEASE NOTE: the Appalachian Trail in the Hawk Rock area is steep and narrow -- steep enough to require stone steps--- and can be covered by leaves, ice, or snow and should not be attempted in icy, snowy, or rainy weather. There are also several lookout points/dropoffs in this area which should only be approached by adults or those under close adult supervision.

ALSO—Don’t miss a visit to the shelter. If you are not familiar with it, try this link for a great picture and some background:
(visit link)

A nice map of the area is the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Map 1 (Susquehanna River to PA Route 94) available at many hiking specialty shops.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Spoiler! Decode only onsite and in desperation!] Abegu fvqr bs evqtr, haqre n ynetr ebpx bireunat.. ohg ABG gur bireunat lbh frr gb lbhe evtug (gur bar jvgu gur gerr fgvpxvat bhg bs vg) nf lbh fgnaq ba gur bireybbx arnerfg gur NG/oyhr-oynmr-genvy vagrefrpgvba (pbashfvat, ru?)

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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