Everybody Must Get Stones...
Updated May 9th, 2023: Time for an update of this 15 year old cache that draws but three visitors a year (amzing how popular 9 stage, d/t 3/4 caches are, isn't it? The hike is still the same though the dirt bikes have been at it. Lots of trees have fallen in a decade and a half, some stages got hit. I've retired the original logbook and made an upgrade. Relax and stare at the pond awhile before heading back to your car...
The cache is located on Plymouth Town Land adjacent to Bloody Pond. There is parking for two cars and two more at the alternate spot, which might be your choice if you are not an adventurous driver. The turn into the entrance, opposite 875 Long Pond Road, is best made from the north as a left turn with a clear view of traffic. Start left then favor right side as you go downhill. Low clearance cars use caution. You might also choose to park across the street and walk downhill instead.
The trail to this cache is about a two mile walk through the Plymouth woods on a variety of trails, dirt roads, woods roads, atv trails, paths and deer trails with some actual bushwhacking thrown in. You must find a series of six stones hidden in plain sight and close to the trail, then bushwhack down to pond level for the final three. The cache is not in plain sight but GZ should be obvious. Please rehide as found. It's a grape fruit sized cylindrical container with a few small trade items, a hand made logbook and pencil stub. Like most multis, you must navigate from waypoint to waypoint to reach the cache: The challenge here is to find them under the dense tree cover which isn't kind to the GPS signal. Widen your search area, stay calm and just look around and the stages will appear. I've provided pictures of them to help you out. (They are not in order, cuz where's the fun in that ;-) ?
Stay on the main path until you are close to the stages. Follow the ATV trail as it curves away from Hole in the Fence (even though the GPS suggests going straight ahead.) and bends back after a bit. Please replace the stones carefully in the same position and facing the same way as you found them. The section between stages 6 and 8 requires some downhill bushwhacking and will bring you to the edge of the pond. From 6, head due West downhill keeping an eye out for a faint deer trail that heads due South. Use your compass until you pick up the trail and follow to stage 7. From there it's a short section due West, downhill to the water's edge and then on to stage 8. The final isn't much further and your route will depend on the water level and whether you like to wade or not. Use your cache sense and you'll find it. Hang out and enjoy the pond for a while before hiking the half mile back out to your car. As you walk, sing along…
Well, they'll stone ya when you're walkin' 'long the trail
They'll stone ya whether you succeed or fail
They'll stone ya when you're walkin' on the dirt
They'll stone ya when your feet begin to hurt
But I would not feel so all alone,
Everybody must get stones.
Exercise caution when you leave as you will be hidden from traffic coming downhill from the left on Long Pond Road, and they will not be expecting you. Dress appropriately for a t4 woods hike: perhaps bring some water, tick repellent, a compass and a sense of humor. Have fun!
edexter