Do not attempt this cache if you have a fear of walking near,
looking at or walking through poison ivy…seriously…
So on one of our many trips to Bond Lake Park over the years, we
discovered this nice little loop trail near Thaler lake. We thought
it would be pretty cool to hide a cache here, but never got around
to it until now. As we started to explore the loop again, we were
horrified by the ENORMUS amount of poison ivy that was growing on
this trail. It was everywhere, seemingly on every tree and all over
the ground on either side of the trail. At some points, it looked
like we were hiking through a poison ivy forest. We’d never
seen this much poison ivy in one area before. After much debate, we
decided to hide a cache just off of the loop trail. Consider this
your poison ivy education.
This stuff has to be a cacher’s #1 nemesis. Luckily, I
have never suffered any ill effects from poison ivy, but my other
half gets at least 3-4 cases a year through our caching adventures.
Poison ivy grows all over North America and seems to have taken
over much of the Niagara Escarpment and this part of Bond Lake
Park. For more info on the appearance, characteristics and effects
that poison ivy has on the human body, check out this link:
(visit link)
Study the pictures that we’ve posted in order to know what
you need to avoid on this cache as well as future caching journeys.
It is STRONGLY recommended that you wear long pants and boots while
going after this cache. It probably a good idea to wear Ivy Block
on exposed skin. Don’t go after this cache while wearing
flip-slops or sandals; it’s just a bad idea. If you take the
proper precautions, you should be safe from the wrath of the
dreadful plant. You will have to bushwhack about 50 feet off the
trail in order to find the cache. You will have to step over poison
ivy on your way to the cache. If you bring children with you, which
probably isn’t the best idea, keep them on the trail while
you go after the cache. The cache is a camo’d decon
container. It contains a logbook, pencil and pencil sharpener.
There is room for small trade items in this cache.
It is important to note that this park shares a border with the
Niagara County Sportsman Association. You may hear gunshots in the
distance while going after this cache or any caches in Bond Lake
Park. Don’t worry because you aren’t in any danger.
Good luck and happy caching.
