Camping Near the Dead Cache Mystery Cache
Keystone: As the owner has not responded to my prior note, I am archiving this cache page.
Regards,
Keystone
Geocaching.com Community Volunteer Reviewer
Camping Near the Dead Cache
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Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
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This three-part cache starts on a rather isolated stretch of the
Youghiogheny River Trail (a biking and hiking trail on an old
railroad grade). At the most isolated spot, a new camping area is
established next to the old Dravo Cemetery. Two of the tombstones
are engraved with the information necessary to find the second part
of this cache. All but about 100’ of the total trip will take place
on the Youghiogheny River Trail.
READ THE IMPORTANT
UPDATE BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS CACHE
From the Buena Vista Access parking lot the Dravo Cemetery is about
1.7 miles along a well-groomed, all-weather trail. From the Boston
Access Area parking lot, the Dravo Cemetery is about 5.8 miles. I
suggest the Buena Vista Access parking lot for hikers.
The Dravo Cemetery is located adjacent to the site of the Dravo
Methodist Church, which was erected in 1824 and was destroyed by
fire in 1920. A large marker is at the church site and the cache
coordinates should bring you to this marker. A soldier from the War
of 1812 and nine soldiers from the Civil War (1861-1865) are
interred here. There is one tombstone that is clearly the tallest.
Near it is a tombstone made partly of red granite. You will find
the following engraved on them:
William B Dravo
Born
Jan 8, 1801
Died
May 1F, 18AG
Deborah Blackburn
wife of William Dravo
Born Sept 26, 1802
Died May 25, 18B5
Eliza Jane
Wife of Riely Rupert
Born Dec 24, 18D0
Died May E0, 188C
You will notice that some of the digits in the inscription have
been replaced by letters in the above text. Match up the letters to
the digits you find on the gravestone to replace the letters in the
following coordinates:
N 40 1A.BCD W 079 4B.GEF
This will take you to the second stage where the coordinate
minutes (including three digit fractions) that you need to find the
final ammo box (stage three) can be found. This needed information
is marked on the bottom of the second stage container, which could
hold about half a gallon.
The trail is well groomed and the cemetery is well maintained.
The difficulty rating reflects mostly the distance. Drop a
difficulty star if you bike the cache.
A word of warning if you are checking your maps, there is a road
that leads to the Dravo Cemetery. But it is NOT public access. In
fact public access ends far from the site at a nasty gate with lots
of legal postings, all within easy sight of two policemen’s homes.
Furthermore, much of the area between the gate and the cache is an
old toxic waste dumpsite - very hazardous terrain indeed. Please,
for your safety and to obey the law, stick to the Youghiogheny
River Trail and the established trail accesses. You will not need
to ever leave sight of the trail to complete any stage of this
cache.
One final note: the Dravo Cemetery camping is open to the public
with no fee and includes a table, shelter, water pump, and vault
toilets. There is no usage fee. Groups under 10 do not even need a
free camping permit. If you are looking for a nice place to camp,
consider this site.
THE IMPORTANT UPDATE:
The original site of the final stage of this cache was nearly
buried by a landslide in the spring of 2004. Now the record rains
of September have set off another landslide to finish the job.
As such, I’ve added an offset to the final cache (and half a star
to the difficulty) to move the cache to a new location. The offset
is: 65 degrees (true) for 498’ from the original final site.
To Repeat: THE
FINAL STAGE HAS AN ADDED OFFSET.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Small Hint Part Two:] NOBHG N SBBGONYY SVRYQ SEBZ GUR ZVYR ZNEXRE.
[Big Hint Part Two:] ABG SVAQVAT GUVF VF SBE GUR OVEQF.
[Small Hint Part Three:] ORGJRRA GUR GENVY NAQ GUR PYVSS SNPR.
[Big Hint:] YBBX HAQRE GUR GBC BS GUR OVTTRFG EBPX IVFVOYR.