Hockanum Hill Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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: This cache was released for “The Great Northern Tier Geocaching Tournament 2006 – North Quabbin Event it is now available for any Geocachers who wishes to visit the cache after the event.
Hockanum Hill Trail (Warwick)
The town of Warwick Open Space Committee has worked with the Mount Grace Trust and the state conserve the surrounding forest for its wildlife and recreation value creating an important link between large blocks of previously conserved land.
The Hockanum Ridge, which runs south toward the Millers River, provides an example of the way that the slope and aspect (direction) of the land affect the tree species there. From the lookout and to the (on the north facing slope) you will find increasing stands of hemlock which thrive in the cool, moist and rocky slopes below. This as also excellent habitat for porcupines which create winter dens among the rocks and feed on foliage and tree bark on the upper branches.
Along the flat top of the ridge behind you and to the right (South) you will find more oak which thrives in the warmer and dryer conditions there. The round paper-like object in the cache area is commonly found under these oak trees. This oak gall forms when the oak gall wasp inoculates a young leaf with an egg. The leaf responds by growing this “gall” in which the single wasp grows and eventually emerges from a tiny hole.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)