Pickle Traditional Cache
Hidden : 1/2/2007
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

Along the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST). It is one of only 8 national scenic trails in the country, and a real treasure.

The year was 1942. Doolittle and his Raiders were practicing secret bombing runs at Eglin Field. For a low-level bombing run at bomb range C-62, a visual marker was placed at the point at which you need drop your bomb. Inbound to C-62 at 1000 feet above the deck at 470 knots, you better drop your bomb by this point or you will surely over shoot the target.

What was even more secret was that inside this visual marker was a cache of much desired items. Now that the marker has fallen and the secret bombing runs are only a memory for a select few, your job is to recover the cache.

The container is an ammo can. The cache is loaded with all kinds of brand-new goodies. Initial contents include:
  • Flashlight powered by shaking (no batteries required)
  • Hand held fan with lanyard
  • Monster Truck
  • Kaleidoscope that makes you see like a fly
  • Dual-Powered calculator
  • Support our Troops keychain
  • Suction Cup Pen
  • Shark Bottle Opener with Carabiner
To get to this cache, you can take a fun hike along the Florida Trail, or drive to it through the Eglin Range. The cache is located within Management Unit 13B. The roads in this area can be closed when it is not hunting season, or for military mission support. You can call (850)882-0007 (24 hour recording) or (850)882-4165 or 4166 to speak to someone at Jackson Guard about the range availability. The Florida Trail route should be open at all times, unless closed due to mission support. It is right off of RR317. If you drive, you need at least a high-clearance 2WD, 4WD preferred. Although longer, the road from the North is MUCH easier because the drive south from Bob Sikes Road is first paved, then hard-packed clay (nice Alaqua Creek bridge). It is then only a short distance (1 mile) on RR317, which is soft sand. This same approach can be made from the south on RR208 (C-6 Road North from HW20). From the East, RR317 is very soft sand and the ruts are seriously eroded in places. If you hike, here is a map of this section (Alaqua Section) of the Florida Trail, which is maintained by a the local chapter of the FNST, who does a GREAT job of maintaining and expanding the trail. They are currently working on opening a new section of the FNST, east of highway 331, through Nokuse Plantation.

This cache is within the Eglin air force base reservation. A pass is required to be on the reservation. It cost $7 (2006) for October - September and comes with a great map. Pass/permit can be obtained from Eglin AFB Natural Resources Branch (Jackson Guard Office), located at 107 Highway 85 North, Niceville FL 32578. See GCKC1A or coordinates N 30° 31.480 W 086° 29.585.

Office hours are: Monday-Thursday 7:00-4:30pm; Friday 7:00am-6:00pm; Saturday 7:00am-12:30pm; Closed on Sunday and Federal Holidays.

A pass can be obtained by going to Jackson Guard or by mail. (See above address). Mail a copy of your most recent pass to Jackson Guard at above address with any changes in address noted. It takes 1 to 2 weeks to process. If you do not have a pass, mail a copy of your driver’s license with your phone number. Payment by mail must be by check. They will accept it made out to Jackson Guard. Phone # is (850)882-4164. A pass can also be obtained immediately by going to Jackson Guard in person during office hours.


If you know the real story of this landmark, please let me know.

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)
As you learned when you got your Eglin range pass, unexploded ordnance (UXO) can be found anywhere on the range. This is especially true of this area. Be especially vigilant, scan the ground as you walk, and DO NOT TOUCH any UXO (not even with a stick). You could be maimed, and it could cost you your life. Mark the area on the nearest feature (tree) with anything bright colored you have and get coordinates, but do not touch the UXO. Below is a quote from Eglin Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) in a recent log:

"I am EOD at Eglin AFB and we were responding to a reported UXO in the area. We got to the site and started circling then I stumbled across this Geocache. One of our team members had never heard of Geocache so we told him all about it. We logged our visit in the log and left a smoke to commemorate our visit. We never could locate the UXO which is not unusual for this area cause we had already been on the trail for 2 other calls previously which we only found one. I cannot express enough the importance of going through the right channels to get the proper access and briefings for being in this area. It is an active duty test range for military munitions and has been for decades meaning there are lots of unexploded ordnance items out there. If you find anything, DO NOT TOUCH IT!!! Log the coordinates and contact range control so the trained experts can go out there and take care of it. If you have some flagging tape or anything else, mark it....It makes our life much easier to locate any ordnance items found." - JHerman5

Additional Note:
It seems many geocachers have been going on Eglin AFB Property without the required range pass. See this log and this log. PLEASE get a pass if you intend on doing this geocache. It is less than the cost of a movie, and provides many more hours of entertainment. If you don't intend on getting a pass, I respectfully ask that you not find this geocache. It could ruin the geocaching on Eglin AFB property for everyone.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Qb abg tb vafvqr.

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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