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You Oughta See the Water - Dolgarrog Dam Disaster Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Professor Xavier: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it. Please note that as this cache has now been archived by a reviewer or HQ staff it will NOT be unarchived.

Regards

Ed
Professor Xavier - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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Hidden : 8/12/2007
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
3.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This is the lowest level (altitude wise) cache in this series but is still a steep walk. Please exercise extreme care. I've only placed a cache here, you don't have to get it if you don't feel safe. If river is in spate, proceed only if you feel capable of doing so as your own decision. Follows the edge of a steep gorge, keep an eye on geo-kids, geo-K9s and geo-the-other-half.

As part of the 'You oughta see the water' series of caches you will visit lakes and water features that are all interconnected and together, drain over 60 square kilometres of land to provide water for consumption and water for production of electricity!


Locating the cache!

Lots of different ways to get to this cache location. The most fun way (I went up this way) was from the 3Ds cache, and then followed the right of way, generally keeping the wall to my right towards the cache location. It is a right of way, but is hardly used so no path on the ground to follow.

Alternatively, you can park on the main road and follow the paths up on the right hand side of the gorge. The cache is quite accessible from that location.

The cache is located on the public right of way, and whilst I want to make you look at the view down the gorge, it is not, as far as I am concerned, in a dangerous (as compared to adventurous) location. You decide. The final cache location does have an exposure element about it, if you don't do vertigo-inducing locations, bring a friend!

On the way up you should see some rather lovely waterfalls, which you'll seen be at the top of, looking down the steep gorge. Don't forget your camera!


A bit of history

Near here you will see the memorial for the inhabitants of Dolgarrog who tragically lost their lives when the dam wall of Llyn Eigiau was breached by water pressure caused by the unusually high rainfall on November 2nd, 1925. (Some people also blame the shoddy building process and foundations on the Eigiau Dam itself. The wall of water rushed down the valley and the Coedty Reservoir was unable to hold back the water and the water tumbled down into the village. 16 people lost their lives. It is believed that more people may have died, but fortunately the village cinema was playing a film that night and most of the village were watching the film. On the walk to the cache you will see boulders shifted by the flood waters and more info boards which flesh out the bones of information I have provided here. This was the last dam related disaster within Britain and forced Parliament to pass updated legislation in 1930 (subsequently updated again in 1975).

Also trying visiting Team Marzipan's 'The 3 D's' cache - GC14T63, in a fab location and you can see the pipes up close that come down from Llyn Coedty.

Parking is available on the main road at N53 11.536 W3 50.628.


The caches in the entire series are below.

You Oughta See the Water - Ffynnon Llugwy

You Oughta See the Water - Dolgarrog Dam Disaster

You Oughta See the Water - Cowlyd - Rear View

You Oughta See the Water - Cowlyd - Front View

You Oughta See the Water - Coedty Reservoir

You Oughta See the Water - Llyn Melyn

You Oughta See the Water - Llyn Eigiau

You Oughta See the Water - Dulyn

You Oughta See the Water - Ffynnon Llyfant

***Congratulations to JusTheJob for being FTF on 18/8/2007.***

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ba vfynaq, va zvqqyr bs evire. Fhfcraqrq.....

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)