NOTE THE PUBLISHED COORDS ARE USED AS PARKING COORDS
This is both a geocache and a letterbox. To introduce geocachers to Letterboxing, the cache is set up like a letterbox. The co-ordinates are only for Part 1 where you can park and enter Middle Run at end of Delaplane Ave. east of Newark
To do this like a letterbox you absolutely will need to bring a compass which is essential to letterboxing. Instead of following your GPS arrow you will have to follow the written instructions that will require using a compass and sometimes counting your steps.
Because this is a hybrid cache, part of the cache container is set up as a letter box. In the letterbox will be a rubber stamp (sometimes specially hand carved) that represents that letterbox and a log book. Anyone finding the letterbox will use the letterbox stamp to stamp their personnal log book used to collect all the different letterbox stamps and than add their personal stamp into the letterbox log to show their find.
If you are a geocacher, please do not mess with the letterbox log—there is a log for geocachers that you can stamp if your want.
This hybrid cache/letterbox will also be posted on Letterboxing.org and I want to see how many letterboxers come.
Now on to the cache, about a 0.4 mile walk:
To be a geocache, it has to have co-ordinates to the final stage which are:
39 deg 42.490 75 deg 43.071
You can do it that way, or for more fun, try it as a letterbox. Do NOT drive to end of Laurel Road thinking you can get much closer--toward end (as goes to Water Tank) its gated and marked no tresspassing. You must access Middle Run from Delaplain Ave.
1. First go west on the Delaplane Manor Spur trail (goes between two house, may be hard to spot, then goes north and downhill.
2. Cross a tiny foot bridge
3. Leave the trail and go east about 20 steps to find a new trail
4. Follow the new trail mostly east where you see a fancy back yard off to your right
5. Continue to slowly climb the hill as the trail swings NNW, then west where it crosses an old very steep trail
6. Soon you will be high above the stream valley that will be off to your left. The trail now goes mostly north and passes a small rock cairn on the right and crosses another trail
7. Soon you will start to head east on the trail.
8. Directly ahead will be something very big and dark green.
9. Just when the trail curves sharply left and has a large bench cut section up ahead, leave the trail and head at 90 degrees,
10. Go about 12 steps toward the right side of dark green object.
11. Look in the bottom hollow section of three-trunk tree. If you run into a fence you have gone way too far.
If this has sparked your interest in letterboxing, check it out at Letterboxing You might want to see what this cache looks like as a letterbox.