You'll Find More Than Coal Traditional Cache
You'll Find More Than Coal
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This cache is in Thornburg on a little used trail in the woods. The trail goes down into a valley across a creek back up a hill and into an old quarry where the cache is hidden.
This is a nice hike through the woods. Parking is very close to the trailhead. You have to come up Hamilton Road past the school to the dead end. Just before the dead end there is a semi circle gravel parking lot.The trail is a few feet from the parking lot. It would be smart to get a good singnal on your gps before going into the woods. The trail takes you down a hill to the creek. Both of the the hills have some steep parts, but they mostly zig-zag. The trail goes along the creek and you cross two foot bridges. Once you cross the second bridge you are where the creek splits and then comes back together, so you are on an island. There doesn't seem to be a trail there but there is. On your left you will see a bit of path on the side of the creek - that's where you shoud go. That path turns quickly and you start to climb the 2nd hill to the quarry. (You may want to look at the picture.)
A hundred years ago this area used to be a coal mine. It stopped in the 1950's. The mines that used to be in Thornburg were all dug by pick and shovel. You can see some old rail road ties and stone pillars still there.
Dogs love it here. They can run around freely. I always take my two dogs down here. The cache is an ammo box with lots of treats such as $1 for FTF. Please rehide the cache as you found it and cover your tracks if you have made any. There is poison ivy there. Is this a good cache for young kids? It could go either way. The older kids could do it. The little kids I don't know, but I think they might get tired hiking up and down the hills. The trail goes past the quarry, so if you want to keep going that way you can or you can turn around. THE TRAIL DOES NOT GO IN A LOOP. It is posible to do this cache in under an hour,(like 45 or 50 minutes) but that's if you go quickly. It really is great hike. I hope you enjoy the cache and the hike!
9/30/07 I went to see how the cache was doing today. I'm adding a clue because some people pointed out the gps is very bouncey. I'm also adding a waypoint for where you start up the second hill because I think thats where some people are getting off track.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Orgjrra n ebpx naq n fbsg cynpr