Dad's Christmas Cache Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Located in Green Ridge State Forest; you can turn off MD Route 51 and take Packhorse Road for about 2.5 miles to Green Ridge Road. From there you are on your own.
The hike from the parking area is not difficult, but is not a "1". Do not go looking over any steep cliffs' edges.
This cache is my first and is indirectly named in honor of my son, GCalum, his daughter, GeoMay01, and the rest of his family who got me started in Geocaching and provided the container for this cache as a Christmas gift in 2006. I had to actually locate where my gift cache box was located by using the GPS coordinates they provided to me at their home. When I went out into their backyard to search for it, I asked my five year old granddaughter (GeoMay01) who accompanied me and toted the GPS if she knew where it was. She replied, “No, but I know what it looks like.” She soon zeroed in on it under some winterized perennials.
I have chosen to place this, my first cache, in the type of location that I like to search for them myself. It is a camouflaged ammo box in a scenic spot in Allegany County, MD that is a bit off the beaten path and provides a nice scenic westward view. My goal in placing it where I have is to get cachers out to enjoy the great outdoors. As is typically the case with such excursions, the same spot is never alike if visited on two consecutive days. I’ve enjoyed many trips to this spot over the years. It is located in Green Ridge State Forest and has been approved by Francis “Champ” Zumbrun, Forest Manager, who encourages folks to come to Green Ridge and enjoy one of Allegany County’s gems. He has written numerous interesting historical accounts about Allegany County, MD including Green Ridge State Forest. For example, see the following link:
(visit link)
Mr. Zumbrun also made major contributions to a relatively exhaustive account for those interested in much more detailed history in The Land of the Living: The Story of Maryland’s Green Ridge Forest by John Mash, 1996, which is available at the forest office.
Green Ridge is an excellent area for hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, camping, and hunting in season. Be sure to use caution and wear blaze orange when in the forest during hunting season. The following sites give excellent information and maps for activities in the area:
(visit link)
(visit link)
The cache is located near an area known as the Log Roll in the Green Ridge State Forest. “This is a very steep cliff with a drop of 580 feet from the top of Green Ridge near Kirk Road to Town Creek. This was a convenient area to take logs from the nearby mountain, tumble them over the cliff, and have the creek take them to the [saw] mill. As the crow flies, the Log Roll is only 1 1/3 miles from the mill, but the creek in its meandering traveled over 9 miles to reach the same spot.” (From John Mash, 1996) The saw mill was operated by a Mr. Mertens, who also operated an orchard in the present day forest in the vicinity of the Old Orchard Pond, and boats on the C&O Canal. A road in Green Ridge Forest is named for him. THERE IS NO NEED TO GET NEAR THE EDGE OF ANY CLIFF IN ORDER TO FIND THE CACHE. Be safe, and enjoy the view. You can park at N39º34.514, W078º30.769 and use the coordinates at the top of this page to hike to the cache.
Because I am a biologist and outdoor enthusiast, the cache will initially be stocked with: seven field guides, placed in keeping with my occupation; a sketch book, colored drawing pencils, two TBs, and some other items more child-friendly for younger cachers. There are also some trash bags for you to CITO if you see the need, and of course a log book and pen. When trading, try to keep items in the spirit of enjoying the great outdoors if you have such with you. During and after your hunt, take some time to hike or bike in Green Ridge (you will find two hiking trails quite near the parking coordinates), or just sit and contemplate the view at this site. (Some of you may even find this is a place to hunt wild game if you are included among those who do so.) You may find yourself coming back in the future to just sit and enjoy as I do.
Congratulations, FTF on 10/11/07 by n3ljs
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