Sauratown Trail - Grassy Creek
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache was originally created by Snoopinaround, and it was adopted by S.T.A. on May 4, 2015.
Snoopinaround's original description is below:
The Sauratown Trail is an official section of the NC Mountains to the Sea Trail that connects Pilot Mountain State Park on the west side and Hanging Rock State Park on the east side. The trail is approximately 21.7 miles long plus additional loops bringing trail total length to 34.9 miles. The ST was built, and is maintained, by the volunteer efforts of the Sauratown Trails Association (STA), an equestrian group. They also maintain: three loop trails which branch off of the ST, a trail center, and three parking areas spaced at intervals along the trail. The two parking areas that anchor each end of the ST are maintained by the N.C. Park service. The ST is connected to dozens of miles of park trails at each end. One can now hike from the Dan River to the Yadkin River, a distance of nearly forty miles.
The Sauratown Trail is open most of the year to all horseback riders and hikers. For your safety, THE TRAILS ARE CLOSED DURING DEER HUNTING SEASON (mid November to mid December) and AFTER A HARD RAIN when the trails are muddy.
NO DOGS OR PETS ON THE TRAIL EXCEPT HORSES!!
STREAM CROSSING DIFFICULTY FACTORS:
Stream crossings noted in the trail description on the Sauratown Trail website, www.sauratowntrails.org and can be roughly rated as follows:
named creeks (Vade Mecum, South Double, West Prong, Mill, and Grassy Creeks, respectively) are usually about 20' wide and can be crossed during normal weather conditions without much difficulty; un-named creeks (maybe a dozen) are about 8' wide, and can usually be crossed by stepping on a rock or two: branches are 2-4' wide and can be jumped or even stepped across.
Numerous feeder branches and bogs are bridged by small wooden bridges.
TRAIL RULES:
Use of these trails is a recreational privilege offered courtesy of the landowners who live on or near the trails. We request the following trail manners be observed out of respect for the landowner's generosity in allowing us to use these trails, as well as for everyone's safety.
Horseback riders and hikers must stay on the designated trails. This is because of the contract agreement with the landowners and for your safety. My caches are only located a few feet off the trail.
Look for white circle markers on the trees to guide you. One circle means continue straight ahead. Two circles means the trail makes a turn there. Please be especially mindful at trail intersections and LOOK for the white circle markers to keep you on the correct trail. This is farmland and there are private farm trails that run across the ST. At a couple of intersections, we had to walk ahead some to see a white circle to determine the direction of the ST.
To prevent erosion, do not ride the trails if they are really muddy. Wait for a better day.
Alcoholic beverages, firearms, and drugs are not allowed.
No pets other than horses are allowed on the trails.
No bikes allowed on the trails.
Fires allowed at designated areas only.
Camp at designated campgrounds only. This trail is built entirely on private lands. It would be like camping in your neighbors yard without permission.
All parking areas close at dark.
Horses may not be ridden on the trails at night.
Please extinguish all smoking materials completely.
Take only pictures. Do not litter!
Sauratown Trails Association, Inc. is not responsible for accidents, thefts, or any other incidents that may occur to people, livestock or property at the parking lot or on the trails.
Cache Info:
PLEASE DO NOT PARK ALONG THE STATE, COUNTY, OR COUNTRY ROADS AND TRAVERSE OVER/THROUGH PRIVATE LAND TO ACCESS THE CACHE. YOU WILL BE TRESPASSING!! YOU CAN ONLY REACH THE CACHE BY TAKING THE SAURATOWN TRAIL.... from either direction, eastbound or westbound. The parking coords are listed below. If you only have one vehicle, you will go out to the cache and backtrack to your car. I recommend setting a shuttle with 2 vehicles between 2 parking areas and hike that section one way. You will need to do your homework and determine which parking area is best for your plan, needs and hiking ability. They are listed in alphabetical order.
The trail length of this section, for this cache, from parking to parking, is 1.9 miles one way. The cache is approximately half way along the trail. It can easily be combined with the Sauratown Trail - Pilot Mountain cache (GC1ACHM) and/or the Sauratown Trail - Watershed Lake cache (GC1ABND). On the way to this cache, you will encounter some steep grades, some areas with boot-grabbing mud, the Grassy Creek which is approx 20 feet wide with no bridge but can cross on granite ledges with the creek running over them that can be slick & moss covered, several un-named creeks 8-10 feet wide and several smaller easy to jump creeks. You will have some spectacular views of Pilot Mountain and if you are lucky, you will see some horseback riders. We saw lots of deer in the meadows. There are some beautiful places for a picnic! Please remember to CITO.
Due to the terrain, I've made the hide easy. But please re-cover the cache well so it cant be seen from the trail. This trail is not your average walk along the wide, graveled paths, typical of parks. Very young children will NOT be happy doing this trail. Active, physically fit 3rd grade and up should be fine, but you know best the abilities of your child. Please come prepared to encounter nature. Carry water with you. Dress appropriately. Be mindful of changing weather. The Sauratown Mountains have their own micro-climate and are usually 5-10 degrees cooler than the adjacent Piedmont.
CONGRATULATIONS TO GRAYL (TEAM SUSIM) FOR FTF!! AND ALSO TO FEATHERED FRIENDS FOR 2TF!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)