The Haunted Railway Traditional Cache
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This cache lies along the grade of an abandoned railroad corridor (Rails to Trails), that's a very popular walking, running, and biking route for area residents. The route traverses scenic Clear Creek Hollow, closely following a lovely mountain stream. Legend says that the ghost of an 1830's Mountain Man inhabits the area around the tunnel. His apparition has been reported on numerous occasions. Don't get spooked!
Before I get to the details, let me just mention that while you're in the area, you'll definately want to visit Pine Mountain State Resort Park, a spectacular natural area and one of Kentucky's premiere state parks. The park boasts fantastic hiking trails, breathtaking mountain secenery and is ideally located near a great many things to see and do. Including more geocaches within the park.
Now, to begin this caching adventure, first locate the southernmost entrance of Pine Mountain State Resort Park off 25E. As there are two entrances to the park, be sure to bypass the first (called the Laurel Cove Amphitheater entrance), and watch for the second one about a half mile further down the road. The second entrance is also the official entrance to the park's Wasioto Winds Golf Course. Once on this road, travel 2-3 miles until encountering the campus of the Clear Creek Baptist Bible College. Locate the Clear Creek Hollow Trail sign on the right at the North end of a two-lane bridge adjacent to the bible college campus. Pull into the graveled parking lot there to park (parking coordinates are also provided below).
By the end of the adventure cache-hunters will have completed a round trip hike of about 1.25 miles. The route passes over two trestles (now converted to foot bridges) and through a short tunnel (quite safe; short enough that light passes all the way through it). If you'll have small children along with you for the trek, you'll want to keep them close to you when crossing the trestle bridges, of course. The search begins at the gateway at the far end of the graveled parking lot bordered by large boulders along the right side. Watch children carefully and hold their hands while crossing the trestle bridges.
Walk this route over the converted railroad trestle bridge and past two in-ground benches to the railroad tunnel (about .75 miles out). Though you'll lose satellite reception passing through the tunnel, it should restore shortly after emerging from the other side. Continue to follow the route for another 102 walking paces or until your GPS unit alerts you that you are nearing your destination (if so equipped). At 102 paces out from the (overhead) edge of the tunnel, you are in the vicinity of the cache. Follow your GPS unit's direction of travel arrow to the cache. Please be sure to replace the cache and stone just as you found it.
Also, please be as discreet as possible when retrieving the cache. Non-cachers, who may also be enjoying the route, may become curious about your activity and have a look for themselves. This cache went missing before, presumably when discovered by a non-cacher who may have observed others working with it. We would hope not to have it disappear again.
BE SURE TO BRING YOUR OWN PEN!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Bss gur yrsg fvqr bs gur genvy, nybat qbt gebg cngu, whzoyr bs zbff-pbirerq obhyqref, ng gur onfr bs gerr, orarngu n fgbar.
Treasures
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