Sauratown Trail - West Prong 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:
Absolutely no need to bushwhack for this cache. If you are bushwhacking, then you are trespassing on private property. There seems to be some trouble locating the trail from the Brim's Grove Road parking area so I will also post the instructions from the Additional Waypoints below to here. You will need to take the Eastbound Trail to find this cache from Brim's Grove Parking area. Brim's Grove Road Parking - Gravel. Small picnic table shelter. No facilities.
Eastbound trail is across the road and slightly to right of parking area and trailhead is located between the little stand of tall trees and the field on the right if you are standing in the parking lot looking out and over the road. Just turn right out of parking lot and then trailhead will be on your left in a short distance.
Westbound trail (if you are using Brim's Grove parking for the ST Watershed Lake Multi) is much further UP the hill across the road at the end of the evergreen pine tree row. Both are marked with trail signs.
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 for this cache from Brims Grove Parking Area is appox a half mile one way. The entire section from parking to parking is 8.5 miles one way. It can easily be combined with the Sauratown Trail - Watershed Lake cache (GC1ABND) and Sauratown Trail - Flat Rock cache, which will be set up in near future. On the way to this cache, you will have to cross West Prong Creek which is approx 20 feet wide with no bridge, but is very shallow usually. The trail winds along the creek for a bit, then along the flood plain and will take you gradually into the surrounding forest. This section of trail is mostly flat with just some little gentle rolling hills. If you are lucky, you will see some horseback riders. There are some beautiful places for a picnic! Please remember to CITO.
Original cache contents include a small First Finder's Prize, a log book and pen, 2 Horse TB's and a Horseshoe Geocoin, and various swag relating to horses & hiking. Enjoy!
The tree canopy cover made the GPSr signal bouncy. Got it down to 16ft+/-, but remember these ST hides aren't far off the trail.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)