-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A "spirited" Geocache, hidden in the dark woods along the Sleepy Hollow Trail - best visited in the haunting month of October.
* [PLEASE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO ADEQUATELY RE-HIDE THE CACHE BEFORE LEAVING - IT MAY BE EASILY MUGGLED IF NOT COVERED WELL - THANKS] *
If you're brave enough to tempt the Headless Horseman, then venture down the Sleepy Hollow Trail at White Pines State Park and seek this cache but BEWARE! this is a Halloween themed cache down a wooded trail; spooks and ghosts may lurk nearby!
The trailhead for the Sleepy Hollow Trail begins at the coordinates of: N41 59.653 & W89 28.259; here you will find an old stone bridge that leads over a stream. Cross the bridge then take a sharp right, up the hill. The terrain at the start of the trail is the hardest and is the reason for the higher terrain rating. Once up the hill, you'll find one of the nicest stretches of the trail as you follow the ridge high above the stream.
The Sleepy Hollow Trail is clearly marked with trail posts that are aptly capped with pumpkin orange paint. The trail is 1.2 miles in length and rated as "hard" by the park; the trail is actually only moderate in difficulty.
The cache container is a rectangular black metal can approximately a foot in length, with a fitting script painted on its side. The cache area is wooded and under tree cover for most of the year; the coordinates are accurate but your GPSr may bounce around under the trees - take the encrypted clue with you, in case you need it's help.
Once you've found the cache, be sure to enjoy the view at the Scenic Overlook very close by. A copy of the book, "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow" has been left in the cache, feel free to read some or all of it - the Scenic Overlook is a great spot to read - please just leave the book with the cache when done and replace the cache just as it was found. Afterwards, continue to follow the trail, enjoying the stream crossings, rock outcroppings, stone fireplace ruin and noble old woods.
This cache is a HALLOWEEN themed cache and is kept stocked with Halloween swag - PLEASE TRY to trade only Halloween themed items.
The Sleepy Hollow Trail loops around and ends where it started, at the old stone bridge. As you cross the bridge, imagine the dark horse of the Headless Horseman gaining on you as you race across the bridge to safety - careful though, he just may hurl his flaming jack o' lantern in your direction! Happy Halloween - whatever time of the year you may find this cache!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", by Washington Irving:
"The dominant spirit, however, that haunts this enchanted region, and seems to be commander-in-chief of all the powers of the air, is the apparition of a figure on horseback, without a head. It is said by some to be the ghost of a Hessian Trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannon-ball, in some nameless battle during the Revolutionary War, and who is ever and anon seen by the country folk hurrying along in the gloom of night, as if on the wings of the wind. His haunts are not confined to the valley, but extend at times to the adjacent roads, and especially to the vicinity of a church at no great distance...the ghost rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head, and that the rushing speed with which he sometimes passes along the Hollow, like a midnight blast...and in a hurry to get back to the churchyard before daybreak."
*This cache has been approved by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources; authority of the Park Superintendent.
1. Geocache is placed on Department managed property with permission.
2. Do not place the following items in the Geocache: Food items,inappropriate, offensive, or hazardous materials.
3. It is the visitors responsibility to orient themselves with policies and rules pertaining to this Department managed site.*
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
qba'g trg fghzcrq, ybbx gjragl srrg bss gur genvy, gb gur abegu.