Since Snake Mountain is a Wildlife Management Area, physical caches
are not allowed, and the original Snake Pit cache had to be
removed. The new "Snake Pit II" cache is a two-stage multi cache
that circumvents this problem, since stage 1 is entirely "virtual":
it involves answering some questions that require a hike to the
summit to observe some existing features - but nothing is hidden,
and the environment was not modified in any way. The solution to
the easy puzzle then reveals the coordinates of stage 2, a large
ammo box (the original container and contents!) safely located
outside the WMA.
The recommended approach is from the EAST side of the mountain
via a little-known route, which is slightly longer than the main
path from the west side, but prettier and more serene. For those
who want to take the shorter path from the west side, I'm including
directions below; be warned, however, that stage 2 is located not
far from the recommended starting point on the east side.
This is a reasonably strenuous hike (about 1000 feet elevation
gain), which takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes one way. Bring water
and a snack and plan to spend some time at the top. The views are
spectacular!
Directions for ascending Snake Mountain from the East
side
(Snake Mountain Rd, near Prunier Rd, in Weybridge)
Parking / trail head is at N44 03.114 W73 15.365. Follow the
trail through a meadow and past a gate. Along the way there are
several signs that say "Summit". You'll reach a beaver pond at N44
02.954 W73 15.979. It sometimes blocks the path. Keep following the
trail. You'll see a few more beaver ponds on the left. At some
point the path splits into two, but they merge shortly after, so it
doesn't matter which branch you take. Your next waypoint is the
junction with the main trail coming up from the other (west) side
of the mountain. It's at N44 03.175 W73 16.608. Turn right onto
this trail. Pay close attention and remember the way you came, so
that on the way back you won't miss this turn. Compared to the
overgrown path you've come so far, the trail from the west side is
a regular highway (in fact it used to be a carriage road). You'll
meet lots of hikers from now on. Follow the main trail all the way
to the top, where you'll find a concrete platform with a wonderful
view to the west at N44 03.690 W73 16.888 (this is stage 1).
Directions from the West side
(Mountain Rd and Wilmarth Rd, in Addison)
If you want the company of all the other hikers and a slightly
shorter hike (about 1 hour one way), park on Mountain Rd at N44
02.961 W73 17.524. The trail head is 700 feet south of the parking
lot at the intersection of Mountain Rd. and Wilmarth Rd. Stage 2,
however, will be nowhere near this location...
Made it to the summit? Enjoyed the views?
Puzzle for stage two
Along the north edge of the concrete platform, there are three
rusty bolts sticking out of the concrete. If you're looking
north,
bolt #1 is on the corner to your left (i.e. the NW corner),
bolt #2 is right in the middle (i.e. the N edge), and
bolt #3 is on the corner to your right (i.e. the NE corner).
Each bolt has a nut on its threads. Count the threads visible above
(A) and below (B) the nut on each of the three bolts. Don't worry
about the exact number; you can be off by one or two. You'll get
six numbers (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B). Translate each number of
threads into a digit using the following table:
# of threads
closest to |
result
digit |
| 0 |
6 |
| 6 |
1 |
| 11 |
4 |
| 16 |
2 |
| 22 |
8 |
Then, fill in the resulting 6 digits (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b)
below to get the coordinates of the second and final stage of the
cache.
Stage two of the cache is at N44 02. 3b 2b 1a W73 15. 2a 3a
1b
Poison Parsnip alert - Watch out for poison
parsnip (aka wild parsnip), a tall weed with yellow flowers
that resembles Queen Anne's Lace. This plant has spread all over
Vermont in the last few years. If you get the plant's juice on your
skin and it is then exposed to sunlight, you can get
nasty blisters and burns. It's best to wear long clothes and to
wash any exposed areas of skin thoroughly right after your
hike.